Happy Birthday, ATA!
On May 1, 1959, a group of freelance translators and agency owners gathered for a meeting at New York University for the purpose of chartering a new organization for translators and interpreters. Several weeks later, a name was chosen: the American Translators Association. Tomorrow, May 1, 2025, marks ATA’s 66th year!
Help commemorate #ATAday by connecting with us on social media and sharing your experience as an ATA member and language professional. We look forward to hearing from you, and happy 66th birthday to ATA!
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National Weather Service to Resume Translating Its Products for Non-English Speakers
Associated Press (4/24/25)
The National Weather Service (NWS) will resume translating its products for non-English speakers by the end of April.
NWS paused the translations of weather forecasts and alerts earlier this month because its contract with the provider had lapsed. Experts warned the pause would put many non-English speakers at risk of missing potentially life-saving warnings about extreme weather. Experts also stressed that general weather forecasts are just as essential for people working in tourism, transportation, and energy.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the parent agency to NWS, said in a statement: “The National Weather Service’s contract to produce common language translations has been reinstated. Translation capabilities are expected to be operational on or before the end of the day on Monday, April 28.”
According to 2019 Census data, nearly 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home, including 42 million Spanish speakers.
Washington State Senate Passes Bill Enhancing Court Interpreting Services for Non-English Speakers
Hoodline (4/8/25) By Emily Tran
The Washington State Senate has passed a bill to enhance court interpreting services, paving the way for greater access to fair trials for limited-English-proficient (LEP) individuals.
House Bill 1174, sponsored by State Representative Strom Peterson, received overwhelming support, passing with a 46-3 vote. The law will take effect 90 days following the end of the legislative session on April 27.
House Bill 1174 seeks to fortify the court interpreter credentialing process and lays out clear procedures for the provision of interpreters. Under the bill, LEP individuals will find navigating court processes less daunting. The bill ensures those individuals will not be responsible for paying for necessary interpreting services, a move proponents argue is essential for upholding justice. (Washington’s Administrative Office of the Courts will take on financial responsibility in these circumstances.)
Citing the ongoing challenges faced by residents, especially non-English speakers, in asserting their rights, Peterson underscored the urgency of the legislation: “Rights are being stripped away from residents in our country every day, especially for those who don’t speak English as their primary language. The legal system isn’t just if some of the people interacting with it can’t understand what is happening.”
Trump Administration Cuts Funding for Ukrainian Literature Translations at Harvard
Euromaidan Press (4/5/25) By Alya Shandra
The U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities has terminated a grant for publishing Ukrainian literature in English translation at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI), citing a repurposing of funds “in furtherance of the President’s agenda,” according to Oleh Kotsyuba, director of print and digital publications at HURI.
“The way this termination affects us is that it basically limits our ability to work on these projects,” Kotsyuba said. “We were supposed to be able to hire a part-time editor to work on projects for the next two years, and now, because of the termination of this grant, we won’t be able to do that, which obviously puts the projects in jeopardy.”
The grant termination comes at a critical time when preserving and promoting Ukrainian culture and pushing back against Russian narratives has taken on heightened significance during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
HURI’s publications program has published 14 volumes of Ukrainian literature in translation over the past three and a half years, establishing itself as a leading platform for making Ukrainian voices accessible to global audiences. According to Kotsyuba, this was the first federal grant HURI had received for its publications in over 30 years. It would have allowed the institute to showcase Ukrainian contemporary and classic literary works to English-language audiences.
For HURI, which has been cultivating scholars in Ukrainian history, language, and culture since its founding in 1973, the grant termination places significant financial strain on the institute, which operates independently from Harvard University’s general endowment. HURI is now seeking alternative funding sources to continue its vital work in preserving and promoting Ukrainian literature.
“At this time, we are primarily trying to find sources to replace this funding, and so we call on all people of goodwill, on people who have meaningful wealth to be able to support this project, this program, to contribute and donate to the publications and help us continue with publishing these works,” Kotsyuba said.
A County in Illinois Rolls Out “I Speak” Cards as Part of April’s “Language Access Month”
WGN9 (4/9/25) By Michael Johnson and Erik Runge
Cook County in Illinois is trying to make navigating its services easier for people, regardless of the language they speak.
People who don’t speak English and need help from the county can pick up an “I Speak” Card at the Sheriff’s Kiosk in the Cook County Building or at the George W. Dunne Cook County Administration Building. The card has 34 languages listed on it to help get people to the right Cook County department and to someone who speaks their primary language.
“Here in Cook County, we’re committed to meeting people where they are,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “That means recognizing that language is a barrier, but it doesn’t have to be.”
The “I Speak” Card initiative was spearheaded by 13th District Commissioner Josina Morita and was announced as part of Cook County’s “Language Access Month,” which is being recognized for the first time throughout April. The effort is being made in part to combat the Trump administration’s rollback of some of its language services and designating English as the official language of the United States.
“We believe that language access is a human right,” Morita said. “Language access is essential. In many ways, there is nothing more basic than the right to communicate, to be understood, and to be represented, recognized, and respected.”
Non-English speakers can use the “I Speak” Card by showing it to a county employee and pointing to their language. The other side of the card tells the employee in English what language the person needing assistance is pointing to so they can get the help they need.
While the “I Speak” Cards are now available only at the two aforementioned locations, there are plans to expand them to other county facilities in the future.
Pennsylvania Recruiting Bilingual Workers with a Pay Incentive Pilot Program
Whyy PBS (4/15/25) By Cory Sharber
Pennsylvania is launching a six-month pilot program to recruit more than a thousand bilingual workers to the state’s workforce. The pilot program will focus on recruiting workers to help connect residents to employment services and unemployment compensation benefits and services.
A relationship between the Commonwealth and Service Employees International Union Local 668 will allow roughly 1,100 employees—who speak and can write in Spanish—to be eligible for an additional $1 per hour, equaling roughly $1,000 over the six-month pilot.
“There should be no wrong door for Pennsylvanians who want to contact state government and access the information and services they deserve,” Governor Josh Shapiro said in a release. “Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians speak a language other than English—I want them to be able to reach out to their state government and receive efficient, effective service just the same as anyone else.”
To qualify for the pay incentive, workers must meet minimum requirements established by the Department of Labor and Industry for verbal and/or written Spanish proficiency.
“We want to make sure that Pennsylvanians can access services from the Commonwealth that meet them where they are in language and accessibility,” said Office of Administration Secretary Neil Weaver. “The pilot will allow us to explore potential incentives to increase the number of bilingual employees in positions with high demand for this skill.”
Become a Sponsor or Exhibitor
Get noticed by 1,100 attendees in need of your specific products and services! ATA connects you to translators, interpreters, company owners, and employees, as well as students who will soon be entering the T&I professions. The price is right for Business Owners to sponsor at any level! We can find or create a just for you and maximize your product, value incentives, and services in front of top T&I professionals. Becoming an ATA66 Annual Conference Sponsor and/or Exhibitor allows you to:
- Tap into our online audience reach (80,000+ followers on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram) – all viewing you as an ATA sponsor.
- Access exclusive viewership within Newsbriefs, our e-newsletter directed to 7,000+ monthly subscribers.
- Spotlight your logo everywhere at our Boston conference location on ATA66 signage and in the conference app.
- Receive discounts on ATA advertising (based on sponsorship level).
Contact Chelsey Sleeter sponsors@atanet.org to discuss your options!
Become a Sponsor! Become an Exhibitor!
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