Breaking Down Language Barriers: Empowering LEP Communities through Social Media and Legal Advocacy

You must log in to register
- Non-member - Free!
- Sstudent - Free!
- Member - Free!
Continue

As the U.S. becomes increasingly linguistically diverse, the importance of ensuring language rights and access to services cannot be overstated. Despite longstanding legal obligations, many individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and those who are Deaf continue to face persistent challenges in obtaining the interpreter services they are entitled to, leading to barriers that persist year after year. In this session, attendees will learn about an innovative social media "Know Your Rights" campaign designed to empower persons with LEP by educating them about their language rights and available remedies when they encounter barriers to accessing critical services due to language barriers. By amplifying awareness and empowering the community to assert their language rights, the project aims to reduce or eliminate language barriers altogether. The National Language Rights Campaign is a project funded by a Legal Services Corporation Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) and is a collaboration of the Northwest Justice Project, NLADA's Latina/x/o Advocates Section, and the National Language Access Advocates Network (N-LAAN). Whether you're a legal professional, community organizer, or advocate, this session offers insights into the legal framework of Title VI, practical tactics for promoting compliance and accountability, and resources to support language justice efforts in your community. Join us in shaping the future of language justice. Your input matters in ensuring this project reaches those who need it the most. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input on project messaging, content, and distribution strategies.

Participants will gain insight into the challenges faced by Limited English Proficiency (LEP) communities due to language barriers, including their effects on access to legal services and social inclusion.
Participants will learn about the role of social media platforms in bridging language gaps and empowering LEP individuals and communities, with a focus on effective strategies and best practices.
Participants will acquire knowledge of legal advocacy approaches tailored to LEP populations, including language access rights, interpreter services, and culturally competent communication, to enhance access to justice and equitable outcomes.

Clarissa Ayala

Communications Director

Lone Star Legal Aid

Clarissa Ayala is a communication professional passionate about empowering legal nonprofit organizations to create impactful content and engage with the media for mass awareness and impact. As the Communications Director at Lone Star Legal Aid since April 2017, Clarissa has been instrumental in creating compelling content for the company's website and social media platforms and writing stories and narratives for grant applications and reports showcasing their work's positive impact. She has also served as the main contact for media outlets, skillfully handling press releases on various litigation topics. Clarissa has presented at the Management Information Exchange (MIE) National Fundraising Conference, Legal Services Corporation's Innovations in Technology Conference, and State Bar of Texas's Poverty Law Conference. She has shared her knowledge on topics including digital content for social impact, improving advocacy objectives through effective communications, and building positive working relationships with journalists. Clarissa also serves as Co-Chair of the State Bar of Texas Disaster Task Force’s Communications Committee and Member of the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association Latina/x/o Needs Committee.

Kristi Cruz, JD

Attorney

Northwest Justice Project

Kristi Cruz is a staff attorney at the Northwest Justice Project. She operates the CLEAR*ASL program, which provides legal advice and brief services to Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard-of-hearing clients in family, housing, public benefits, disability discrimination, and other civil legal areas of law. In addition, Ms. Cruz advocates for the language rights of NJP clients and is involved in state and national efforts to reduce language barriers for LEP and Deaf individuals as they access education, healthcare, legal, and governmental services. Ms. Cruz was certified as an American Sign Language Interpreter in 1996 and became a member of the Washington Bar in 2009. She was the inaugural Seattle University School of Law Leadership for Justice Fellow (2009) during which she worked on language access issues for the Northwest Justice Project. In 2010, Ms. Cruz was a co-reporter for the American Bar Association’s Standards for Language Access in Courts project, which created national standards for the effective delivery of interpreter and translation services in courts. She is a volunteer with the Washington State Coalition for Language Access (WASCLA) and serves as the attorney representative on the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts Interpreter and Language Access Commission.