Human Rights Annual Impact Report 2023-2024

Language Access & Immigrant Support In 2023, the Human Rights Department expanded its work to include the City’s first international support coordinator, which helped the department better collaborate with city and local agencies to create additional programs and support for Greensboro’s growing immigrant and refugee populations. The department is also increasing its policy development and legislative advocacy efforts. External initiatives like the 2023 International Advisory Committee Election, the first International City Academy, and participation in Greensboro’s annual World Refugee Day Celebrations sometimes attracted hundreds of participants, plus local agencies that support Greensboro’s international community. Usage of the City’s telephonic interpretation services during fiscal year 2023-24 saw a 22 percent increase. Human Rights also joined forces with other City departments to support employees as they interact with Greensboro’s increasing languages and cultures. The GSO Speaks program provided Spanish-language training to 128 employees in 2023 and 187 the following year. A partnership with the People & Culture Department yielded the H.E.A.R.T. to Serve series, which offered City staff customer-service guidance with specific populations.

Language Access by the Numbers

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CERTIFIED BILINGUAL CITY OF GREENSBORO EMPLOYEES (42 IN SPANISH, 2 IN ARABIC)

5,660

TIMES GUILFORD METRO 9-1-1 USED VOIANCE LANGUAGE SERVICE IN 2023-24

AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS PROVIDED BY BILINGUAL CITY STAFF IN 2022-23 AND 2023-24 $6,337 10,323

INTERPRETIVE SERVICE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BILINGUAL CITY STAFF FROM 2022-2024 $103,270 INTERPRETATION COST SAVINGS FROM THOSE INTERACTIONS

2023-25 IAC Executive Committee Nghieng Nay (secretary), Fanta Dorley (chair), Yayra Adjrah (vice chair), Sahar Rahimi (executive member), Smita Sarkar (vice chair)

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