This is our third and final year of collaboration with the Arts Education Programs, embracing the theme “Art of Belonging.” As educators, we are aware that belonging and identity are crucial to one’s life satisfaction, happiness, mental and physical health, and even longevity.  A sense of belonging also gives us purpose and meaning.  In the spirit of collaboration, the Migrant and Arts programs have come together to offer professional development sessions, share ideas, practices and address key issues in our respective programs through the 2025 State Conference.  The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to provide educators, administrators, advocates, and other staff with an opportunity to reimagine how they serve migratory students and their families in Washington state. 

We will continue our tradition of breakout sessions, exhibits, and we will recognize exceptional staff and students through the awards luncheon. A total of six (6) clock hours are being offered. Three (3) keynote speakers and a special conference host have been scheduled for this year’s conference.

Symposium: Wednesday, August 13th

The Migrant Early Learning (MEP EL) Symposium will be held on Wednesday, August 13, 2024, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Yakima Convention Center. The conference is being hosted by OSPI’s Migrant Education Program, Educational Service District 105, and the Sunnyside School District.  STARS & Clock Hours available for the Early Learning Symposium, and registration is limited for this event. 

SAMANTHA CARRILLO MASTACHE - Lunch

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in México, Samantha Carrillo Mastache has African as well as Purépecha and Taíno roots. She began her education and teaching career in Mexico and then fully grounded herself in Seattle’s dual-language early childhood education movement. She earned her CDA (Child Development Associate) Certificate, completed ECE courses required by the State of Washington, focused her BA studies at Goddard on Art, Creativity, and Child-Centered practices, and completing her MA degree with a focus on language, culture, creativity, inclusion, and universal design in dual-language early childhood education.

Her Palmera Morada (Purple Palm Tree) story served as a metaphor for the kind of early education that all children deserve. She has over a decade of experience working at model dual language and trilingual programs. As a professor at Antioch University and Lake Washington Tech, she provides certificates in Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Education CRECE at Antioch University and an Initial and Short State Certificate at Lake Washington Tech. She is an activist, researching and advocating children’s rights through her class “Cultivating a Sense of Belonging.”
LUCKY DIAZ - General Session

Lucky Diaz is a GRAMMY Award-winning, multi–Latin Grammy-winning, multi–EMMY nominated author, musician, and taco lover whose storytelling spans music, television, and literature. As a first-generation Mexican-American, his work celebrates identity, joy, and community, bringing vibrant, bilingual narratives to young readers.

His debut picture book, Paletero Man, became an instant classic, earning starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and ALA Booklist. Recognized for its heartfelt storytelling and cultural richness, the book established Lucky as a dynamic voice in children’s literature. All his picture books including La Guitarrista and his most recent, Fix-It Familia, continue his mission of uplifting Latiné stories.

Before entering the literary world, Lucky redefined family entertainment as the frontman of Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. His trailblazing career in children’s music earned historic Grammy and Latin Grammy wins and acclaim from Billboard, NPR, and The New York Times. His Emmy-winning PBS series, Lishy Lou and Lucky Too, showcased his creativity in children’s television. Lucky lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Alisha, their daughter, Indiana, and their dog, Django.

Check WHOVA for updates and session descriptions! Code: MEPARTS2025

Conference: Thursday, August 14th - Friday, August 16th

Day 1: Thursday, August 14^th 7:00 am – 4:00 pm

ENRIQUE CERNA - Conference Host

Enrique Cerna worked in Seattle media for more than four decades. You may recognize him from his work as a reporter, producer, and host for KOMO Radio and Television, KING Television, and KCTS Public Television. Enrique is a veteran journalist who has worked in Seattle media for nearly 45 years. Cerna worked for 23 years at Cascade Public Media’s KCTS 9 and retired in February 2018 from his role as senior correspondent. Prior to joining KCTS in 1995, he worked as a reporter, producer and host for KOMO Radio and Television and KING Television.

Active in the community, Enrique serves on the Washington State Historical Society Board of Trustees, the Yakima Valley Museum Board of Directors and King County Television’s Citizens Advisory Committee. He has also served on the boards of United Way of King County, the World Affairs Council of Seattle, Seattle City Club and the Chief Seattle Council’s Scout Reach program. He was the co-chair of the successful Plaza Roberto Maestas Capital Campaign which raised more than 40 million dollars to build low income affordable housing on Seattle’s Beacon Hill.

