June 2021 Newsletter
Presenting – The Class of 2021!
On June 12th, Found in Translation held the program celebration for our first ever online class – the Class of 2021! Having completed the certificate training, the women of the Class of 2021 are now ready to take the next step in their careers and begin working as professional interpreters. Held for the first time online via Zoom, the event this year was well attended with guests tuning in from around the world to join the festivities.
We are so proud of each and every one of our newest alumnae. Completing the medical interpreter certificate training is an impressive accomplishment, and to do so online in a climate marked by so much uncertainty is truly inspiring. Thank you to everyone in our community who have supported (and will continue to support) these women as they progress in their professional journeys and provide critical language access at a time when it is needed more than ever.
Click below to view the ceremony in full (43 minutes):
“[Found in Translation] transitioned an in-person program to a remote one in a couple of months during a pandemic for us. That there speaks for itself. I am proud to say that I am a part of this organization – they have shown me that they were and will be dedicated to our success and achievements now, as well as in the future. They don’t provide “drive-through” education, they provide a community willing to help us further our professional development beyond this course we have completed…..To everyone who makes Found in Translation what it is, thank you for all your hard work and dedication.”
Betzaida Jimenez, graduate speaker for the Class of 2021.
Listen to her full speech at the 6:31 mark of the video above.
Found in Translation wins Excellence in Innovation Award
On June 23rd, Found in Translation was named as the 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Innovation Award at an annual ceremony hosted by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that has utilized new models or strategies to solve long-standing problems or adapt to a challenging environment. We are honored to receive this award and to be recognized among such inspiring Massachusetts organizations. This is Found in Translation’s third time as a finalist and first time winning the Excellence in Innovation award.
Cummings Foundation – 10 Years of Support
This spring, Found in Translation was selected as one of 140 local nonprofits to receive major multi-year grants through the Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. Our organization was chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process, and will receive $400,000 over 10 years.
Read more about this exciting partnership here.
Tiny Spark Podcast Highlights the Importance of Language Justice
In late March, Tiny Spark and The Nonprofit Quarterly featured Found in Translation in a podcast. The 30 min episode includes interviews of three of our alumnae as well as our founder, Maria Vertkin, and covers a wide range of important topics related to our work – language justice, the treatment of immigrants in the healthcare system, the role of interpreters, and how our program changes lives.
Check it out here, or on any platform where you access podcasts.
Our Team is Growing!
We are pleased to share that in the past few months we added three more members to the Found in Translation team, adding a wealth of expertise to our board and staff.
Denise Muro – Interpreting and Translation Coordinator 
Renee Cammarata Hamilton – Board Member 
Gaye Gentes – Board Member
Save the Date – September 23rd, 2021
Come celebrate 10 years with us! In September we will host a special virtual event to recognize the achievements of our alumnae and community, share the impact of our programming to date, and present our ambitious plans for the future. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and registration will open in July!
