{"id":2787,"date":"2025-01-29T13:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T18:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=2787"},"modified":"2025-01-29T13:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T18:51:10","slug":"nyc-council-nyic-announce-launch-of-first-ever-language-access-bank-and-the-protect-nyc-families-initiative-to-support-communities-in-response-to-the-federal-administration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2025\/01\/29\/2787\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC Council, NYIC Announce Launch of First-Ever Language Access Bank and the Protect NYC Families Initiative to Support Communities in Response to the Federal Administration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Organized by New York Immigration Coalition \u2013 with support from New Immigrant Community Empowerment, La Colmena, Mixteca, and Immigrant-ARC \u2013 NYC Community Interpreter Bank will address language access needs citywide<\/em><\/p>\n

More than $2 million in Council funding to go towards over 60 organizations to support immigrant communities<\/em><\/p>\n

City Hall, NY \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Today, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Members, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), and community partners announced the launch of New York City\u2019s first-ever Community Interpreter Bank and the Protect NYC Families initiative on the steps of City Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The NYC Community Interpreter Bank centralizes interpretation services available to immigrants across the five boroughs and will recruit, train, and dispatch interpreters to City-funded legal service providers, community navigation sites, and City Council offices. Interpreters fluent in the most commonly requested languages will help ensure that every immigrant in the city can access services and information in their preferred language. In Fiscal Year 2025, the Council allocated $1.4 million to initiate the Community Interpreter Bank.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Through the Protect NYC Families initiative, the Council allocated over $2 million in funding to over 60 nonprofit organizations to provide more support for increased legal services, rapid response efforts, helplines, and critical community trainings. This new funding will allow providers to expand their capacity and respond to evolving challenges facing New York City\u2019s immigrant communities. This funding comes as nonprofit providers continue to face overwhelming demand for services given escalating federal immigration enforcement and abrupt policy shifts. A list of organizations receiving funding can be found\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0in Chart 19.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photos can be\u00a0found here<\/a>, and the livestream of the press conference can be\u00a0viewed here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York City is a proud city of immigrants, and we must support our city\u2019s families from attacks by the Trump administration,\u201d said\u00a0Speaker Adrienne Adams<\/strong>. \u201cThe Council is proud to allocate more than $2 million in emergency funding for our Protect NYC Families Initiative, which will provide flexible funding for dozens of non-profit organizations that serve immigrant New Yorkers. We are also proud to celebrate the Council\u2019s investments to create the city\u2019s first Community Interpreter Bank, which will help ensure that services are available in the languages that residents speak. I thank my Council colleagues, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the many partner organizations whose work is critical to protecting and strengthening our city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cLanguage interpretation services are a vital pillar of a healthy, thriving, and diverse New York City, for both new and long-term immigrants navigating complex systems in an unfamiliar language. The NYC Community Interpreter Bank ensures these individuals can access critical services in their preferred language while also creating a direct pipeline to employment for New Yorkers trained in interpretation,\u201d said\u00a0Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of New York Immigration Coalition<\/strong>. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to the New York City Council and our partners for their vision and investment, recognizing the vital role of language access in fostering a more inclusive city.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

