October 20, 2009. The Daily Progress.
Cynthia Torres, a 14-year-old and a resident of the Charlottesville area, said she usually does not mind doing translations for her parents.
But there are some situations, such as those involving law enforcement, the workplace or medical emergencies, in which she can’t, she said. This makes her worry about the discrimination her family, and others who speak very limited or no English at all, might be subject to.
“I worry about my family in my community,” Torres said.
Hundreds of others expressed the same feelings on Monday night, when members of local grassroots group Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together, or IMPACT, decided that providing interpretive services to area residents should be the group’s paramount concern during the upcoming year.
“We want success, we want to get something accomplished,” said Rosemary Flynn, who attends the Church of the Incarnation, Roman Catholic.
Each year, members of IMPACT choose a local problem to address at its fall annual assembly. This year marked the group’s fourth assembly.
Three issues — pedestrian safety, jobs and wages and interpretive services — were put to a vote Monday, after being narrowed down over the past several months during meetings, said Brian Plum, IMPACT’s lead organizer. Problems raised related to interpretive services during those gatherings included a lack of translation services in the local courts systems, refusal of translation by police officers and a lack of translation materials sent home from area schools.
Church of the Incarnation, with 123 members, had the largest number of people at the assembly. All those present from that church, which has many Latino members among its congregation, cast their vote for interpretive services.
As such, the issue garnered 295 votes during the meeting, whereas jobs and wages and pedestrian safety received 82 and 65 votes, respectively.
“Interpretive services covers every facet of life,” said the Rev. Stanley Woodfolk, an at-large member of IMPACT. The only way needs are administered, he said, is to be able to communicate with those seeking the services.
“There must be effective communication to better a community,” he said.
Torres offered a testimony about the need for such services. She said her father has noticed an upswing in discrimination against non-English-speaking residents over the last three years.
The network of congregations is already tackling early childhood education as its priority. Thirty-three congregations comprise IMPACT, after three more were added at Monday’s assembly.
In the past, the group has pushed elected officials and various organizations to take action on a range of issues, including dental care, transportation and affordable housing.
Officials in Charlottesville and Albemarle County have credited IMPACT with expanding area transit and for boosting investments in affordable housing in their budgets. On health care, at the group’s urging, the Charlottesville Free Clinic now has a full-time dentist to provide dental care for uninsured adults.
