|
PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE LANGUAGE ACCESS ADVISORY BOARD
| Date |
07/31/2024 |
| Attendance |
| Alexandra Bare |
X |
| Bradfield |
E |
| Giovanna Carriero-Contreras |
X |
| Natalie Castle |
X |
| Christy Chase |
X |
| Lindsay |
X |
| Felix Lopez |
X |
| Rich |
X |
| Ivon Romo |
X |
| Rudy Santos |
E |
| Jose Torres |
X |
| Gonzales |
X |
| Rutinel |
X |
|
| Time |
09:06:35 AM to 11:56:34 AM |
| Place |
SCR 357 |
| This Meeting was called to order by |
Rutinel |
| This Report was prepared by |
Rachel Kurtz-Phelan |
|
| Hearing Items |
Action Taken |
| hOverview and Member Introductions |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hSet Remaining Meeting Dates |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hCommunity Perspectives |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hUte Mountain Ute Tribe Perspectives |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hLocal Government Language Access |
Committee Discussion Only |
|
|
Overview and Member Introductions - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:06:47 AM |
Representative Rutinel,
Chair, called the meeting to order and provided opening remarks. Julia
Jackson, representing Legislative Council Staff, provided an overview of
the committee's charge (Attachment A).
|
|
09:11:15 AM |
The committee members took turns introducing themselves to the committee and discussing their work and role on the committee.
|
|
09:28:36 AM |
The committee took a brief recess.
|
|
09:33:23 AM |
The committee came back to order.
|
Set Remaining Meeting Dates - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:33:57 AM |
The committee discussed
and decided on the next three meeting dates.
|
Community Perspectives - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:51:34 AM |
Chair Rutinel invited
the next panel of presenters to begin, which included: Angelica Prisciliano,
Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition;
Olivia de Pablo-Lopez, Community Language Research Group, La Plata Food
Equity Coalition; and Khatira Amn, Senior Policy Advocate for Early Childhood,
Spring Institute. Ms. Prisciliano began her presentation, which can be
found as Attachment B. She provided an overview of the current status of
language access at the Capitol and language accessibility amongst legislators
and staff. She provided a list of considerations to improve language access
in the legislative process, including the creation of a language accessibility
office, accessible website content, training for legislators and staff,
and diversifying legislative staff hires.
|
|
09:56:59 AM |
Ms. Prisciliano discussed different preferences in interpretation for simultaneous interpretation and in person services for people attending meetings in person at the Capitol, and remote interpretation for those attending legislative meetings remotely. She discussed the importance of using human interpretation as opposed to technical, computerized, or Google interpretation. She explained the need for a real person to review translated materials and stated that simple language is encouraged. She spoke about investing in the most spoken and most requested languages and building a resource list of available interpretation services for the public to access.
|
|
10:02:53 AM |
Ms. Prisciliano provided
several examples of language access currently being used by the Colorado
Department of Early Childhood through language competent staff, the City
and County of Denver, and Governor Polis' Facebook page. She explained
that language access empowers marginalized communities, develops a sense
of belonging, increases community representation, and supports civic engagement.
|
|
10:05:11 AM |
Ms. de Pablo-Lopez began her portion of the presentation. She provided background information on the volunteer-based Community Language Research Group. She reviewed their best practices toolkit (Attachment C) and explained the importance of illustrating the human side of immigration, promoting trauma-informed responses, and discussing how and why people immigrate to this country. She talked about the training program for new interpreters and translators, many of whom are the children of immigrants, and using skills to integrate into the larger community and create a sense of belonging while also working towards being competent English speakers.
|
|
10:14:38 AM |
Ms. Amn spoke about
her personal story as an immigrant from Afghanistan. She provided background
information on the mission and purpose of the Spring Institute. She told
the committee about the Colorado Language Access Coalition (CLAC) which
was founded in August 2023 and is a group of over 80 advocates, community
members, nonprofit staff, and government representatives who champion policies
and advocacy strategies that further language access for linguistically
diverse people across the state. More information on CLAC can be found
as Attachment D.
|
|
10:23:18 AM |
Ms. Amn explained
that approximately six percent of the population of Colorado has limited
English language proficiency. She stated the importance of everyone being
able to have their voice heard by their representatives and be active participants
in our democracy, and provided recommendations for having a combination
of computer software for initial translation as well as human interpreters
and "cultural brokers".
|
|
10:28:24 AM |
The panel answered
questions from the committee members. They discussed the difference between
translation services and interpretation services and the definition of
"plain language". Several members agreed that lanugage interpretation
and cultural brokering cannot always go together because sometimes they
are the opposite of each other.
|
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Perspectives - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
10:40:38 AM |
Peter Ortego, Legal Counsel for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, presented on his experience in Colorado and the value of having a connection to one's language background. He noted that most of the Ute people he encounters speak English very well but may not be as comfortable with written English, which emphasizes the importance of using simple language. He talked about the differences between the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute written languages and explained that the same words are spelled differently in each language. He told the members that there are also the Uinta and Ouray Ute tribes, whose language slightly differs from the others, and emphasized the importance of involving the tribal elders who generally have a better grasp of the native language.
|
|
10:53:28 AM |
Conrad Jacket, Ute
Mountain Ute Tribal Councilman, spoke about the history of the Ute Mountain
Ute tribe and explained that there are not only language difference and
barriers, but also cultural barriers.
|
|
11:01:34 AM |
Dan Porter, Principal
of Kwiyagat Community Academy charter school in Towaoc spoke about cultural
barriers, especially in schools. He discussed the need to understand cultural
taboos in addition to language access.
|
Local Government Language Access - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
11:08:44 AM |
Chair Rutinel invited the next presenters to discuss local government language access. Alexandra Bare, Language Access Services and Contracts Coordinator, Denver Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, spoke about language access in the City and County of Denver. Her presentation can be found as Attachment E. She discussed Executive Order 150: Citywide Language Access Program, which was ordered in December 2022 and applies to all city agencies under the Mayor's purview that provide public facing services or information. She said that every individual agency is responsible for developing and implementing their own language access plan.
|
|
11:13:42 AM |
Ms. Bare discussed
the details of Denver's specific interpretation services. She explained
that some city agencies have interpreters on staff, but the majority contract
out when needed. Ms. Bare concluded by explaining that all vital documents
must be translated into the top 12 languages spoken in Denver, and that
the city's website is translated through an embedded translation widget.
|
|
11:19:55 AM |
Manuela Sifuentes,
Language Access Program Manager for the City of Boulder, spoke about
the city's language access practices and requirements and stated that the
city's website uses GTranslate for translation services.
|
|
11:29:30 AM |
The panel answered questions from the members.
|
| 11:56:34 AM |
The committee adjourned. |