A pivotal component of the Language Justice Collaborative\u2019s \u201cLanguage Access Workforce Initiative,\u201d the NYC Community Interpreter Bank will create sustainable pathways for community members to gain certification and employment as interpreters to provide essential language services to limited English proficient (LEP) New Yorkers. The LJC is led by the NYIC, African Communities Together (ACT), Asian American Federation (AAF), Haitian-Americans United for Progress (HAUP), and Masa.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The second of its kind in the country, and the first in the state, the NYC Community Interpreter Bank will recruit interpreters from all over the city including from other worker-owned language cooperatives and interpreters who have completed CUNY Hostos interpreter certification courses. Eligible interpreters will either be contracted with one of the co-ops and certified by their cooperative or have completed Hostos Community College\u2019s first-ever Community Interpreter Certification course. These interpreters will work as independent contractors, delivering vital language services across the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Recognizing the diverse and growing immigrant population in New York City, the City Council allocated funding through the Language Access Workforce Initiative to establish the NYC Community Interpreter Bank in FY 2025. The investment acknowledges the vital role of language access in fostering a more inclusive city and addressing the unique challenges faced by asylum seekers arriving in unprecedented numbers. For more information on the Language Access Workforce Initiative and the NYC Community Interpreter Bank, visit\u00a0www.languagejustice.nyc<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe New York City Community Interpreter Bank will greatly expand language access to our vibrant immigrant communities, enabling people to more easily receive legal services from city-funded partners, receive translation services at community navigation sites, and get support from local City Council offices,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Alexa Aviles, Chair of the Committee on Immigration<\/strong>. \u201cNot only will translation services now be dispatched to meet people on site, this program will open up new job opportunities to multilingual New Yorkers. This, alongside the roughly $2 million in new funding that the Council is distributing across immigration service providers to expand their programs, will equip our immigrant neighbors with greater resources during a terrifying political moment. At a time when our communities are expressing need, the Council is being responsive in distributing funds to vulnerable community members. I\u2019m proud to stand alongside immigration advocates in implementing these new initiatives. Together, we are re-affirming our status as a sanctuary city and protecting the millions of immigrants that make our city whole.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, we\u2019re taking steps to advance true language justice across the five boroughs with the launch of the first Community Interpreter Bank in New York City, an initiative that I\u2019ve championed since my early days as an elected official,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Shahana Hanif<\/strong>. \u201cNew York City is the most linguistically diverse city in the world, but for too long, we\u2019ve relied on outsourcing translation and interpretation services, a model that has failed to meet the needs of our immigrant communities. Every New Yorker, regardless of the language they speak, deserves to be heard, understood, and included. This initiative will help transition our City\u2019s lagging language infrastructure to a community-driven, comprehensive approach to language access. I\u2019m especially excited to see the rollout of this program in immigrant neighborhoods like Kensington\u2019s Little Bangladesh, where I grew up and now represent and the need for language access resources is particularly urgent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cImmigrants have shaped New York City into a global beacon of hope and opportunity over the last 400 years and the City Council is committed to honoring that legacy,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Carlina Rivera.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cDeepened investments in immigration-related legal services ensures that every New Yorker, regardless of status, feels supported and protected as they navigate the court system. Our city will come together to defend our neighbors and challenge federal policies that restrict asylum or expand expedited removal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we all know, this is a time of growing uncertainty and fear for many immigrant families,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Sandra Ung<\/strong>. \u201cWith deportations on the rise and ever-changing immigration policies, it has never been more important to ensure that our communities have access to the resources and protections they need. No one should have to live in fear because they don\u2019t have access to information or services in their own language. No family should be forced to face deportation proceedings without the legal representation they deserve. These initiatives represent the very best of what we stand for as a city, and the New York City Council is committed to supporting the community organizations working tirelessly to provide these essential services.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York City is a city of immigrants,\u201d said\u00a0Council Member Keith Powers<\/strong>. \u201cThis is a city where people travel from faraway places to pursue their dreams, where neighbors come from different countries, have different life experiences and speak different languages. That diversity is what makes New York so special; we learn from each other and create a rich cultural fabric by living side by side. Today the Council is amplifying that diversity and uplifting our immigrant communities, which is especially important in a time when so many of our neighbors are fearful of the rhetoric in our country. New York will always be a home for them, and we are committing to that again today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0“As a body, The City Council has stood firm in its support of our immigrant communities across the five boroughs,” said\u00a0Council Member Crystal Hudson.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cWhile legislation and advocacy are vital in improving the lives of millions of New Yorkers, these budget initiatives will deliver tangible change and work to protect some of our most vulnerable populations. Information is currency, and we must do everything we can to ensure every New Yorker has full access to available resources and services\u2014including in the languages they speak. New York has always been a city for all, and I commend Speaker Adams, Deputy Speaker Ayala, and Council Member Aviles for standing firm for a more inclusive NYC.\u201d<\/p>\n

