Better access to services and resources for multilingual community members begins with proactive approach to language barriers

Contacts: Emily Miota, emiota@kidsforward.org or Lisa Cruz, lisa@ourmci.org 

Madison, WI – With kids heading back to the classroom and many employers and organizations budgeting for next year, now is the time to ensure that everyone in Wisconsin can participate by including language access in an organization’s 2025 planning.

“Our community is rich with diverse cultures and languages, so we need to ensure every person has access to information that allows them to live well and take care of their loved ones,” said Amanda Martinez, Senior Policy Analyst for Kids Forward, “Now’s the time for organizations to get proactive about creating robust language access plans and ensuring that all families, regardless of language, can access the critical resources they need.” 

Opportunity for Every Wisconsinite

Wisconsin is home to approximately 295,000 immigrants with more than 140 different languages spoken by students. Out of all of the languages spoken, Hmong and Spanish are most common. Addressing language barriers allows individuals to more meaningfully participate in the services and opportunities organizations offer, a step towards equity. 

Successful language access means ensuring that these individuals who do not speak English can still effectively communicate and access the same services, opportunities, and information as English-speaking individuals. Ensuring clear, equal access up front—not just translations upon request— means families are able to secure basic needs and services. The reality of limited language access in our state raises questions about the inclusivity and equity of services provided to diverse communities. 

Change Overdue

“The pandemic showed us all what happens when families don’t have the information and resources they need to stay healthy because they speak a different language,” shared Martinez.

At the height of the pandemic, many immigrant communities had a harder time accessing basic needs because of language barriers. This disconnect contributed to immigrant communities and communities of color being more likely to die or face a financial burden because of the pandemic. 

“One of the first barriers we focused on during the pandemic was language access. At that time, we proactively took institutional information regarding the disease and ensured our multilingual speaking community members had translated and accessible information firsthand as a priority. This experience is an opportunity for us to reflect and learn that we can and do need to do better,” said Lisa Cruz, executive director for the Multicultural Coalition, Inc., located in northeast Wisconsin. The organization served thousands of multilingual community members with pop-up vaccination, health and information events during the pandemic.

Ensuring everyone can communicate and participate is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the law for anyone that receives federal funding. Language access services are a shared responsibility among various entities, including state agencies, local governments, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and other organizations that receive federal funding. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination based on national origin is prohibited, and it requires recipients of federal funds to ensure meaningful access to programs and services for multilingual speakers. If an agency does not receive federal funding, it’s still important to have a system in place that provides access to services regardless of someone’s language.

“Language access isn’t just about meeting federal funding obligations; it’s about building bridges of understanding and solidarity. It’s about recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of the language they speak,” said Martinez. 

Steps to Improving Language Access

• Understanding and researching which languages are spoken in your community 
• Understanding community cultures to enhance communications
• Making it standard to provide information in more than one language by practicing linguistic inclusivity 
• Implementing a language access plan within your agency which includes how to provide translation services, interpreter availability and staff training
• Having resources in place when it comes to translations and interpretations
• Advocating for policymakers to implement a statewide language access plan
• Have “I speak” cards or posters on hand to help individuals identify their language(s). “I speak” cards are available in 11 languages for download and print.

Save the date for an in-person event/workshop on language access in the Fox Valley on Thursday, October 17.

Read more about Kids Forward’s work to remove barriers for immigrants in Wisconsin here, and  more about language access in Wisconsin here.

About Kids Forward

Kids Forward is a statewide antiracist policy center that inspires action and advocates for children and families of color and those furthest from opportunity in Wisconsin. The organization envisions a Wisconsin where every child thrives. 

About Multicultural Coalition, Inc.

Multicultural Coalition, Inc. (MCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was developed in October 2020 with the vision to improve the lives of all by creating a community that prospers together. Multicultural Coalition, Inc.’s mission is to elevate all communities of color through responsive and innovative actions to create and build a movement of positive and sustainable change, together. MCI’s vision is to create sustainable communities that prosper together through a collective vision of dismantling systemic barriers and centering humanitarianism.  

For more information, visit ourmci.org and Multicultural Coalition, Inc. on Facebook.

Lisa Cruz, Executive Director, lisa@ourmci.org 

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