Adelante Conference
Conference Overview
Adelante is now in its sixth year, and this coming summer we are focusing on Powerful Practices for Serving Multilingual Learners. The Adelante Conference will be held on the beautiful campus of the University of Notre Dame from June 16-18, 2025. Register today to reserve your spot!
Being multilingual is a superpower. English learners need heroic educators and inspired champions to help them unlock their potential, conquer obstacles, and grow in language, confidence, and academic achievement. Together, we can help English learners soar and reach new heights!
This year’s Adelante Conference also marks the 20th anniversary of the English as a New Language (ENL) Hernandez Fellows program. Conference participants and ENL graduates are welcome to extend their stay and participate in the ENL 20-Year Celebration (June 18-19, 2025), featuring an afternoon retreat, celebratory dinner, and breakfast gathering. The 20-Year Celebration will kick off following the conclusion of the traditional Adelante Conference events. See the Cost and Registration page for additional details.
Conference registration is now open and will close on May 27, 2025. Spots are very limited, so register early! Visit the Cost and Registration page to see details about cost and lodging, as well information about the 20-Year Celebration. We encourage anyone who is engaged in this mission to advance educational opportunities for multilingual learners for more vibrant schools, Church, and world. Ever onward - Adelante!
Conference Framing
The Adelante Conference features a broad range of topics and speakers that address the variety of ways in which Catholic schools and parishes can work creatively together to embrace, educate, and empower Latino and multilingual learners and families through the vital ministry of Catholic education. This two-and-a-half day conference helps build awareness around topics pertaining to Latino and language learners in Catholic schools while expanding the network of advocates for this mission.
The Adelante Conference embodies the overarching mission of the ALMA Initiative—embracing the immigrant and multicultural Church as both the great legacy of Catholic education and a path to future vitality, educating multilingual students by forming educators and leaders to employ research-based practices that promote student success, and empowering multicultural communities as sources of expertise, wisdom, and faith. The Adelante Conference is rooted in these three core goals, and each year it spotlights a unique topic related to this work. Past themes include: a deep dive into the demographic imperative impacting Catholic schools; the challenges that immigration poses for children, families, and schools; growing Latino enrollment: marketing, recruitment, and admissions done well; propelling dual language learners toward success; and Latino family and community engagement.
We firmly believe that by helping schools leverage the linguistic assets and cultural richness of students and families, they become places to work through differences, encounter others, and prepare the next generation to be a powerful force for good in our world today. Click below to learn more about the benefits of attending the Adelante Conference, cost, registration, and FAQs. We hope to see you here on campus in June 2025.
¡Adelante!
For any questions, please contact Katy Lichon (kwalter5@nd.edu).
A Call for Proposals
Calling all superhero educators and presenters!
In addition to registering for the Adelante Conference, we are putting out a call for session proposals. We will be accepting proposals for conference presentations through Monday, March 24, 2025. Presentations will be delivered as breakout sessions and will be an hour in length. For all accepted presenters, the conference registration fee and travel expenses will be covered. Notifications of acceptance will be shared by Monday, March 31, 2025.
Testimonials
"I learned so much about understanding the changing demographics in our nation. We are seeing this in our own school but have not done well to react or build a culture to enhance our enrollment. We have much work to do, but we have a path and direction coming out of this gathering. I learned a ton and I really enjoyed the time we had together!"
"Phenomenal program - I am so glad that I attended! It was very moving and inspiring (and eye-opening!) Gracias por todo su trabajo y preparaciones!"
"I was energized and moved by the conference and looking forward to taking the information and inspiration into my own work and the efforts in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. I hope to have opportunities to share these experiences, through myself and directly, with many others. Thank you!"
For any questions, please contact Katy Lichon (kwalter5@nd.edu) or visit our FAQs page.