“At this critical juncture, there is an increased need for legal services and information dissemination as ICE spreads fear in our communities,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.<\/strong> \u201cOver a third of New Yorkers are immigrants, and it is our responsibility to invest in their safety. Through the Protect NYC Families initiative, the Council provides support to community organizations that have already been on the front lines fending for families against immoral policies such as NMIC in District 10. We will continue to denounce illegal and immoral acts pushed by the Trump agenda because New York City doesn’t bend to bullies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLanguage accessibility is vital for the immigrant community, especially in these challenging times,” said\u00a0Arlette Cepeda, Deputy Director, La Colmena.<\/strong>\u00a0“Initiatives like the interpreter banks, led by immigrants themselves, are crucial. It’s not just about breaking language barriers; it’s about ensuring cultural competency as well. This initiative embodies that mission, with immigrants leading the way in interpretation because they understand firsthand the significance of this work.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP) is proud to be a part of the transformative Language Justice Collaborative,\u201d said\u00a0Elsie Saint Louis, CEO, Haitian Americans United for Progress.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cCreating a Haitian language services worker cooperative empowers our community by combining economic opportunity with cultural preservation. This initiative ensures that Haitian Creole speakers can access essential services in their native language while contributing to a more inclusive and equitable New York City.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an honor to be partnered with NYIC and all the member organizations of the Language Justice Collaborative, as this historic Community Interpreter Bank is launched in New York City,\u201d said\u00a0Camille Mackler, Executive Director, Immigrant-ARC.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cLanguage access plays a vital role in enabling our immigrant community members to access effective legal representation and access to justice. We at I-ARC are grateful for the opportunity to further the organization\u2019s mission as the interpreter bank initiative will allow those in our legal services provider network to access trained and certified interpreters in a wide array of languages which will be essential in the days ahead.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSince its founding, Mixteca has been committed to breaking down language barriers for immigrant communities, particularly for indigenous language speakers who often face unique challenges accessing critical services,\u201d said\u00a0Lorena Kourousias, Executive Director, Mixteca Organization, Inc.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe launch of the NYC Community Interpreter Bank is a pivotal step toward ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of their native language, can navigate city systems with dignity and ease. We are proud to support this initiative and continue our advocacy for language access and cultural inclusion.<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Language access is not just a convenience\u2014it\u2019s a lifeline,” said\u00a0Ahyoung Kim, Director of Economic Empowerment, Asian American Federation.<\/strong>\u00a0“With 43% of Asian New Yorkers being limited English proficient, language access is the biggest challenge and barrier our communities face when using essential city services. The NYC Community Interpreter Bank is a transformative step in making sure that every New Yorker can access the resources they need, no matter what languages they speak. AAF welcomes the launch of this project, and is proud to be working with our partners on this critical effort to build a worker-owned cooperative for Asian language interpreters.”<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York City’s beautiful diversity has been stifled by the significant barriers to language access, particularly for our communities who speak Languages of Limited Diffusion (LLDs),\u201d\u00a0said Maimouna Dieye, Program Manager, African Communities Together.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe NYC Community Interpreter Bank is a huge leap forward in our collective work to build a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient community here in New York City. African Communities Together looks forward to continuing to work closely with the city and partners to push forward more equitable solutions to language inaccessibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we talk about language access, the City Council\u2019s investment of $2M for the Protecting NYC Families Funding Initiative will be critical in equipping 60 community-based organizations to provide rapid response services to immigrant New Yorkers in various languages. For Asian New Yorkers, nearly half of whom have limited English proficiency, having access to accurate information, resources, and trainings in their native language will provide them with more choice and safety.<\/p>\n

Maimouna Dieye<\/strong>\u00a0continued, \u201cThank you to City Council leadership for this important investment. It\u2019s a critical step in the right direction, and we urge City Council leadership to significantly expand funding to properly strengthen immigrant-serving organizations to build up their rapid response services so we can provide greater protections for all vulnerable immigrant New Yorkers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn just nine short days since the Inauguration, we have witnessed a relentless wave of executive actions aimed at mass deportations, retribution, and the destabilization of the rule of law,\u201d said\u00a0McGregor Smyth, Executive Director of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest<\/strong>. \u201cThe human cost to immigrant New Yorkers will be devastating. Community-based organizations, nonprofits, faith institutions, and businesses serving or employing immigrants will form a crucial shield. However, these entities will also become direct targets of federal agencies conducting raids, suppressing advocacy, and cutting essential services to immigrants. With the leadership and expanded support from our allies in the City Council, nonprofit partners, and member law firms, NYLPI will provide urgent legal counsel to immigrant New Yorkers and establish a resource center and defense network for nonprofits, healthcare providers, and other entities serving or employing immigrant New Yorkers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Organized by New York Immigration Coalition \u2013 with support from New Immigrant Community Empowerment, La Colmena, Mixteca, and Immigrant-ARC \u2013 NYC Community Interpreter Bank will address language access needs citywide<\/em><\/p>\n

More than $2 million in Council funding to go towards over 60 organizations to support immigrant communities<\/em><\/p>\n

City Hall, NY \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Today, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Members, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), and community partners announced the launch of New York City\u2019s first-ever Community Interpreter Bank and the Protect NYC Families initiative on the steps of City Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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