Welcome to the Many Languages One Voice and D.C. Language Access Coalition website!

Join the DC Language Access Coalition for an evening celebrating DC's immigrant communities on Thursday, November 3 at the Gala Theatre from 6 - 9pm. Many Stories, One Night includes:

* The release of preliminary findings of The State of Language Access in D.C., a comprehensive report documenting immigrants’ experiences accessing public benefits
* A screening of Communities in Translation, Robert Winn’s documentary about the impact of the language barrier during emergencies, specifically focusing on the 2008 fire in Mount Pleasant
* Free food, childcare, and interpretation services

Read more to download the flyer in different languages:

The students in SMART's Summer Youth Employment Program have been busy learning about language access issues during this hot DC summer. The students first learned basic cinematography and how to storyboard and then applied these media studies to their understanding and advocacy of language access rights from the past three weeks. This culminated to a one day filming session last Friday, where students broke into groups and worked on creating Public Service Announcement videos. As completely original videos, the youth created the ideas, wrote the storylines, compiled their storyboards, and directed, acted/voiced, and filmed their projects. Check out some of the videos below and click here for the rest!

MLOV's Spring 2011 newsletter is now available. Download and read a PDF copy here or click here to read previous issues. Happy Reading!

Amazing work by David Steib, Staff Attorney at the The Legal Aid Society of D.C!

The determination was issued in the case of my client, Ms. X, whom I helped to file a language access complaint against DCRA. Ms. X had housing code violations in her apartment and wanted the city to conduct an inspection. On several occasions, DCRA sent a monolingual English-speaking inspector to Ms. X's home. Although Ms. X is a monolingual Spanish-speaker, the inspector did not use language line to communicate with Ms. X in her language. Rather, the inspector entered Ms. X's home and conducted the inspection without ever speaking to Ms. X in Spanish. Later, Ms. X called DCRA to request a copy of her inspection report. A female employee of DCRA answered the phone, stated "No, we don't speak Spanish," and hung up on Ms. X. Because Ms. X needed a copy of her inspection report, she asked representatives from OLA to help her to request the report. Eventually, she was able to get a copy of the report, but it was entirely in English. Several months later, Ms. X decided to file a language access complaint.

Listen to SMART Youth's very own Lalaram Guyadin featured on WAMU's Youth Voices. Lalaram compares his current American diet with his diet in his native Guyana. Read or listen to Lalaram's story at WAMU.

We are currently reviewing applications for our two AmeriCorps*VISTA positions. Thank you for your interest.

Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) is inviting applications from committed and passionate individuals for its first Board of Directors. MLOV, a community-based organization that empowers Limited and Non-English Proficient (LEP/NEP) individuals and communities to equitably access public benefits and services in the District of Columbia, incorporated in December 2010 and will acquire its 501(c)(3) status in 2011. The MLOV Board plays a crucial role in fundraising, administration and financial matters, strategic planning, and programming.

Additional information about MLOV and its Board can be found below. Please note that applications are due by June 10, 2011 and should be submitted by online survey.

Learn more about MLOV by joining our informational webinar on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:00PM ET. Please email MLOVBOD@gmail.com by Monday, May 30, 2011 to register.

Click here to read more details.

On May 8, 2011, the Smithsonian Latino Center and American History Museum organized a panel discussion in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Mt. Pleasant Riots. Moderated by José Sueiro, former publisher of La Nación newspaper, the panel included former mayor Sharon Pratt, former chief of police Isaac Fulwood Jr., Smithsonian curator and Mt. Pleasant resident Olivia Cadaval, former head of the Latino Civil Rights Task Force and local resident Pedro Avilés, and local poet, activist, and Mt. Pleasant resident Marco Del Fuego. Together they talked about the history of District of Columbia, race relations, the context that stirred the riots, and the effects of the riots on the District.

View the complete webcast below courtesy of the Smithsonian Latino Center.

Thank you to everyone that came out to support "Communities in Translation" on Wednesday, April 27, 2011! It was a wonderful way to cap off a series of exciting events during the course of Language Access Awareness Month in April. Over 100 attendees joined us at All Souls Church and your donations amounted to over $2,000 which will go towards completing Robert Winn's documentary on language barriers in emergency response situations! If you would like to continue to support our work, you can donate, volunteer, or join us in impressing the need for language access services on our elected officials in the DC City Council.

Enjoy the videos and pictures from the event!

Special thanks to each of our attendees, donors, and supporters who made this event and fundraiser so successful!

Supported by:
Mayor's Office on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs, Mayor's Office on African Affairs, DC Office on Human Rights

Sponsored by:
Patrick Coonan, Jennifer Deng-Pickett, Aryan Rodriguez, Myron Dean Quon, Nadia Firozvi, OCA-DC, Asian American Justice Center, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium

Speakers:
Soohyun "Julie" Koo, Roxana Olivas, Ngozi Nmezi, Gustavo Velasquez, Yolande Zagre, Lydia Abune

Filmmakers/Performers:
Robert Winn, Amber Carran-Fletcher, Ellie Walton, Noe, John Esparza, Staci Gorden, Marcia Jarmel, Erin Finicane, Kasey Kirby, Laura Waters Hinson, Kobina Aidoo, Rashad Ullah

Local Businesses:
Giant Food, Harris Teeter, Yes! Organic Market, Vapiano, So's Your Mom, Teaism, Nando's, Revo Nail Salon, Extremities Nails, CVS, Chop't, Cosi, Red Velvet/Tangy Sweet, Tryst, Ben & Jerry's

Interpretation:
Latino Economic Development Corporation (Anna Duncan), Multicultural Community Service (Alle Kamela, Amy Biesel, Marelisa González)

Venue:
All Souls-Beckner Advancement Fund

MLOV Board of Directors, DCLAC Executive Committee, MLOV Staff and Volunteers, S.M.A.R.T. Youth

Many Languages One Voice's (MLOV) Director, Sapna Pandya, was featured on Kassim's Corner (AM 1580) on Monday, April 25, 2011. Sapna spoke with Guled Kassim about MLOV, the DC Language Access Coalition, the Language Access Act, and MLOV's work in DC's community.

Listen to Sapna via the player below (wait for file to load and skip to her segment from the 19:35-44:48 minute mark) or visit Kassim's Corner to download the April 25, 2011 show.