2014 MCS Note-Taking Workshop
Multicultural Community Service hosted the 2014 Note-Taking Workshop and it was a huge success! Thank you to the Office on Latino Affairs and Miller & Chevalier! Also many thanks to our awesome trainer Iciar Gomez!
Check out MCS Language Services Director Rosa Carrillo in this El Tiempo Latino article about her participation in Project LEAP:
http://eltiempolatino.com/news/2014/jul/03/capacitacion-para-el-liderazgo/
Congrats Rosa!
Note-Taking Classes
Multicultural Community Service and the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs are excited to present an opportunity for current and prospective interpreters to hone their skills. On July 24, we will present two workshops: an Introduction to Note-Taking followed by Note-Taking Practice. These classes will help interpreters at all skill levels learn more about the craft of note-taking for better interpreting. Both workshops will be led by renowned trainer Iciar Gomez.
DC Government Speaks Your Language
Since the District of Columbia’s enactment of the groundbreaking Language Access Act of 2004, great strides have been made towards ensuring each and every citizen in our area is guaranteed their basic civil right of civic engagement. The act has given limited and non-English proficient residents of D.C. the ability to interact in their native language in arenas such as public transit, the classroom, and the courtroom. It has truly made the District of Columbia one of the most progressive cities in our country in terms of language rights. As a result of our city-wide contract with the District, MCS has been fortunate to be a major player in this exciting time, providing interpretation and translation services to the D.C. government so it can fulfill its mission of language access.
With the ten year anniversary of this legislation upon is, it is important to consider the progress we have made as a city and the steps we still must make towards the vision of total language access. This dialogue is rendered useless without input from the very citizens it targets. To facilitate this discussion, the D.C. Office of Human Rights held an event on Saturday, June 21st called ‘D.C. Government Speaks Your Language’. The goal of this event was to not only celebrate the anniversary of the act, but to receive input from local residents with limited or non-English proficiency on how the act was serving them in their day-to-day lives and if they felt there were improvements still to be made. Additionally, representatives from a variety of government organizations were present to receive feedback from their constituents on their efforts to be language accessible. MCS interpreters allowed over 150 participants to receive speeches and information in eight different languages, which they later used in facilitated discussions about their experiences with language access. Many residents expressed that although they were familiar with aspects of the Language Access system in D.C., they were unaware of the scope of the program and the range of rights they had in their native languages as provided by the District government. The event concluded with closing talks by Monica Palacios, director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights and Winta Teferi, Language Access Director. Participants then attended a resource fair where they received free screenings and produce, and learned from a variety of local organizations about their initiatives in language access.
As an organization so deeply rooted in the belief that all residents deserve to be able to engage civically in their language, it was rewarding for MCS to see how such a diverse citizenry benefits from language access in a variety of ways. Just as they were at the event, our interpreters have long been integral in D.C.’s movement towards language access rights. Participating in D.C. Government Speaks Your Language allowed us to see the progress that we have contributed to as an organization through our city-wide contract, and look ahead to the positive change we can make in the future.
  
MCS Hosts 2014 Interpreters' Professional Development Workshop for Interpreters, April 25, 2014 in Washington, DC.
The 2014 Interpreters’ Professional Development Workshop celebrated the role of language access in Washington, DC. Nearly 100 community interpreters, distinguished community leaders, and industry experts gathered for an innovative training session presented by Multicultural Community Service (MCS) in partnership with the D.C. Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (OLA) and in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on April 25, 2014. This training addressed the most updated information on technology applied to language interpretation while exploring the importance of language access issues that impact civic engagement for English language learners and the greater Washington, D.C. community. In addition, this program commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 2004 D.C. Language Access Act, important legislation that widely expanded access to language services.
       
MCS Hosts Professional Development Seminar for Community Interpreters, June 13th in Washington, DC.
Continuing its ongoing efforts to provide proressional development opportunities for those who serve D.C. residents as Community Interpreters, MCS hosted a professional development seminar entitle "Note-taking for Consecutive interpreting: the long and the short of it" on June 13th in Washington, DC
After an assessment of participant needs and goals for the workshop, there was a review of the component skills of the consecutive interpreting process and of the Giles' Efforts Model with emphasis on note-taking.
Participants became acquainted with consecutive interpreting note-taking strategies, techniques and practices. Exercises include both short and long consecutive for different interpreting settings.
Additionally, participants had the opportunity to practice memory. active listening and analysis as well as a variety of note-taking techniques: keywords, verticalization, symbols, links, numbers, etc.
The Seminar was provided with support from the DC Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs. MCS also extends its apprecaition to Miller & Chevalier for their support of the program.
MCS is planning additional professional development opportunities for DC area Community Interpreters in the near future. To learn more, please email lspcoordinator@mcsdc.org.
  
MCS, DC Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs and Inter-American Development BAnk collaborate on 2013 Interpreters' Professional Development Workshop, April 19th in Washington, DC
MCS presented its 2013 Intepreters' Professional Development Workshop on Friday April 19, 2013 at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C.
This workshop provided comprehensive training sessions for interpreters currently working in the field, as well as information for those interested in becoming interpreters. The key note speaker was Diane Deterra, Professor and former dean of the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
The Workshop is presented in partnership with the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs and in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank. During the workshop, participants honored the anniversary of the signing of the D.C. Language Access Act of 2004 and paid tribute to the memory of Marla Sanchez, an advocate for community interpretation who passed away in 2010.
To learn more, please visit www.dccommunityinterpreters.org.
 
