Language Access Coalition

Mission Statement:

"The Language Access Coalition promotes full and meaningful participation in public life, without barriers based on language, for all people."

Goals, Objectives and Strategies:

Promote public policy on language access for limited English proficient (LEP) people.
Increase capacity of public agencies and community organizations to serve LEP people.
Create responsive public services that are sensitive to the needs of LEP people.
Promote an inclusionary environment for all people.

Brief History & Accomplishments:

The Language Access Coalition (LAC) of New Orleans began as an organization formed as a response to many concerns identified at the Latino Forum of New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. The coalition was formed to bring together community members of the New Orleans Metro area from the Hispanic and Spanish speaking, Vietnamese and Vietnamese speaking and Brazilian and Portuguese speaking people to address language access issues in public policy, public agencies, community organizations, public services for the Limited English Proficient populations. LAC has focused in the areas of health care, criminal and civil justice and education as these areas affect Limited English Proficient populations in service delivery and rights as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Language Access Coalition was formally recognized by the New Orleans City Council in 2007 and has worked on the proposal and draft of City Act to address the three areas of concentration on the city government level.

Future Plans:

Currently the Language Access Coalition is focusing specifically on the proposal to state legislation and provision that address interpretation needs in the state court system. Other projects include a focus on interpretation in healthcare delivery, specifically in emergency rooms to provide for and meet the federal mandate. The Language Access Coalition will also be advocating for LEPs during the upcoming mayoral elections for the City of New Orleans.

City of NO Resolution for Language Access Coalition

Language Access Coalition 2-pager

"He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything."