By: Deborah Johnson Wood
In 2004, the City of Grand Rapids Equal Opportunity Department (EOD) launched a plan to translate key city documents, signage and the city’s web site into Spanish to better serve the growing Hispanic population. At the time, the latest data from the 2000 U.S. Census showed that the number of Hispanic residents increased from 4.5 percent in 1990 (about 8,500 people) to 13 percent (about 26,000) a decade later.
Fifteen city employees volunteered on the Spanish-speaking Process Improvement Team to tackle the language issue. Water department notices, treasurer’s office documents and other written materials were translated in Spanish, and signage at City Hall and the Water Department now welcomes residents who speak Bosnian, Vietnamese, Spanish and English.
Perhaps the biggest project was creation of the city's Spanish web site—the only site of its kind in the state. The site launched last week.
“We took the time to connect with several members of the community for feedback,” says Tom Almonte, chair of the committee, an EOD employee and president of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“I think the city is saying to everyone ‘you are a vital part of our community,” he adds. “Not everything that’s on the English site has been translated into Spanish, but we’ve included information from the water department, on taxes, on how to apply for a license with the city and how to pay a ticket.”
The committee also added a language line that supports over 100 languages, so residents who don’t speak English can get translation help whenever they come to any city department, 24/7.
Source: Tom Almonte, City of Grand Rapids Equal Opportunity Department
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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