Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski will address the major challenges and opportunities facing the Capitol City in her State of the City speech on Jan. 31. Her presentation at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center will include updates on affordable housing, transit, infrastructure and public safety.
Guests at the speech will also enjoy cultural performances from students and refreshments from the Horizonte’s culinary program. The Mayor will also use her speech to spark a fundraising campaign for the school’s Heritage Language Library.
The goal is to add 10,000 books in the students’ first language and better support their ability to learn English. Horizonte’s students range in age from 12 to 85, come from 64 countries and speak 82 languages. Horizonte serves nearly 9,000 learners. Ninety percent of the student body lives at or below the poverty level.
“We have accomplished a lot in the first two years and with the help of the City Council and others we can do even more,” said Mayor Jackie Biskupski. “This is also a great occasion to make a huge difference for the students at Horizonte.”
The Horizonte Heritage Language Library will provide books for children and books in various languages that students can take home for themselves and also read with their children to preserve and develop their heritage language and literacy skills.
“Research has found students are able to learn English sooner if they learn how to read in their native language,” said Joshua Bell, Horizonte principal. “The books are shared with family members so the entire family is learning together.”
“We need to make education available to all students with the same access,” added Bell. “We also want to validate their native language.”
An initial commitment of 1,000 books has been made by InWhatLanguage, a local translation and technology company focused on breaking language and cultural barriers. Book donations can be made at Horizonte and financial donations can be made at the Salt Lake School District Foundation at https://www.saltlakeeducationfoundation.org/get-involved/online-donation.
Who: Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski
What: State of the City Address
When: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
Where: Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, 1234 S. Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah.