Expressing our moment of RESPECT & URGENCY - we have been waiting to share with you!
As we near the end of the year, we want to take a moment to highlight the urgent need for action regarding the discussions around 'Power, Privilege, and Oppression' within both our Black Deaf and Interpreting communities we’ve seen on social media lately. It’s clear that our future as Interpreters is at stake, and now is the time for us to come together, strengthen our alliances, and work collaboratively towards a more welcoming and equitable playing field for everyone.
We must ensure that the representation of ASL and the preferences of Black Deaf and other marginalized communities aren't overshadowed by power and privilege. It’s crucial that we, as interpreters, prioritize the voices of those who are marginalized within our profession. This isn’t just about listening; it’s about actively standing alongside these individuals in their struggles, making sure everyone feels heard, seen, and valued.
To truly make a difference, we need to confront and unlearn the harmful practices we've been exposed to, whether knowingly or unknowingly. This includes addressing issues like audism, tokenization, cultural appropriation, anti-Blackness, Indigenous invisibility, and lateral microaggressions that affect our interactions and interpretations within both Deaf and Hearing communities as a whole.
With that in mind, we invite you to join us for an important webinar in January 29th, 2026: How to not Take Up Spaces That Don’t Belong to Us from 6-8 PM CST. We’ll hear from Black Deaf members and Hearing Interpreters who will share their insights on interpreting Black content, whether the individuals are present or not. Together, we’ll explore how we can build genuine plan of action in solidarity and foster relationships that empower us all, striving for a more just and inclusive environment. PLEASE save the date!
Let’s remember that power isn’t just something we hold; it’s a shared responsibility. At BEACON Interpreter Academy (take note of our new name!), we value collaboration, and as we prepare for this webinar, we’ll be making decisions together AND drafting up plans of actions for everyone to take part with. It’s essential to recognize that our ability to exercise power comes from the support and trust of others. We need to ask ourselves: How do we hold the power? How are many who should be leaders stay on the sidelines (Bystanders vs. Upstanders mentality)?
We hope we can unite to tackle these critical issues for the future of our profession. I encourage you to join this vital discussion on January 29th, 2026. Let's work together collectively for change. Become a member NOW and by just showing up—it really is as simple as that!
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A Special Thank You to our Facilitators, Presenters, and Interviewees this year!
Thank you to Klijah Mitchelll, LJ Williams, Lydia Callis, Antionia Venesse Guy, Vanessa Molina, Angela Blackdeer, Cindi Martin, LaToya Childs, Ranem Wissam Shhadeh, Jerrin George, Dr. Rosemary Wanis, Karen King, Deb Cates, Chante Frazier, and Judy Stout. We could not have done all of our work this year without you!
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 A special SHOUT OUT to the previous NAIE board of directors for leading the organization into a new era of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
during the last 3 years!!Â
Some of our DAI leaders also served as Job Task Analysis Subject Matter Experts for K-12 Interpreters!
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Pay It Forward Scholarship & DAI Foundation Funds for 2025
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Conference Support & Presentations:
RID Conference
Indigenous Interpreters Organization
DIDIT Program
The Black Interpreters Experience
NAIE Presentation Series
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Individuals:
Interpreter Mosaic Affinity Group:Â
Suhayla Sulaiman
Sergio Anguiano
Alexis Bravo
Abigail Kalhi Dohrnii
Jyoti Reineke-Seldman
Benjamin Estrada
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In 2025, we helped sponsor RID CEUs for the following:
DDP ASLI
CODAs of Color
St. Luke’s
Viterbo
FCBU - “For Community By Us”
Grupo de Estudio LSM
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Again, we THANK YOU for helping us create more connections - instead of more division. Helping us instill more inspiration - instead of feeling tired or drained about unpacking one’s privilege. Helping us provide clarity for dismantling racism and developing more compassion for uplifting marginalized others in our interpreting profession.
If this is a vision that inspires you, then come join us!
For 2026, we asking you to support us in building up our presence to a broader audience to make this vision a continued reality. A world where our interpreter profession brings both marginalized Deaf and Interpreters together, advances their antiracist work and leads to better understanding for how we all can build spaces together through empathy, compassion, and human connectedness.
Now is the time for developing a national presence of moving beyond the transformations of changes set in 2025 to our new year 2026 of “HOW TO CREATE SPACES for DOING ANTIRACIST WORK.” Any donations will amplify our efforts significantly, allowing us to create better opportunities for everyone, make our collective forces come together and rebuild spaces across all languages and platforms, offer greater accomplishments of presence with trainings of our need of BIPOC Interpreters, facilitators, and workshop trainers that will support our colleagues who will be doing the antiracist work in 2026!
We look forward to seeing you DO the change with us in 2026!Â
As we are moving into a new year and new learning format, our name is changing to reflect our new intentions. As the BEACON Interpreter Academy, we are focusing on the principles of Belonging, Empathy, Acceptance, Connection, Opportunity, and Negotiation.Â
Our courses are now going to be self paced! Enjoy all of our courses at your own pace on a rotating monthly schedule - one for K-12 educational interpreters and one for interpreters at large! We will still be having new LIVE webinars and BEACON chats, so make sure to keep up with our announcements.
Please have patience with us as we transition into this new name and new academy format. We appreciate all of your continued support and encouragement. Please make sure you are a part of our mailing list and/or social media to keep appraised of our ongoing transition!
Here's to a transformational year ahead,
BEACON Interpreter Academy (formerly Diversity Academy) & All of our BEACON Contributors who are leading the way!
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