Finding Our Voice, Together: Reflections on Carla Dirlikov Canales’ LAD Keynote

There are moments in advocacy work when the message becomes so urgent, so personal, that it moves beyond policy and into something deeper, something human.

Carla Dirlikov Canales’ keynote at JNCL-NCLIS Language Advocacy Days was one of those moments.

In a room filled with educators, business leaders, and students from every state, united for every student, we experienced something rare. We were not just listening to a speech. We were being invited into a life.

Carla shared her story with honesty and vulnerability—her journey across cultures, languages, and identities—and in doing so, she reminded all of us why we do this work. Not because language is a program or a requirement. But because language is who we are.

She spoke of the concept of zhiyin, the person who understands you so deeply they can hear your inner voice even in silence. In that moment, it became clear: this is what multilingualism makes possible. It allows us not just to communicate, but to truly understand one another.

“The real gift of language… the real gift of music… [is that] they do not simply teach us how to speak. They teach us how to listen.”

That idea of listening as the foundation of connection resonated deeply with me, especially in a time when so much of our national conversation feels fragmented and rushed. Carla reminded us that language learning is not about speed or efficiency. It is about presence. It is about humility. It is about choosing to stay in the space where understanding is still forming.

She challenged us to think about what happens when we remove that effort:

“When we remove all friction from communication… we risk removing the very human experiences that create empathy.”

This is why our work matters.

At JNCL-NCLIS, we often speak about access, opportunity, and policy, and those are critical. But Carla’s message brought us back to the heart of it: multilingualism is not just an educational priority. It is a human one.

Her story of growing up navigating multiple languages and cultures, translating not just words but meaning, identity, and belonging, reflects the lived experience of so many students across our country. It underscores what is at stake when we fail to support them fully.

In that room, you could feel it: the collective recognition that language is  foundational to how we connect, how we lead, and how we understand our place in the world. 

“If the limits of our language are the limits of our world… then every new language we learn expands the borders of what we are capable of understanding.”

That is the vision behind our theme: From Every State, For Every Student.

It is a call to ensure that every learner has the opportunity to expand their world. To be heard. To be understood. To find their own voice.

And perhaps most importantly, to become someone else’s zhiyin.

Carla closed her keynote with a question that continues to stay with me:

“The future of America… is a question of whether we still know how to listen.”

As advocates, that is both our challenge and our charge.

Keep speaking.Keep listening.Ensure that language, this powerful, human connector, is accessible to every student in every state.

If you would like to read the full text of Carla Dirlikov Canales’s keynote, she has graciously provided it to us to share. Please click here to provide your email address.

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