World Speaks has an incredible team

AN INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT KEEPS GROWING!

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Hi Reader,

The World Speaks team is small, but we get things done! So far this summer, we've had the first Language Access Week, attended World Refugee Day, moved our offices, kicked off summer classes, AND welcomed a new team member!

We’d like you to meet Cruz Cabrera, the newest member of the World Speaks team! Cruz is our Linguistic Coordinator! Cruz was born in California, but raised in central Nebraska in a Guatemalan family. Her desire to serve the community by bridging differences across culture and language brought her to join the World Speaks team: “My passion is to help others. At World Speaks we are working with the community to help others in the most fundamental of ways, to communicate and understand each other.”

Cruz holds a Biology degree from UNO and a Master of Public Health from Creighton University. Her professional background includes work in the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors. We are so excited to have her join us!

To celebrate our new team member and a visit from our Programs Manager, Paulina Campos Guzman, the team visited Luli Creative House and had new photos taken for our website! Thanks so much to Luli and Ariel Panowicz for some great results!

COMMUNITY INTERPRETER TRAINING

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Together with the Douglas County Health Department and the Community Language Cooperative, World Speaks presented the Community Interpreter Training from July 9 to 11! The Community Interpreter Training gives fully bilingual/multilingual community members the opportunity to use their skills to dismantle linguistic oppression in their communities.

During the training, participants learned not only interpreting ethics, techniques, and interpreter care but also lessons on intersectionality and the importance of centering our stories. They were also provided with initial steps for freelancing, forming a network or co-op, and institutionalizing language justice within the organizations they are involved in.

My favorite part of the Community Interpreter Training was the deep dive into Language Justice and understanding our role as advocates for our communities. This training emphasized the critical responsibilities we hold as interpreters, not just in interpreting words but in bridging cultural gaps and ensuring equitable communication. I hope that those who went through the training feel empowered to make a significant impact in their communities. Having more trained interpreters can foster greater inclusion and understanding, ultimately strengthening the bonds within our diverse society.

Pictured in the lead photo, from left to right, are Arturo Aceves González (Language Accessibility Manager), Anahí Salazar Angulo (Board Member), Leah Whitney Chavez (Executive Director & Founder), and Paulina Campos Guzman (Programs Manager), at the Community Interpreter Training!

SUMMER SCHOOL IS IN!

Summer classes are in full swing, and we can’t wait to see what our students learn! This screenshot is taken from our Spanish Grammar 101 Virtual Class, where students learn basic grammar concepts and structures and how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the present tense. It’s a way for students to go deeper after they complete Conversational Spanish 101!

Want to take a class this fall? Mark your calendars for August 30 - we’ll open classes for our newsletter subscribers then!

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WEITZ FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANTEE GATHERING

The Weitz Family Foundation is one of World Speaks' incredible supporters, and it sponsors our community language classes.

That's why we were so excited to join them for their annual grantee gathering! We got to learn about their grantee program and hear from other organizations in the community! Thanks so much to the Weitz Family Foundation for supporting us - and for hosting this incredible event!

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GET INVOLVED

Want to join World Speaks in our work? There are several ways you can do so!

Volunteer! We are always looking for native speakers who are interested in being in-class mentors. We’d love to have you join us this fall!
Donate —Your donation at any time of year allows us to continue to offer free programming and services!
Visit our store for unique World Speaks mugs, tote bags, and more featuring our Super Power Wear!