Global Language Resources helps make General Assembly accessible to diverse participants

LOUISVILLE — Making sure that diverse voices can be engaged with the 227th General Assembly is a top priority of Global Language Resources as the denomination gathers in Milwaukee.

The five-member team led by GLR Manager Stephanie Vasquez has been working for months to ensure that people whose preferred language is Spanish or Korean can follow the proceedings in person and online.

The team, which is part of the Administrative Services Group (ASG), has contractors on-site in Milwaukee to help with various activities, including orientation sessions for Young Adult Advisory Delegates, known as YAADs, and Partner Advisory Delegates, or PADs.

The contractors also work online to assist with online committee meetings, which concluded Wednesday, as well as plenary sessions next week. 

“We have about 30 contractors that will be assisting us for this year,” including four from the Milwaukee area and some in other parts of the country, Vasquez said.

For people who want to look up overtures or access other information on the GA website, GLR has collaborated with Vicente Guna, the Director of Digital Strategy and information Systems for PC(USA)'s A Corporation, and his team to integrate tech platforms that are intended to significantly increase access to information in Korean and Spanish. 

“In the superior bar (at the top of the page), there is a toggle, and then you select English, Spanish, or Korean,” Vasquez added. After refreshing the page, “you will see the business items in the language that you have selected.”

Zoom makes it possible for plenary and committee members to hear the discussion in their preferred languages by logging into the platform and using headphones to hear online interpretation of live discussions. Their own spoken words can be interpreted as well so that English speakers can understand what they’re saying. GLR provides the interpreters for Zoom. 

Providing Spanish and Korean interpretation (spoken word) and translation (written word) is mandated by the General Assembly, but its importance goes beyond that, Vasquez said.

“I believe it's valued by our Korean and Spanish constituents that they have the tools to be able to fully participate in a General Assembly,” Vasquez said. Also, “it shows that the denomination is working towards doing the best they can to provide the space at the table for these folks to participate and let their voices be heard.”

The work of GLR also can be helpful in keeping people engaged when certain items of business are forwarded to the local level after GA. “Once these items come back to the presbyteries, and it's time to vote yay or nay, then they know what they're talking about.”

Vasquez has been planning for General Assembly since last October, so that GLR staff members are ready by the time the in-person gathering rolls around.

“I try to prepare my team as much as possible, so there are no hiccups, and our colleagues and ministry areas can rely … on our service,” she said.

During GA, Vasquez is attentive and supports those who need help, such as committee leaders.

“We go around and check and make sure that everything is going well,” she said. Bilingual members of staff “have been able to learn and partner with us and assist with any type of difficulty.”