The International Child Program (ICP)

I want to expand our work, to level the playing field for underserved communities, through communication. More than 40% of the estimated 6,000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. Every 2 weeks, a language disappears, taking with it an entire cultural & intellectual heritage. As a Harlem, New York based, nonprofit youth arts organization, we find ourselves regularly addressing the distinct challenges of the diverse immigrant families of our youth participants. It is impossible to enhance the lives of young people without supporting their families. One of the biggest family issues is their inability to speak enough English to resolve daily obstacles. In response to the overwhelming need for clarity in navigating the healthcare and legal systems; locating adequate food, clothing, and housing resources; access to information regarding societal rights and more; our organization created our own language interpreter telephone helpline. In response to our success in Harlem and the Bronx, as well as a demand to expand our service network, I would like to train other organizations to establish their own helplines. With certified and professional interpreters (and translators), who can be more culturally sensitive, efficient, and effective for the underserved languages in their neighborhoods.

I was born in Harlem, NY, to extraordinarily talented and loving actors. Their influence led me to develop my music, theater, and dance training, into a vibrant artistic career, which included Europe and Africa. I used these opportunities to study language and language interpretation. And I matured with a cultural awareness and understanding of the people of many nations. My parents always emphasized the importance of arts education, giving back to the community, and creating something to support future generations. As a certified language interpreter, I collaborate with the two largest interpreter/translator companies for NYC; and I am aware of their strengths and shortcomings. Community based telephone language interpreter helplines would better serve the city. Our service has supported public service announcements regarding CDC guidelines and best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic; weekly informative Zoom conferences highlighting the changing activities worldwide (regarding COVID-19); updates from the Mayor’s office of immigrant affairs; data collection for the 2020 Census; the Mayor’s daily conferences, and weekly tele-town halls for spiritual leaders. All of this was made available in multiple languages. Like myself, local interpreters are known in these communities, address their needs, and understand the cultural mores and traditions.

NY is a marvelous multicultural immigrant city with unlimited opportunities. Unfortunately, it is also very segregated. Neighborhoods, often separated by food, customs, and language, provide residents with security in work and social conveniences; but curb economic opportunities; sustain a limited English proficiency status amongst individuals; inhabitants have little knowledge of their rights; as well as a lack of access to vital information throughout the boroughs; occupants are often isolated amongst their peoples. Communication is the key to leveling the playing field for all New Yorkers. Approximately 8.5 million people live in the New York metropolitan area, speaking over 600 languages. A historical 3.1 million are immigrants. ICP serves a culturally diverse constituency, which includes African, Caribbean, and Asian residents. As a result, ICP offers a telephone language interpreter helpline to support these underserved communities. And we are aware of their distinct daily challenges. It is possible to give equal rights to every New Yorker. Our organization is confident that multiplying neighborhood based, language interpreter telephone helplines, would be a positive advocate for change. ICP’s programming also engages youth challenged by the criminal justice system; juvenile detention centers; we encourage youth/senior citizen collaborations; as well as schools and after school programs.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a crucial time to communicate, and for a language telephone helpline service. Diverse communities across the world need access to daily updates. I work directly with the 2 largest interpreter services in NYC. As hard as they try, they are completely overwhelmed. It is not abnormal to hear that someone waited two hours to get a language appropriate interpreter on the phone (hospitals, homeless shelters, food banks). Our communities need information regarding COVID-19 testing; and access to the available vaccines. Our nonprofit is on the ground reaching its residents. This week, we helped a recent widow and her 4 young children find a home. They had been living in a homeless shelter for over 6 months. The children, all under the age of 10 years old, had not been in school because of a lack of wifi at the shelter (and no tablets for homeschooling). Unbelievably, the social worker had recruited the support of an in house custodian to try and communicate with the woman from Mali. The gentleman spoke a completely different language from another country. We must reach the needs across NYC and the world. 

Our service is an issue that effects the world. Communication is vital for humanity. The need is so great, that we often offer our services. We work very closely with the Mayor’s office of immigrant affairs. And regularly provide services for Catholic Charities, the Legal Aid Society, and Mobilization for Justice. We were proud to receive a loan from the Kiva. org resource. Most of our funding comes from our community programming for youth. Supporting multicultural youth throughout NYC schools and detention centers is truly awarding. We are an 8 times Carnegie hall / NeOn Arts grantee. The program is funded by the department of probation and the city of New York. They are aware of our interpreter service. Sadly, kids, integrated into the NYC school system, often service as interpreters for their immigrant communities. They bare the heavy burden of addressing issues such as health, housing, and the legal rights of their parents and community. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. I am confident that a telephone language interpreter helpline network is a solution.