Successful Advocacy for Translators and Interpreters

Learn how to make yourself heard and advocate for policies that support your profession!

In today’s political and legislative landscape, it is crucial for translators and interpreters to make themselves heard. Laws are being adopted and decisions are being made on local, state, national and international levels that affect how translators and interpreters earn their livelihood in a very real way. We need to advocate for policies that support our professions.

You will learn:

1. The definition of advocacy
2. Why you should advocate
3. How to identify and contact elected officials and policy makers at all levels
4. What successful advocacy at the state level looks like
5. Where you can find ATA resources to help you become a more successful advocate

About the Presenters

Eve Lindemuth Bodeux, CT, currently serves on ATA’s Board of Directors (2018–2024). She is a 25-year veteran of the language industry and an ATA-certified French-to-English translator. Eve works as a localization project manager to clients worldwide. She co-hosted the long-running Speaking of Translation podcast and is the author of the book Maintaining Your Second Language. Eve also sponsors the Global Reads Book Club for translators.

Lucy Gunderson, CT, is an ATA-certified Russian-to-English translator specializing in journalism and human rights. She is a past administrator of ATA’s Slavic Languages Division, a past chair of the ATA’s Divisions Committee, and a current member of ATA’s Advocacy Committee.

Dr. Bill Rivers is principal at WP Rivers and Associates. A former Russian-to-English translator and interpreter, he has more than 30 years’ experience in language advocacy at the national level, with significant experience in culture and language for economic development and national security in the intelligence community. Bill has also worked extensively in language policy development and advocacy. He serves on the ATA Advocacy, Standards, and Education and Pedagogy Committees.

Cristina Helmerichs D. is a conference interpreter and judiciary interpreter based in Austin, Texas. During her thirty-year career as a Spanish-English conference interpreter, much of her work has been in bilateral negotiations regarding transportation and legal matters, but she also has extensive experience in the oil industry, non-profit service organizational training, and the software security industry. Cristina is a consultant for the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam and for the Administrative Office of the US Courts. She currently serves on ATA’s Board of Directors and is chair of the association’s Interpreting Policy Advisory Committee.