It's About Language, with Norah Jones

Ana Lucia Lico is an educator, advocate, and researcher passionate about heritage language preservation. Born in Brazil and living in the U.S. since 2003, Ana co-founded ABRACE, a community school supporting Portuguese as a heritage language, and serves on the boards of the Coalition for CBHLS and AOTP. Her journey began as a mother, determined to raise her sons in Portuguese, the language of her heart, and her work now empowers families to maintain their cultural roots.

Ana holds a Master’s in Linguistics focused on heritage language and has been recognized for her contributions, including awards from the Brazilian government and AOTP. Her research highlights the role of heritage language in shaping adolescents’ sense of belonging and provides strategies for parents and educators to encourage continued learning. Ana believes language is a bridge to identity and community, inspiring pride in cultural heritage for future generations.