[Burlington, North Carolina] — Middle school students from Turrentine Middle School joined peers from across North Carolina on Thursday, March 5, 2026 to participate in Conexiones para la Acción Diplomática (CAD), a Spanish-language global diplomacy simulation hosted by Participate Learning at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
During the event, students took on the role of international ambassadors, representing countries and engaging in structured debates about global challenges—all while communicating entirely in Spanish. This year’s CAD debate focused on animal wellbeing and protecting biodiversity, encouraging students to examine issues such as wildlife trafficking, habitat conservation, and species protection while proposing collaborative global solutions.
Students prepared for the experience by researching their assigned country’s perspective on the issue, writing opening statements, and developing proposals to present during the debate. The day began with students collecting stamps in their CAD passports as they moved through a series of interactive stations designed to prepare them for the diplomatic discussions ahead. At one station, students practiced conversational Spanish with peers and mentors, while another challenged them to match countries with their flags. A mock news station gave students the opportunity to create a video segment about their school's attendance at CAD, and a conservation station filled with stuffed animals encouraged them to write Post-it notes about their favorite animals and why protecting them matters.
Participation in CAD reflects the goals of Participate Learning’s Conexiones program, which helps middle school students continue developing Spanish language proficiency while strengthening global competencies such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving.
Students also interacted with bilingual mentors from UNC Greensboro through the Participate Learning Bilingual Community Fellowship, a partnership designed to connect middle school dual language learners with university students who model how bilingualism can open pathways to leadership, higher education, and future careers. During the visit, fellows helped facilitate activities and guided students on a Spanish-language tour of the university campus.
Reflecting on the experience, Jason Straus, Senior Manager for Conexiones at Participate Learning, shared, “I was incredibly inspired to witness our students showcase their bilingual superpowers at this year’s CAD event. They used Spanish to discuss global challenges, represent different countries, and participate in a meaningful debate on animal wellbeing and protecting biodiversity. Students also toured UNC Greensboro with bilingual university students and participated in activities connected to the theme with bilingual young professionals. These interactions helped our students see real examples of how their language skills can support their education and open doors to future careers. I am confident this experience inspired many of them to continue learning languages and to imagine the possibilities of a bilingual life.”
Through experiences like CAD, students have the opportunity to apply their bilingual skills in real-world contexts while engaging with global challenges that affect communities around the world.