 
 
Potography kindly donated by Oliver Contreras
Report Highlights MCS' operation of the DC PIRC, supporting parental engagement in D.C.
From 2006 to 2011, MCS operated the D.C. Parent Information Resource Center as funded by the U.S. Department of Education. In August of 2012, MCS released report Uplifting Parental Engagement highlighting its work to promote and encourage parental engagement in the District of Columbia.
Similtaneous Interpreter Training (SIT) Program Graduation Highlights
On November 13, 2012, sixteen community interpreters graduated from MCS’ Simultaneous Interpreter Training Program. During a ceremony held that day, MCS Master Interpreter Carlos Wesley addressed the participants and shared insights from his more than 30 years experience reducing language barriers through interpretation.
The following are some of Mr. Wesley’s words of wisdom for the interpreters:
· Not everyone can do interpreting. “I have known people who are truly bilingual, trilingual and even polyglots, who were unable to render a simultaneous or consecutive interpretation in any of their language pairs,” Wesley said. “I have also known highly educated people that were proficient in two or more languages, who were incapable of rendering a competent translation, that is to say, a readable one.” As interpreters, “you have been given the precious gift of performing the miracle of interpretation.”
· Use on-traditional tools to aid your practice. Listening to John Sebastian Bach’s Musical Offering which features many voices simultaneously helps sharpen skills. “Listening to the Musical Offering especially Ricercar a 3 you will hear many voices that will help sharpen your interpretation skills and makes you understand the process of interpreting in a way that no amount of explanation could,” he said.
· Remember the rule of confidentiality. Never gossip about what you hear in a private interpretation.
· Remember that your role is to put all participants on an equal footing, not to omit nor add anything because you think the speaker did not say it the right way.
· Your job is to allow people who speak different languages to communicate with each other. Keep your ego in check. Don’t be a prima donna. It is not about you. “Remember that the best interpretations are those where the participants leave believing that they spoke directly to each other and forget that there was even an interpreter present,” Wesley said.
· Don’t waste your gift with language. Cultivate it. Read and memorize poetry. Keep abreast of the news. Study history and politics and every other subject you can. Keep in physical shape. A sound mind in a healthy body makes you a sharper interpreter.
Mr. Wesley also shared that many of his insights were influenced by his time enhancing his interpretation skills through training programs with Dr. James Nolan, former Deputy Director of the United Nations Interpretation, Meetings and Publications Division. Mr. Nolan also served as the instructor for MCS’ Simultaneous Interpreter Training program.
To learn more about this program including curriculum, requirements and application procedures, please visit the the interpreter training section of MCS' website.
MCS Awards Twelve Grants to Public and Public Charter Schools to Support Parental Engagement Programs
Strong parental engagement can have a profound impact on student learning. This engagement is more than a newsletter home in a backpack or a meeting with parents a couple times a year in the school. It is a comprehensive approach to build parent leaders that not only support their children but help other parents as well.
Through its administration of the DC Parent Information Resource Center, MCS recently awarded grants to twelve public and public charter schools to keep parental engagement momentum at these schools this year and into the future. Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Secondary Education Dr. Kayleen Irizarry recently hosted a reception to honor these schools at the Office of the State Superintendant of Education (OSSE). Grants were awarded to:
- Cleveland Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Annie R. Mair for a parent corner.
- Columbia Heights Education Campus under the leadership of Principal Maria Tukeva for material, workshop supplies and stipends for speakers for their parent program.
- James A. Garfield Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Angela M. Tilghman for a literacy event.
- Kenilworth Elementary School under the leadership of Fatima Johnson for materials, incentives, and speaker stipends for parent workshops.
- Ketcham Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Tandi Tyler for material and equipment for family events as well as publications.
- Meridian Public Charter School under the leadership of Principal Robinette Breedlove to support parents joining students on academic field trips.
- Powell Elementary School under the leadership of Principal Janeece Docal for parent coaching, training, and material.
- Prospect Learning Center under the leadership of Principal Keesha Blythe for parenting classes.
- Stephen E. Kramer Middle School under the leadership of Principal Kwame Simmons for outreach material and incentives.
- Theodore Roosevelt S.T.A.Y. High School under the leadership of Principal Alexandra Pardo for supporting the cultivation of a learning community including parents and families.
- Thurgood Marshall Academy under the leadership of Principal Alexandra Pardo for supporting the cultivation of a learning community incluidng parents and families.
- West Education Campus under the leadership of Principal Andria Caruthers for family events.
   
2011 Community Interpreter Graduation Ceremony held September 13, 2011
MCS and the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs honored the 2011 Community Interpreter Training graduates at the Etete Restaurant on September 13, 2011. The class of 20 students celebrated their accomplishment of the 70 hour training. Guests enjoyed the Ethiopian food accompanied by a presentation of the delicacies by MCS Amharic interpreter and translator Tsion Adera, CIT graduate of 2009. The training and graduates were featured in the Washington Hispanic.
   
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