Worcester to offer translation services for over 90 languages
Courtesy City of Worcester
The city recently named Malika Carter as the city's first Chief Diversity Officer. Today's announcement of translation services coincides with the city's push to better serve its diverse base.
The City of Worcester has partnered with nonprofit Ascentria Care Alliance to provide language bank services for over 90 languages to improve access to city services for residents with limited English proficiency.
“Worcester is a city of immigrants, and the city is taking steps to assure that all of our residents, no matter what languages they speak, can access important information and benefit from programs and services,” City Manager Edward Augustus said in a statement. “If we want to become an even more welcoming city, we must do everything we can to embrace and support people of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.”
The contract with Ascentria requires interpreters to be available either on-site or by telephone for city employees interacting with the public -- including at City Hall and on site during situations like code inspections and public safety situations.
According to Anh Sawyer, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Coalition of Massachusetts (SEAC), and Kaska Yawo, Executive Director & Co-founder of the African Community Education (ACE) Program, having translations available will allow for smoother and better integration of the large immigrant communities in Worcester. This will only speed up the integration of groups looking to build their lives in the city.
This policy is part of a larger effort by the City Manager and numerous city departments to make municipal government more inclusive, diverse, and reflective of the community it serves. According to a release from the city, since the strategy was introduced in April, the city has hired a Chief Diversity Officer, reconstituted the Worcester Clergy Police Partnership, appointed seven of nine members to a newly-formed Diversity and Inclusion Commission, and taken a number of steps to improve police relationships with diverse communities.
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