D.C. Language Access Coalition

UPDATE : OUR AMENDMENT JUST PASSED THE FIRST VOTE UNANIMOUSLY but with weak language about staffing in schools. Stay tuned for how to help us fight further!

Here today keeping watch on our Bill as DC Council members assemble to vote on it AT LONG LAST. Concerned as the version Chairman Phil Mendelson plans to present for vote today does NOT include our crucial ask for hiring dedicated staffing in schools for students!! Hoping that other council members especially Grosso, Brianne Nadeau, Charles Allen heed our repeated requests today to introduce provisions in this Bill to allocate $$$ for our District's immigrant youth!!

Call-In Day to DC Council on 11/12!!!

Tell DC Council to Protect Immigrant Rights!!! If DC claims to be a "sanctuary city" then Council should vote on a Language Access Amendment for Education that ensures:

(1) HIRING specialized staff (Language Access Coordinators) DC schools
(2) Providing a true ENFORCEMENT mechanism in the form of a fine levied against agencies that continue to breach language access laws and discriminate against our immigrant families; and
(3) Dedicated funding to ensure language access.

Sign up here: http://www.slottr.com/sheets/12874960
Read more here: http://www.dclanguageaccesscoalition.org/language-access-act-amendment.html

Tell DC Council: Protect Immigrant Rights! - Slotr.com: Simple Time Slot Management At a time where the rights of vulnerable communities in our city are continually being infringed upon, we urge you to stand for and with us in protecting immigrant communities. Right here in DC, a supposed "Sanctuary City," our elected officials leave us disappointed. For the past 18 months, Council...

Tomorrow Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, during the Committee of the Whole are going to vote on proposed Bill-22-75 that does not incorporate what DCLAC has been advocating for i.e.
Providing crucially needed resources to our District schools – such as hiring a dedicated Language Access Coordinator so that immigrant students, their families, staff, and teachers have a trusted and culturally appropriate point of contact.
Allocating a dedicated budget to directly supplement the capacity and resources of district "covered entities" for implementing LEP/NEP communities’ Language Access needs
Providing an enforcement mechanism by imposing an assessed fine on agencies that do not comply with the D.C. Language Access Act.

Follow this link http://www.dclanguageaccesscoalition.org/language-access-act-amendment.html to see on our website the letter we sent to Council Members so they postpone voting on this Bill as the Whole and tell them what you think! Your CMs contacts:

Chairman Phil Mendelson (202) 724-8032 | [email protected]
At-Large
Elissa Silverman (202) 724-7772 | [email protected]
Anita Bonds (202) 724-8064 | [email protected]
David Grosso (202) 724-8105 | [email protected]
Robert C. White, Jr. (202) 724-8174 | [email protected]
Ward 1 – Brianne K. Nadeau (202) 724-8181 | [email protected]
Ward 2 – Jack Evans (202) 724-8058 | [email protected]
Ward 3 – Mary M. Cheh (202) 724-8062 | [email protected]
Ward 4 – Brandon T. Todd (202) 724-8052 | [email protected]
Ward 5 – Kenyan McDuffie (202) 724-8028 | [email protected]
Ward 6 – Charles Allen (202) 724-8072 | [email protected]
Ward 7 – Vincent C. Gray (202) 724-8068 | [email protected]
Ward 8 – Trayon White, Sr. (202) 724-8045 | [email protected]

Language Access Act Amendment After stalling for 18 months to release a Committee Draft Print and ignoring our requests over the past 7 months for updates, it has just come to our attention that the Committee of the Whole has...