I_LAAB_2024A 07/31/2024 09:06:35 AM Committee Summary

The committee members took turns introducing themselves to the committee and discussing their work and role on the committee.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee came back to order.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The panel answered questions from the members.