#2BFayetteville

and visited Crystal Bridges Museum. The meetings showcased attributes of the region and entertained the idea of a sister city designation between San Vicente Pacaya and Fayetteville. "Our demographics are our reality" "Fayetteville and our region have similarities with San Vicente Pacaya. We both have products that can be showcased in both countries," Chicas notes, pointing to the shared enthusiasm for hiking and mountain biking. "Our demographics are our reality. It's crucial that we explore opportunities that will benefit our state and regional partners." The relationship also supports Fayetteville's efforts in terms of inclusion and diversity. "Fayetteville is one of the cities in Northwest Arkansas that embraces the idea that everyone is welcome," Chicas points out. "And from an educational point of view, relationships like this can help us understand and meet the needs of our migrant students by learning how education works in other countries." Additionally, Chicas notes, "We have the facilities here in Fayetteville to host World Cup soccer matches, World Cup Qualifying Soccer Matches, International Soccer Matches, and big Hispanic concerts such as Mana and Ricardo Arjona. No need to drive to Dallas or Kansas City to have events like this when we can host this in our backyard." While at first glance the towns may seem very different, Clark points out that coopetition is all about looking for common ground and shared goals. "Here's a city of 96,000 people talking to the mayor of a city of 3,000 people. Turns out, we actually have a heck of a lot in common." Think globally, educate locally: World language education Even something as fundamental as language is a barrier that can be overcome with a coopetitive outlook. Thinking outside the "English-only" box is essential in an increasingly interconnected world, according to Luis Fernando Restrepo, a professor in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Arkansas. Restrepo and his wife relocated to Northwest Arkansas from Medellín, Colombia, via Washington, D.C. where he completed his doctoral studies. He has been the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity and is the Vice President of the NWA Hispanic Leadership Council. Clark has worked closely with Restrepo, both on the board of the Walton Arts Center, and through the chamber's Hispanic Heritage Festival. He considers Restrepo's global view essential to the exploration of coopetition between cultures. "He brings a unique world perspective to the process," Clark notes. "Dual language immersion programs help empower students and strengthen our position in a global economy." A coopetitive, dual language education model Restrepo and Clark gathered support for the establishment of the Seal of Biliteracy in Arkansas, a national certification program that recognizes high school graduates' ability to read and write in two or more languages. Since 2017, more than two thousand students from 62 high schools in Arkansas, including Fayetteville High School, have earned the Seal of Biliteracy, in seventeen languages. More recently, Clark and Restrepo supported the passing of act 663 of 2021, "to allow a public school district or an open- enrolment public charter school to adopt an approved bilingual program or dual- immersion program," an initiative led by State Representative Megan Godfrey (Springdale). The American Academy of Arts & Sciences report America's Languages Investing in Language Education for the 21st Century " " The ability to understand, speak, read, and write in world languages in addition to English, is critical to success in business, research, and international relations in the twenty-first century. Check out their story on page 16 professor Luis Fernando Restrepo, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Arkansas 13 Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce

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