Language is Power - Lots of people talk about freedom of speech. But what if your speech is not the same language as the language spoken by the mainstream? In an important way, your freedom of speech is limited. People-Places-Things (P-P-T) is a social enterprise that's working to end the disparity in power in related to language and culture. Since 2010, the organization has been working with non-native English speakers throughout the region, many of whom are low income, immigrants & refugees, and members of communities of color. P-P-T has welcomed thousands of non native English speakers to neighborhoods and civic spaces, and has helped hundreds of dominant culture folks learn how to be better welcomers.
In the words of P-P-T founder and director Patrick McDade, "We started off as English as a Second language (ESL) teachers. And we still do that with our dynamic, multilevel, open entry, no-cost, family friendly, community-based language and life skills classes all over the region. But over time, we have learned that its not just newcomers who need to speak better, it's even more urgent that America learn to listen better. This points toward our core philosophy of the role of those with power & privilege to make a world a better place: to become better listeners. In so doing, we become gateopeners instead of gatekeepers. We build bridges out of language barriers. We turn awkward into awesome. We are America's Welcome Wagon."
- KBOO