It is estimated that there are nearly 60 million people of Latin American origin in the United States, the majority of whom are children and young adults born in this country. Across Europe, millions of Spanish-speaking families are also raising children in multilingual contexts shaped by migration and mobility. Together, these communities form a diverse and dynamic population, rich in histories, cultures, traditions, and languages.

A large majority of these Spanish-speaking families use both Spanish and other languages in their daily lives. Spanish, in particular, plays a central role in building emotional bonds within families and across communities. 
These bonds are essential to children’s development, supporting communication, affection, and the formation of identity. In turn, they contribute to stronger social and academic outcomes, while keeping children connected to their cultural and family heritage, something invaluable beyond the economic advantages of bilingualism.
As mothers of bilingual children in the U.S. and Europe, and as educators and researchers, we are deeply aware that opportunities for children to use Spanish often become limited once they enter school and begin to socialize primarily in dominant languages.

For this reason, we created Yosoy: to offer children, families, and schools meaningful opportunities to live, learn, and connect in Spanish through culture, academic knowledge, and shared experiences. Yosoy speaks to the identities of  Spanish-speaking children and youth shaped between worlds, and reminds us that when we stay connected to our roots, we can affirm with confidence:

Between here and there, I am who I want to be.