Join our LIVE Beacon Cafe Chat!

"The Missing Piece of Accomplice: The Impact of Anti-DEI Policies on the Interpreting Profession"

BEACON Café Chat with 

Chante Frazier and Ku Mei Kern

Hosted by Dr. Suzette Garay and Angela Blackdeer 

0.1 PPO PS CEUS

ASL Translation of this ad coming soon!

This BEACON live chat workshop delves into the adverse effects of anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies on the interpreting profession. As the demand for interpreters continues to rise, it is crucial to understand how these policies limit access, perpetuate inequities, and adversely affect the quality of interpretation services provided to diverse communities.

Through thoughtful exploration and group dialogue, participants will identify the challenges these policies pose to interpreters and the communities they serve. Together, we will develop concrete strategies to advocate for inclusive practices that empower interpreters and the individuals who rely on their services.

Come join us for this BEACON Cafe Chat on May 28th. You won't want to miss this!

Target Audience: Working interpreters

Educational Objectives: 

1. Understanding the Effects of Anti-DEI Policies: Participants will learn how anti-DEI policies affect access to interpreting services, professional opportunities, and the representation of marginalized voices within the field.

2. Recognizing Barriers to Inclusive Practices: Attendees will identify specific barriers that arise from anti-DEI policies, including challenges in hiring diverse interpreters and ensuring equitable service provision for all consumers.

3. Developing Advocacy Strategies: Participants will gain practical tools and resources to advocate for pro-DEI initiatives within their organizations and the interpreting profession, fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect.

About your interviewees:

Chante Frazier has over 20 years of professional interpreting experience in a variety of settings.  She graduated from the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Catonsville’s Interpreter Preparation Program (IPP) and Towson University's Deaf Studies program concurrently in 2005. She has held the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) since 2008. 

Ms. Frazier currently works as a freelance interpreter in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Throughout her career, she has not only continuously sought professional development
opportunities, but has also looked for opportunities to give back to the profession. She served a two-year term on the board of the Potomac Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PCRID) as Member at Large for Maryland from 2008-2010.  She has also taught a host of workshops on interpreting and financial topics, and served as an adjunct instructor for CCBC's IPP in a full circle moment.  Ms. Frazier continues to serve as a Mentor for aspiring interpreters.

Ku Mei Kern, M.A., CI and CT,
Ku Mei’s life and career have centered around understanding the intricacies of cross-cultural
communication. With two deaf parents, one an immigrant from Hong Kong, she interpreted in
sign language and quickly learned that communication involves much more than words or signs. Her first community interpreting job was her own parent-teacher conference in kindergarten and was an absolute failure. Since then, she has sought to understand what factors impact successful communication. Ku Mei holds degrees in Human Services Management, Deaf Education, and ASL Teaching.

Her passion to improve understanding between hearing and deaf communities and the
interpreters who serve them has led to a unique mix of careers. This has included teaching deaf children, teaching ASL, mentoring interpreters, running her interpreting agency, and training interpreter trainers and ASL teachers across the US and internationally. The past few years, she has focused her efforts on the relationships between businesses and interpreters, taking on roles in account management, sales, and marketing. She also serves on the Center for Assessment of Sign Language Interpreters (CASLI) board, the certifying branch of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).

Interlaced in her work with the Deaf community are her experiences as a BIPOC individual. From not knowing what it meant to identifying and eventually owning her place in the mixed society we live in, she now feels the freedom to share those stories with the intention of
bringing to light how our own understanding of intersectionality lives in every conversation.
She is currently the COO at LingoForce, where she is working to introduce a new contracting model that empowers Deaf consumers, independent contractor interpreters, and businesses of all sizes. Her core belief is that by bridging communication gaps, we can create a sense of belonging for everyone.

View Ku Mei's LinkedIn Here