Enrique grew up in the central Washington community of Wapato. He is a graduate of Washington State University.

ROBERT SABUDA - Opening General Session

Robert grew up in the small town of Pinckney, Michigan, where his love for reading and art began early. Encouraged by nightly story time and plenty of creative freedom, he spent his childhood drawing, painting, and building things—a skill he credits to both his artistic curiosity and his father’s craftsmanship as a mason and carpenter.

His mother, a dance teacher, introduced him to visual storytelling through dance recitals, where he also helped create scenery and backdrops. In school, he was known for decorating bulletin boards with colorful paper collages, and at home, he began making model houses and handmade books.

A pivotal moment came during a visit to a new dentist, where he discovered his first pop-up book and became fascinated by the medium. Encouraged by his mother and inspired by gifts of pop-up books, he began making his own with manila folders from her office job.

After honing his art skills through school, Robert attended Pratt Institute in New York. An internship at Dial Books deepened his interest in children's publishing. Post-graduation, he worked various jobs—like designing underwear packaging—while pursuing a career in illustration. Small jobs eventually led to bigger opportunities, and he became a published children’s book illustrator and author. Eventually, he realized his dream of creating pop-up books, combining his lifelong passions for storytelling, art, and paper engineering.

IMANI GONZALEZ - Awards Luncheon, Workshop

Imani is a professional world/jazz vocalist, National Kennedy Center teaching artist, and children’s author. Her voice is featured on many of the National Geographic Television’s Explorer Series soundtracks, including the Emmy nominated Jane Goodall: “My Life with Chimpanzees.” Imani has taught in the DC public school system and in private schools as a traditional world music teacher. She has had the honor of performing, touring, and recording with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for eight consecutive years. Follow this link to hear her performing with him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOnpyErMwnk

Since 2016 she has been a grant recipient of the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. For 34 years, Imani has held the distinction of being the first and only American woman who has toured, performed, and recorded with the traditional Ghanaian ensemble ODADAA. She has written two children’s world books entitled, Dhimiki and Iyipo Aye with sing-along compact discs, which received rave reviews from teachers, students, universities, and libraries. The Washington Post has called Imani “One of the most important vocalists of all times.”

KATE COLLINS - General Session

Kate Collins spent eight years as assistant and then tenured associate professor at Towson University before joining the Baltimore Museum of Art as director of Learning Communities in July 2022. As a community arts scholar/practitioner/leader, she has been published in the Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance and Public: A Journal of Imagining America.

Her most recent project, YAAS (Youth Artists and Allies taking Action in Society) provides arts programing to resettled refugee youth in partnership with the BCCC Refugee Youth Project and Patterson High School in Baltimore.

Day 2: Friday, August 15th 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

JAKE PRENDEZ - Closing General Session

Jake Prendez was born in San Jacinto California but raised in Bothell Washington. He returned to California after receiving his Bachelor’s in American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington to work on his Master’s in Chicana/o Studies from CSU Northridge.

Jake Prendez is a celebrated Chicano artist and co-owner of the Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery, who has dedicated his life to creating powerful and evocative art that speaks to the heart of Chicano culture. His work is a testament to his unwavering commitment to social justice and his unique ability to blend satire with profound meaning. Drawing from his own life experiences, His vibrant creations are an intricate fusion of his Seattle and Los Angeles roots, capturing the essence of love, heartbreak, oppression, resilience, laughter, and tears. Each piece of art is a raw, unfiltered expression of the human experience, masterfully transformed and poured out onto the canvas. Jake currently serves on the board of 4Culture.

Check WHOVA for updates and session descriptions! Code: MEPARTS2025

This year the Migrant and Arts state conference is using the Whova event app.  This allows conference participants to connect with one another before, during and after the conference.  You can access the program, breakout sessions and keynote speaker bios through the app.

Registration Instructions:

Whova App User Guide - Whova

• Event mobile App
• Computer or tablet access
• Access before, during and after the conference
• Personalize own schedule
• Floor map of facilities
• Agenda
• Sessions
• Exhibits
• Announcements
• Interactive networking and one on one messaging
• Community board

ADD WHOVA CODE MEPARTS2025