and third-generation Chicagoans like Omar are reinforcing a link to their homelands that would otherwise be lost in the shuffle of acculturation and Americanization. Peyton said that this desire to uphold cultural traditions motivates many parents to enroll their children in a heritage language program.آ  “They #
ation Americans may wish to embrace their ethnic heritage, like Kalaya, while some, like Omar, seek to distance themselves from it in favor of a more Americanized culture. “One really chooses what their identity is,â€‌ Peyton said.آ  “We all choose our connections.â€‌ 
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