Multilingual Capacity Building –
Working Across Language
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Program | Internships | Highlander Staff
Program
Highlander's Multilingual Capacity Building (MLCB) Program aims to strengthen cross-cultural alliances by providing the tools and resources necessary for bridging communication across language.
Immigration is changing the face of the southeast. Among the non-English communities currently are living in the region are people that speak primarily Spanish, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Mien, Khmer, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, and Sudanese.
In this multi-cultural environment, communication between diverse groups is of utmost importance for successful movement building. As a result, the MLCB Program focuses on creating multilingual spaces where language is used democratically and as a tool of empowerment.
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Interpreter Training Workshop
Highlander; March 2008 |
Through interpretation skill-building workshops, the MLCB Program is working to create a cadre of social justice interpreters in the South and Appalachia who can help empower immigrant communities by providing language accessibility. In addition, MLCB staff translate Highlander materials and interpret for multilingual events and workshops.
Over the past several years, Highlander's MLCB program has accomplished the following:
- In conjunction with the National Organizers Alliance, organized the first Multilingual Strategies Workshop in the southeast in March 2003, attended by 25 participants.
- Organized and facilitated eight interpreter training workshops - five at Highlander; one in Asheville, NC, one in Hattiesburg, MS; and one in New Orleans - with over 150 participants.
- Provided interpretation and translation for a successful organizing drive by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union among the predominantly immigrant workforce at a Koch Foods poultry-processing plant in Morristown, TN, and for the subsequent contract negotiations at the plant.
- Played a central role on the Language Access Team for the U.S. Social Forum (USSF) in July 2007. Highlander staff interpreted the USSF planning committee meetings in 2006 and 2007, and coordinated 50 translators around the world who translated the USSF materials, including the program (with over 900 session titles), signage, release forms, contracts, website, etc. Highlander staff also helped recruit interpreters, plan their orientation, and coordinate coverage of the workshops and plenary sessions, as well as providing logistical, technical, and linguistic support as needed during the USSF.
- Organized and facilitated a day-long educational institute on multilingual capacity building for over 30 people at Highlander's 75th anniversary celebration and provided simultaneous interpretation as needed at individual sessions at the gathering.
- Provided interpretation and translation for a variety of other organizations and events, including the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, local and statewide meetings of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, the National Network of Immigrant and Refugee Rights' southeast training institute in Durham, and regional meetings of the Poultry Justice Alliance.
As a result of these and other efforts, Highlander has become widely known as a key resource for multilingual work in social justice settings, and we receive regular requests for assistance and training from a wide range of organizations in the region and nationally.
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Multilingual Strategies Workshop
Highlander; March 2003 |
Internships
The MLCB program accepts intern applications year round. Please be as specific as possible as to your start and end date. Send your cover letter and resume to Roberto Tijerina (contact information below).
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Highlander Staff
Roberto Tijerina
E-mail: roberto at highlandercenter.org
Phone: (865) 933-3443 x233
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