At the end of June, the Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good, based in Portland, Oregon, hosted its first bilingual training. The training was facilitated in both Spanish and English and simultaneously translated for the participants. 

Bilingual training such as this one mark a significant step within IAF NW organizations in building power across language and ethnic communities. In particular, bilingual facilitation with simultaneous translation creates an equitable and collaborative environment where no language is the default. Often times bilingual events are facilitated in English with interpretation available in another language. Having half of the facilitation in Spanish reflects our values where member leaders have ownership of our collective work.

Overall, this training is a part of MACG's work towards hosting simultaneously translated Delegates Assemblies (Delegates Assemblies are where IAF NW organizations take action for the common good and make democratic decisions about the strategy of the alliance) and centering the leadership of the Latino community moving forward. 

Read on below for the full post from MACG:

We held our first bilingual training! (And our first in-person training since 2019!)

Participants were able to take the training in either English or Spanish. We also got to do a live research action with Dr. Patty Rivera.

Thank you to Paul Riek for providing simultaneous translating in both English and Spanish!

Thank you, Dr. Rivera. Thank you to Rosalinda Aguirre for coming down from Seattle (Sound Alliance) to do the Spanish half of the training. Thank you to Central NE Neighbors for providing the translation equipment. Thank you to Germaine's Kitchen and Cafe for catering our (delicious) lunch. And thank you St. Anthony Catholic Church in Tigard for hosting.

-MACG Website 6/26/22