Orlando, Fla. (June 25, 2021) – As Central Florida becomes significantly more diverse with languages spoken from around the world, one of the region’s leading interpretation companies is donating services to The Center to provide language equity for all.
Orlando-based CCI Group will offer translations and interpretations for people served by The Center utilizing the company’s worldwide network of interpreters and translators of more than 200 different languages. The initiative is the first to provide such services in Central Florida to LGBTQ+ individuals regardless of the language they speak.
“Many times, the people we serve are talking about extremely personal and sensitive subjects and, in the past, would need to bring a family member or friend to interpret for them,” says Joel Morales, director of operations and program director, Orlando United Assistance Center. “Unfortunately, in too many cases, this would result in the individual not coming to us to keep their needs secret.
“Thanks to the work of CCI Group, this will not happen again,” he adds.
The Center has been working to find a solution to language issues for several years. For a time, Morales was the only staff member fluent in Spanish. They worked to find bilingual case managers who have been hired recently.
But that still left those speaking Central Florida’s other dominant languages – Portuguese, Creole and Vietnamese – with barriers to receiving needed services. Plus, as Central Florida continues to grow as an international destination, the demand for unique languages will continue to grow.
“Learning about this need was heartbreaking and I knew this was an opportunity to not only help this organization, but our community as a whole,” says Indy Vega, founder and CEO, CCI Group. “I know first-hand the barriers of language and culture and I want to make sure people who need critical services do not have to worry about understanding English.”
CCI Group specializes in providing governments, courts and businesses with a wide range of linguistic services. The company contracts with interpreters and translators throughout the world to ensure that specific and unique dialects can be provided quickly and accurately.
Under this new partnership, CCI Group will be offering over-the-phone interpreting, translation of documents, in-person interpretation, remote simultaneous translations and sign language interpretation for all of The Center’s services, including mental health counselling, immigration services, career planning, HIV testing and more.
“We are leading the way in our community towards true language justice,” Morales says. “Speaking to people in your native language humanizes everyone. We want to do everything we can to make people feel comfortable.”
For more information, please contact:
CCI Group: Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates, 407-415-8470, Alan@ByrdConnections.com
The Center: Joel Morales, 407-228-8272 ext. 1005, Joel@TheCenterOrlando.org
About CCI Group: Founded in 2012, CCI Group is committed to revolutionizing language services and how they are rendered enabling companies, governments and courts to create, translate and deliver relevant and personalized content to support its clients’ mission and vision. The company provides interpretation services in more than 200 languages, including American Sign Language. Language services are only performed by native speakers of the target or dominant language and they undergo strict testing and training procedures prior to supporting any client. To learn more, please visit MyCCIGroup.com/
About The Center: Since 1978, LGBT+ Center (The Center), whose mission is to promote and empower the LGBT community and it allies through information, education, advocacy, and support, has been providing vital services to central Floridians for more than four decades.
