Office of Language Access

• Oli: Johanna K. Chock-Tam, Administrator (video recording)
  ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Program, Hawai’i State Judiciary
• Introduction: Debi Tulang-DeSilva, Director
  Office on Equality and Access to the Courts, Hawai’i State Judiciary

• Terrina Wong, Deputy Director, Pacific Gateway Center
• Aphirak Bamrungruan, Executive Director, Office of Language Access

• Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AANHPI Senior Liaison
  The White House, Washington, District of Columbia

• Dr. Amefil (Amy) Agbayani, Commissioner on Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

Keynote Address – Plain Language: Making Content Easy for Citizens to Understand (video recording)

Join us for an enlightening session with our keynote speaker, who brings a wealth of expertise in the realm of plain language. We’ll talk about plain language—what it means, why it matters, and how to use it. Our speaker will also chat about literacy rates in the US and why access matters for everyone, not just those with limited English skills. Let’s make things easier to understand together!

• Deborah Bosley, Founder & Principal
  The Plain Language Group, Charlotte, North Carolina

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In this session, we will uncover the significance of language access coordinators and explore into their roles across different levels of government – federal, state, and city – to ensure agencies meet language access obligations. Listen to their experiences as they share insights into bridging language gaps and facilitating meaningful access for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) residents to government services, programs, and activities. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal roles that Language Access Coordinators play in creating a more accessible and integrated community.Moderator: Randall Landry, Esq., Title VI Coordinator, Department of Transportation, Honolulu, HI

• Ana Paula Noguez Mercado, Language Access Coordinator
  Office of Access to Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
• Cari Uesugi, Language Access Program Manager
  Department of Human Services, State of Hawai’i
• Jodie Stanley, International Services and Language Access Coordinator
  Human Rights Department, City of Greensboro, North Carolina

Fluent in more than one language is a great asset. In this session, we will explore the pathway to utilizing your multilingual skills in dynamic fields such as medical, legal, and community interpreting. You’ll hear firsthand experiences from experts who have navigated these industries, leveraging their linguistic abilities to open doors to numerous possibilities. Discover how your language skills can create bridges of communication, foster understanding, and make a difference for our diverse community.
Moderator: Barbara Tom, Director of Waipahu Safe Heaven, Honolulu, Hawai’i

• Christopher Dimmick – Nationally Certified Medical Interpreter (NBCMI) – Spanish
  President, MDtranslation, Honolulu, Hawai’i
• Cristina Arsuaga – Federally Certified Spanish Interpreter
  President, Cristina Arsuaga, Inc., Honolulu, Hawai’i
• Suzanne Zeng – Community Interpreter
  President, Language Services Hawai’i, Honolulu, Hawai’i

• Jeremiah Brown, English Learners (EL) Program Coordinator
  The Multilingual Marauders, Waipahu Highschool, Waipahu, Hawai’i

Technology plays a pivotal role in connecting individuals to information. As of January 2023, English was the most popular language for web content, representing nearly 59 percent of websites (source).  For immigrant and refugee community members who do not use English, interacting with our State agencies in the digital world can often be challenging. In this section, you will gain insights into the unique hurdles encountered by persons prefer languages other than English in the digital maze, and how these challenges impact their ability to access government information, services, and opportunities. Panelists will share tools, best practices and recommendations for government employees, language service professionals, and community organizations to work together to engage with community members digitally in a meaningful and equitable way.
Moderator: Aphirak Bamrungruan, Executive Director, Office of Language Access

• Emily Yaffe, Language Access Manager
  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Department, City of San Antonio, TX
• Peggy Liao, Language Access Program Manager
  Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, City of Seattle, WA
• Rev. Won-Seok Yuh, Pastor
  The First United Methodist Church of Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawai’i

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In a diverse community, interpreters and translators play a crucial role in facilitating effective communication across languages and cultures. To thrive in this competitive field, it is essential for language service providers to continuously enhance their skills, knowledge, and professional development strategies. For consumers, recognizing qualifications that demonstrate knowledge and skill is important when considering the hiring of individuals with the right training, qualifications, and experience to provide language services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients. In this session, speakers from local institutions will share their programs and efforts aimed at increasing the pool of competent language service providers and supporting our multilingual workforce. These efforts include elevating language proficiency and pursuing relevant certifications or professional development opportunities to stay at the forefront of the industry.

Moderator: Melody M. Kubo, Court Interpreting Services Coordinator, Hawai’i State Judiciary

• Carol Hoshiko, Dean
  Community and Continuing Education, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu, HI

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• Debi Tulang-DeSilva, Director
  Office on Equality and Access to the Courts, Hawai’i State Judiciary

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• Dina Yoshimi, Director
  Hawai’i Language Roadmap Initiative, University of Hawai’i-Mānoa, Honolulu, HI

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Moderator: Terrina Wong, Deputy Director, Pacific Gateway Center, Honolulu, Hawai’i
                      Aphirak Bamrungruan, Executive Director, Office of Language Access

• Presenters: We are thrilled to have esteemed speakers from today’s conference who specialize in various fields related to the topics we’ve been exploring.

                                             Get ready for an enlightening and engaging session!

• Aphirak Bamrungruan, Executive Director
  Office of Language Access, State of Hawai’i