The Center provides vital COVID-19 language access to speakers of other languages in the Mohawk Valley
UTICA, NEW YORK (April 3, 2020) – The Center announces the launch of multi-lingual Coronavirus / COVID-19 resources for speakers of other languages in the Mohawk Valley. In partnership with the Oneida County Department of Health and The City of Utica.
The Center has helped more than 16,500 individuals from 36 different countries join into the community and the workforce, and has trained more than 130 entrepreneurs—contributing significantly to the revitalization of the community and the stabilization of Utica and the county’s declining population.
The Center is positioned as the bridge between the refugee, immigrant, and secondary migrant communities and the native-born community. Building bridges between localities, employers and service providers. Language access has remained a pillar of The Center’s mission.
- Compass Interpreters, a division of The Center provides spoken-word language access in over 50 languages and has shifted all interpretation appointments to voice or video and is available on demand. scheduling@compassinterpreters.org
- Tone, the translation division continues to translate written documents in over 50+ languages, including important local languages such as Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Karen, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Swahili. The division employs a global network of professional translators and follows the industry process of translation, editing, and proofreading. Request a translation at www.tonetranslate.com or e-mail info@tonetranslate.com
In response to COVID-19, The Center has launched a multi-lingual library that contains translated flyers, interpreted voice recordings, unified information sheets with vital information for the community on health access as well as multi-lingual communication collaboration with the Utica Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriff Department. The Center and the City of Utica have created digital billboards that will display vital information in 11 languages throughout 9 locations in Utica, NY. Languages provided include Arabic, Burmese, Bosnian, English, Russian, Spanish, Karen, Somali, Maay Maay, Nepali, Kiswahili, Dari/Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Tigrinya. The list is continuously evolving.
The Center services: Employment, Office for New Americans, Making a Connection Grant, Refugee Resettlement, Traffic Safety, Immigration & Citizenship & The Welcome Center services remain available via remote access methods.
For more information, please visit TheCenterUtica.org/covid19
For the multi-lingual material library, please visit TheCenterUtica.org/covid19-resources
While we are keeping a positive spirit, this is a hard time for our clients and our organization. You can support our mission here: TheCenterUtica.org/donate
Contact:
Shelly Callahan, Executive Director
201 Bleecker Street, Utica, New York 13501
315.738.1083 -- shellyc@TheCenterUtica.org
About
The Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting refugees, immigrants, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals throughout the integration process and helps them achieve independence and self-sufficiency by developing products and services that enable us to build community with many cultures. Since its inception in 1981, the organization has been instrumental in stabilizing the area’s declining population, fostering significant economic growth, and cultivating a thriving, vibrant and inclusive multicultural community.
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