(BOWIE, MD) During the City Council meeting on Monday, May 17, 2021, the Bowie City Council approved Councilmember Roxy Ndebumadu’sproposal to establish a no-cost, partnership between the City of Bowie and the global language learning software company Rosetta Stone. The partnership, the first of its kind in Rosetta Stone’s 30-year history, would provide 5,000 free one year subscriptions of Rosetta Stone’s world-renowned language learning software to Bowie residents.
Over 15% of Bowie residents lack proficiency in English, while 84% of Bowie’s population only speaks English at home. Councilmember Ndebumadu’sInitiative aims to address both ends of this spectrum by providing residents free tools to help enhance the language abilities of non-native English speakers, native English speakers, and any other resident who seeks to learn new skills. Considering the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this Initiative will also allow residents to enhance their professional skills by improving their language abilities to expand their options in their job search.
“The more languages that are accessible for our community means the more opportunities that we all have access to for our children and frontline workers,” said Ndebumdau. The software is accessible online,and individuals will be able to learn on a schedule that suits them. In a world that has adjusted to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems like no better time to implement such a program.
A daughter of a Nigerian immigrant, Roxy Ndebumaduis a member of the Bowie City Council representing District 4 and is the youngest woman to ever serve on the Council. A first-generation American, Ndebumadugrew up in Bowie while attending Bowie High School and graduated from Howard University. She is currently employed at Microsoft where she manages a team of technical advisors and volunteers extensively with organizations such as The Women’s Center, Brookings Institute, and Women in Technology. People can interact with Roxy on her website www.roxyforbowie.com and her Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.
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