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Critical Link 6 Interpreting in a Changing Landscape, Birmingham, UK (July 28-30)
Written by Latha Sukumar Tuesday, 03 August 2010 16:17
All of last week, my colleague Felipe and I represented MCIS at the international Critical Link Conference on Public Sector Interpretation in Birmingham, U.K. Things have certainly come a long way from the first one I attended in Vancouver in 1998. With the EU Directorate General's Head of Multilingualism and Interpreter Training Support (including EU-China Interpreter Training Programme), Mr. Wolter Witteveen, offering the keynote and staying back to attend the Conference, you could say community interpretation has finally arrived as a viable and important profession.
MCIS' New Initiatives with Technology
Written by Latha Sukumar Friday, 23 July 2010 07:18
When I think of MCIS, I always think of the little Engine that could. A co-worker pointed out that I had to see it as a growing global social enterprise and not as a family operation. Given my close association with it almost from its humble beginnings, 15 years ago, this is a challenge for me. However, recent developments in technology are helping me make this mind-shift. I don't know about you but this concept of "free anything" and share-ware on the internet and the creative explosion of applications for mobile technology has stood all of our staid assumptions and concepts about the world and humanity, in general, on their head. The world is no more static or linear. It is dynamic and defiant of our traditional notions of space and time. There is also, contrary to our popular view that humans act out of self-interest, a wonderfully creative, altruistic world of humans flexing their intellectual curiosity to the nth limit to festoon this world with endless possibilities through the creative use of technology. Those of us who are not so tech savvy and are peering in from the fringes, stay content with our mobile phones and limited applications somewhat envious of what our younger generation, to whom this technology is mother's milk, enjoys. Whether we like it or not, there is no going back and we must join the crowd and make the best of this great leveller that technology can be, if deployed wisely.
Back now to the point I was making about MCIS. I have been absent from the blog scene because of our immense preoccupation with technology and its use in creating a world free of language barriers. We are now experimenting with video conferencing via Skype and other such applications to enable face to face remote interpretation. We are also using numerous interactive online tools to bring our entire interpreter training to people's homes. Both have the potential to make MCIS go global. Stay tuned for the launch of these new initiatives at MCIS. We wish you will embrace them as we have, since we all know now that there is no going back!
Presentation made before the Local Immigration Partnership held in Scarborough on February 5, 2010
Written by Latha Sukumar Wednesday, 10 February 2010 09:46
Interpretation as part of the Integration Model
I just have 3 simple themes:
- Integration of Services
- Cross referrals between sectors
- Service Models
Simply put, the above themes relate to all the things that all of us in the immigrant services sector are collectively concerned about. We all want to know that everyone who is eligible to receive our services is seeking and receiving the help they need, in a seamless fashion.
Happy Holidays!
Written by Latha Sukumar Monday, 21 December 2009 11:46
Today we had a glimpse of Canada's wonderful multicultural diversity at MCIS' holiday potluck. Over one hundred language interpreters representing about forty different countries converged to share their food, their art, music and to express love and joy heralding the holiday season in the company of friends from all corners of the globe. Over the past decade, I have had a window seat for a panoramic view of the world, through my conversations with these amazing folk. They have painted wonderful pictures for me of the world they have come from. Every one of them has surprised me with their spirit of adventure, their courage in the face of adversity, that settling in a new country presents, and their unique talents. They ensure that I do not for a moment take for granted the gift to Canada that this heterogeneity from a confluence of cultures presents.
The in-between world of Social Enterprises
Written by Latha Sukumar Wednesday, 16 December 2009 12:00
MCIS and various other organizations with a social mandate reside in this “in-between” world. When I am asked where I work, I say “at a social enterprise”. The private corporate types ask “what is that?”, and the lawyers vehemently state “I don’t believe there is such a legal entity”. However, “non profit” simply does not describe what a social enterprise is. And it is not just about semantics. An apt description has crucial implications for strategic goal setting for the organization, as well as for risk management. Social enterprises are non share corporations that can earn a profit. However, they do not pay out this profit as dividends to the share-holders as with the private sector but deploy it towards activities that further social causes and hence redistribute it as a benefit to the community as a whole.
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