Editor,

My name is Jin Ming Ma and I have lived in this wonderful country for over 28 years. I’m originally from China.

I appreciated so much receiving intercultural education while I was in college and graduate school. My life has been enriched greatly by other cultures. That is why I have become a volunteer for Northwest Language & Cultural Center in our community.

I have personally witnessed that people of all ages in our community receive great benefits from the work of NWLACC in building bridges of understanding between cultures. I believe that intercultural learning in the classroom allows students to seize opportunities that diversity offers and to learn how to interact in our global, diverse and challenging world. The Global Cultures Programs focus on skills like empathy, flexibility and creativity.

I hope that more of the schools in our community will offer intercultural education to students. I also know that teachers who are open to integrating intercultural learning into their classrooms can be the real change agents in their school. If they are really committed to the topic, they can make a strong impact on their students, one step at a time.

Through the intercultural education provided by NWLACC, our whole community will bind together in peace with respect and acceptance of different cultural lives.

Shall we work together toward this goal?

Jin Ming Ma

Coupeville United Methodist pastor