Found in Translation Inc.

Results: Found in Translation’s results speak for themselves – 1 year post-graduation, Class of 2017 was 83% employed (vs 60% at intake). In that time, the average wage rose from $16.37hr to $25.81/hr. Employment rates have been consistent such that by one year post-grad, virtually every graduate who is available to work is employed (80-90%). Today, the 186 graduates of Classes 2012-2017 collectively earn $1.86 million more per year ($10,000 per person on average) than they did prior to enrollment in Found in Translation. Wages continue to rise with every class as we open new doors through partnerships with employers. The impact of these increased earnings is profound, but our impact also extends beyond what numbers can capture. “If I had come to this country and discovered something like Found in Translation when I first got here, in 1992, I could have a different life, a better life - I'm not referring to money, even a secure income would be nice; but it was the encouragement - it was that I was told: ' Yes this country needs what you have. You have a value and this is what makes all the difference in the world" (Serafima, Russian Interpreter). As interpreters, our graduates provide language access to thousands of Limited English Proficient people in the Greater Boston Area each year. In the past year, the members of the Class of 2017 alone gave voice and agency to an estimated 3,224 people in healthcare and other settings. Through our in-house Interpreter Services, we are able to provide professional interpreting services to “language access deserts,” enabling vulnerable patients to exercise their civil right to equal access to linguistically and culturally appropriate medical care. In the past fiscal year, we have provided language access to over 500 Limited English Proficient (LEP) people across the Greater Boston Area.

Programs: Our Language Access Fellowship is a program that seamlessly integrates Medical Interpreter Certificate training, professional development, job placement, and holistic supports, enabling women to succeed in our program and in the interpreting profession. Our Medical Interpreter Certificate training includes 140+ hours of medical interpreting instruction, on-site childcare, transportation assistance, mentoring, and a commitment to each program participant to address any barrier in the way of her success, job skills/Professional Development and Financial Literacy education. Upon completion of the Certificate course, students work with staff to successfully enter the interpreting field. From one year onwards, most interpreters are stabilized with their first job/s, and continue to use our professional development tools and our alumnae network to work towards bigger goals. At this stage, we focus on one-on-one career coaching, continued job search assistance, and direct job placement through our Interpreter Services. Our Interpreter Services addresses both parts of our mission by: 1. Providing high quality interpreting to vulnerable patients and Limited English speakers who would otherwise have no access to healthcare and other services 2. Creating a direct pipeline for the graduates of our training to well-paying, skilled jobs. As interpreters employed by our organization, our graduates are able to earn high wages quickly, and improves their long-term career prospects by helping them to build up the experience and credentials necessary to be hired at stable hospital jobs. We pay our interpreters between $25 and $45 per hour, depending on the interpreter’s level of experience and complexity of assignment, as well as cover childcare and transportation costs on a need-basis to remove additional hurdles to entering the workforce.