“I feel useless.”
A mom said this to me. She said this to me as she was actively showing up and gathering resources and people to help her and her family.
She often attends community resource fairs with her kids but, more often than not, is unable to engage with providers or the materials on the tables because they are not offered in Spanish. She goes around the tables, growing more and more discouraged.
When talking to me, she expressed how she feels useless and wishes she could be more involved in Carroll County for the sake of her kids.
In Carroll County, Hispanic and Latino individuals make up 4.6% of the population, totaling approximately 8,125 individuals. As the largest and most rapidly growing racial group in the county, it is crucial to have materials readily available in both English and Spanish. This practice sets a precedent as we anticipate a growing need for translations into other languages.
Conversations with our local school system, which offers interpreter services for families and ESOL classes for students, and our community college, which provides adult ESOL classes, have highlighted the rapid growth in primarily Spanish-speaking families and individuals. With limited support in place for such rapid growth, organizations often scramble to find proper resources for these families and individuals.
At one of our Chromebook distributions, I met a family who had only been in the country for about six months. A mother came with her 8-year-old and 10-year-old children, intending for her 8-year-old to translate for them. This child was visibly nervous. The entire family sighed in relief when they realized I could speak Spanish. This family found out about the Chromebook distributions because of the flyers and online materials we shared in English and Spanish. They knew what documents to bring because of these materials. Even if I hadn’t been there, my coworkers would have been able to communicate with the mother directly thanks to those resources. Translation matters because it helps prevent children from being placed in stressful situations with high expectations. Providing materials in families’ native languages is a crucial step toward reducing stress and ensuring effective communication.
“The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words, and that if you know the words the world is made of, you can make it whatever you wish,” said Terence McKenna. If we don’t know the words, we don’t feel empowered. Language is how we create and understand, and when we don’t share it, it can be hard to share creation and understanding with others.
To create a true community, we must create in the languages our community uses. By providing content in the native language of your audience, you demonstrate respect and appreciation for their culture and identity. This practice fosters a sense of belonging, ensures clearer communication, and builds stronger, more meaningful connections. When people receive content in their native language, they feel seen and valued; they can contribute their talents and perspective; they can involve themselves and their families in the community they live in.
A commitment to offering materials in one’s native language is a commitment to understanding and welcoming the diverse backgrounds of your audience. It also signifies a commitment to inclusivity and enhances the overall effectiveness of an organization’s message, creating greater engagement and trust.
