Celebrating Diversity: a MN Twins Partnership
Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) students engage in activities with the Twins to help build a community that sees strength in diversity. Just as the Twins team is composed of people from many backgrounds, so too is our community. Students have learned about the importance of diversity and been key ambassadors through their skills in multilingualism to bridge cultural differences throughout Twins Territory. LILA is a K-6 language immersion school and International Baccalaureate (IB) World School whose mission focuses on international-mindedness, multilingualism, and character development through Responsive Classroom and the IB Learner Profile. The partnership creates opportunities for students to act on their learning; since it began, students have participated in Twins Spanish radio broadcasts, written winning essays for the Jackie Robinson Day contest, and when Japanese player Tsuyoshi Nishioka debuted in 2011, LILA students sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in Japanese as a special welcome. The annual Twins Caravan has made LILA its first stop, generating excitement for the upcoming seasons and offering advice about baseball and life.