Language Access
The City of Malden is committed to making vital information available to everyone in the city by providing solutions to increase accessibility and eliminate language barriers.
The Office of Language Access has been supporting all City Hall departments in their efforts to connect and serve Malden community members with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and working diligently on developing solutions to ensure all departments have access to translation services to ensure all community members have equal and meaningful access to municipal services, programs, and activities.
Since establishing the office in April 2022, we have been reviewing demographics, surveys, national data, current available language resources, gathering data from local agencies and schools to create a current picture of our diversity and languages spoken in Malden.
This effort has allowed us to identify gaps in language access solutions and create the I Speak Campaign. Solutions has been tested and implemented with great success.
The campaign offers a variety of language solutions for city staff and community members, including:
- Translated Department Vital Records (any form, permit, record, or other document that individuals applying for services or benefits must understand, respond to or complete to access the services/benefits or continue to receive the services or benefits).
- Bilingual Staff Members
- Free Translation & Interpretation Services for all Municipal transactions, Services and Opportunities
- A Multilingual Language Access Phone Line for all services available
- Voice / Text Translator Devices – Available for all departments with public-facing services and public interactions
- Interpretation equipment available to facilitate in-person multilingual meetings @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Need Help?
Language Access Phone Line
- (Portuguese) Ligue para o serviço de acessibilidade linguística: (617) 865-2273
- (Simplified Chinese) 拨打语言支援热线: (617) 865-2273
- (Spanish) Llame a la línea de acceso lingüístico: (617) 865-2273 @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
- (Traditional Chinese) 撥打語言支援熱線: (617) 865-2273
- (Vietnamese) Số gọi đến đường dây truy cập ngôn ngữ: (617) 865-2273
- (Arabic) (617) 865-2273: اتصل على الرقم التالي @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
I Speak Campaign
I Speak logo helps identify the Language Access campaign (in-progress). Displayed logo or poster indicates resources available.
Language Access Resources Available
- I Speak Table Poster – indicates availability of devices or other language resources on location
- Malden I Speak Cards All Languages – contains a comprehensive alphabetized language list (PDF / phone-friendly)
- Voice / Text Translator Devices – Available for all departments with public-facing services and interactions
- City Hall Language Access Line – a multiple language line that will connect callers, via interpreters, to all municipal services and opportunities. It is a free service for the community to reach out to City Hall, ask questions about services, voting, forms, register complaints, etc.
- Bilingual Staff Members
- Your Rights – Free translation / interpretation for all municipal transactions @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Language ID cards all-languages
I Speak Card - Table top language recognition sign
Your Rights – Free translations for municipal transactions
Download Resources
Language Access Phone Line
- Traditional Chinese -Phone Language Access Line
- Simplified Chinese-Phone Language Access Line
- Haitian Creole-Phone Language Access Line
- Spanish-Phone Language Access Line
- Arabic-Phone Language Access Line
- English-Phone-LanguageAccess-Line
- Vietnamese- Phone Language Access Line
- Portuguese-Phone Language Access Line
New Community Initiatives
Opportunities for Community members with bilingual skills.
Language Ambassadors