ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico’s largest city has been awarded a grant by a private foundation to increase the number of interpreters who can help non-English-speaking residents navigate local government.
The city of Albuquerque recently awarded a $45,000 contract to a nonprofit organization to boost access to language services for residents. The 18-month contract with Valley Community Interpreters is covered in full by the grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
City officials say the effort is aimed at increasing civil and economic participation by all people living in Albuquerque.
Mayor Tim Keller says the effort started by equipping every police officer with a cellphone and a contact for over-the-phone interpretation. Now, he says the language access efforts are being expanded to make more city services available to people who require an interpreter.
The contract will boost language services within those city departments that don’t already have interpreters on contract. It also calls for city employees to be trained on how to use interpreters both in person and over the phone.
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