The Language Access
Project
Program Overview
The Language Access Project (LAP) is our flagship social impact initiative. It promotes language access by directly enabling nonprofits to effectively serve individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Without the ability to communicate, access to vital services is extremely limited, and for many nonprofits, language assistance is simply unaffordable. The Language Access Project is the only program of its kind that provides free translation and interpretation services to selected nonprofits in Southwestern Pennsylvania, empowering those organizations to provide immigrants, migrants, and refugees with equitable access to their essential services like healthcare, education, and social supports.
We train, mentor, and then supervise a cohort of bilingual students as they provide translation and interpretation services to participating nonprofits.
How It Works
1
We choose talented bilingual university students and put them through our professional interpreter/translator training program.
2
We choose three to five local nonprofit partner organizations that work directly with immigrants and refugees in Western Pennsylvania.
3
We supervise and mentor the interns for one to two semesters while they provide written translation and onsite interpretation to the partner organizations at no cost.
4
During the semesters, we provide ongoing support and training to our partner organization that helps them prioritize documents for translation, teaches them how to work with interpreters, and how to provide meaningful, long-term language access plans and procedures.
Who Benefits?
There are four target beneficiaries of The Language Access Project.
The 40,000+ individuals with limited English proficiency living in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Our region’s nonprofit, government, and educational organizations that struggle to communicate with limited English proficiency individuals.
Our region’s talented bilingual university students gain real-world experience, mentorship, and valuable academic feedback on their translation work.
Our entire region benefits when all members of our communities experience equity and representation.
Snapshot of Past Results
Past Participants
Thank you to our past sponsors!
CONTACT
Let’s Work Together
6587 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
info@globalwordsmiths.com
Tel: 412-228-0240
OFFICE HOURS:
Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
