E pluribus unum
- 2437 15th Street NW
- info@mcsdc.org
About MCS
E PLURIBUS UNUM (OUT OF MANY, ONE)
Multicultural Community Service (MCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging, promoting, and facilitating broad and inclusive civic participation. We believe that diverse and vibrant communities are the key to helping residents thrive in the Metropolitan Washington area.
MCS provides interpreters and translators for events in single and multiple languages, with and without interpreter equipment. Examples of these settings are small meetings, hearings, and one-on-one private meetings and conferences. The most frequent languages requested in the Washington Metropolitan Area are Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese/Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese.
We serve non-profit community-based organizations, government, academic institutions, and for-profit organizations in Metropolitan Washington, DC.
services
Translation
Certified translation services for document texts from one language to another.
Transcription
Certified transcript services from spoken language into written form.
Interpretation
Certified Interpreter Training (CIT)
- Courses pursuant to credentialing standards for bilingual interpreters who are proficient in English and at least in another language.
- Enable them to achieve culturally competent delivery, accuracy, and excellence.
- CIT training prepares participants to acquire microbusiness skills.
YEARS IN SERVICE
0
+
OUR HISTORY
In May 1991, devastating riots rocked the Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods of Washington DC. The result of tensions between the African American and Latino communities grew untenable and it became clear that both communities and area law enforcement, as well as several community residents, needed to gather to discuss how to empower the residents of these neighborhoods to view diversity as a strength instead of a weakness. In 1997, these community members founded Multicultural Community Service.
Since its founding, MCS has grown into a strong and reliable community organization, recognized for its effective research-based programs, commitment to the community, ability to reach and provide services to linguistically marginalized groups, and capacity to equally serve various segments and sectors of Washington’s diverse population and professional community. In 2006, MCS was chosen by the US Department of Education to establish Washington DC’s only Parent Information Resource Center (DC PIRC), in concert with similar organizations in each of the 50 states. This program ran until 2012.
MCS is unique among Washington, DC organizations in its outreach to the diverse communities of DC rather than serving one demographic group. Among the organization’s specific strengths are the following:
- Respect and trust of the community through effective programs and successful outreach, serving those who are hard-to-reach through one-on-one contact.
- Reaching members in over 30 languages through translation and interpretation services.
- Programs built upon current academic research, utilizing the latest technology for simultaneous interpretation based on the United Nations’ model.