Subject to Interpretation

In this special end-of-year episode, host Maria Ceballos-Wallis sits down with Dr. Bill Rivers of the Safe AI Taskforce for an exclusive preview of his upcoming session at De La Mora’s Annual Training and Holiday Celebration. Dr. Bill shares his journey through the ever-evolving relationship between technology and interpretation, talks about the policy shifts in language access, and explores how AI is reshaping the interpreting profession.Join our Annual Training and Holiday Celebration on December 12th: https://de-la-mora-training.thinkific.com/courses/dlmpty-25-annual-training-and-holiday-celebrationVisit the Safe AI Taskforce website: https://safeaitf.org/Dr. Bill Rivers is Principal at WP Rivers & Associates. A former Russian/English translator and interpreter, Russian teacher, academic researcher and administrator, and for-profit and non-profit executive, he has more than 30 years’ experience in language advocacy and capacity at the national level, with significant experience in culture and language for economic development and national security in the Intelligence Community, private and academic sectors, and publications in second and third language acquisition research, proficiency assessment, program evaluation, and language policy development and advocacy. His company is contracted by the ALC for advocacy support.

In this episode of Subject to Interpretation, host Maria Ceballos sits down with Ludmila Golovine (CEO of MasterWord Services) and Dr. Bill Rivers (Principal at WP Rivers & Associates), members of the Safe AI Taskforce, to continue the very important conversation on the impacts of AI in the language services field. Tune in to better understand how language professionals can respond to emerging technologies, learn the contexts where a human presence will continue or, perhaps, be even more necessary moving forward—and why every interpreter should stay informed and involved.Click here to watch the 1st part of this must-listen conversation with the Safe AI Taskforce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4gZASietjg Visit the Safe AI Taskforce website: https://safeaitf.org/Ludmila Golovine is the President and CEO of MasterWord Services, Inc., a top-ranked LSP globally. She has dedicated over 30 years to the language services industry, and for the past 15 years has been an international speaker/advocate for language rights and social justice. She is the Strategic Partnerships Manager for the Global Community Programs of Women in Localization, a founding member of the Global Coalition of Language Rights, member of TBAT (Texas Business Against Human Trafficking), active participant in the UN Global Compact Initiative, and chairs the Advisory Subcommittee for the Translation and Interpretation Program at the Houston Community College. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) Trainer of the Year Award 2021, Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award, and Congressional Recognition G7 “Excellence in International Service” award.Dr. Bill Rivers is Principal at WP Rivers & Associates. A former Russian/English translator and interpreter, Russian teacher, academic researcher and administrator, and for-profit and non-profit executive, he has more than 30 years’ experience in language advocacy and capacity at the national level, with significant experience in culture and language for economic development and national security in the Intelligence Community, private and academic sectors, and publications in second and third language acquisition research, proficiency assessment, program evaluation, and language policy development and advocacy. His company is contracted by the ALC for advocacy support.

In this episode of Subject to Interpretation, host Maria Ceballos sits down with Amanda Seewald, Executive Director of JNCL-NCLIS, to explore why language access, multilingual education, and policy advocacy are essential to the future of interpreting and language services. Amanda shares her insights on federal language legislation, the role of interpreters in multilingual communities, and how advocates can influence meaningful change. This conversation will leave you inspired to support truly multilingual policies in your community.Amanda Seewald is the Executive Director of JNCL-NCLIS and the owner of MARACAS Language Programs and Learning Kaleidoscope Educational Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in multilingual curriculum development and early language learning, she works with schools across the U.S. and Europe to build globally engaged programs.Her expertise is in multilingual/multicultural curriculum and instruction, focused on early language learning as well as dual language immersion education. Amanda is a past President of FLENJ, former NECTFL board member, and recipient of the 2020 NECTFL Nelson H. Brooks Award for Outstanding Leadership. She speaks Spanish, French, and Japanese, and regularly presents at national conferences. As an advocate for language education, Amanda works with federal and state legislative offices to garner support for legislation and funding. Her focus is also on empowering advocates through training and experiential opportunities. Amanda’s advocacy work in New Jersey led to the signing of the Seal of Biliteracy into law in 2016. It is Amanda’s hope that through engaging and dynamic language programming we will have a multilingual future for all children.

In this must-listen episode of Subject to Interpretation, host Maria Ceballos-Wallis speaks with Rachel Rossi, former Director of the Office for Access to Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice. Together, they explore the vital role of language access in due process and civil rights, and how language justice is an essential part of ensuring equal access to justice for all. Tune in for a compelling conversation about the intersection of law, language, and social justice—one you won’t want to miss!Rachel Rossi is a former Director of the Office for Access to Justice in the U.S. Department of Justice and previously served as Deputy Associate Attorney General and the DOJ’s first Anti-Hate Crime Coordinator. A career public defender in Los Angeles, she later served as Counsel to Senator Richard Durbin, helping lead efforts on the First Step Act, and as Counsel to the House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee. In 2020, she became the first former public defender to run for L.A. County District Attorney, earning nearly half a million votes. Rossi later served as Legal Director for the REFORM Alliance. She holds a law degree from Pepperdine University and is the daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Greece.

The Subject to Interpretation Podcast is back with a brand-new season! In the first episode, podcast host Maria Ceballo-Wallis sits down with Agustin de la Mora (Founder of DLMII) and Claudia Eslava (CEO of DLMII) to dive into the key trends shaping the future of interpretation and the must-watch topics for professionals in 2025. Watch now to stay ahead of the curve and be ready for what’s next in the industry.Make the most of your career in legal, medical, education and community interpreting with our courses: https://www.delamorainstitute.com/course-catalog

In this thought-provoking episode, host Maria Ceballos-Wallis is joined by Shawn Norris and Dr. Holly Silvestri of the SAFE AI Task Force (Stakeholders Advocating for Fair and Ethical AI in Interpreting) to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the interpreting profession. They delve into the role AI could play in shaping language access, both for oral languages and the deaf and hard of hearing community, and the safeguards needed to protect fair practices. The conversation also explores insights from a recent survey, interpreters' responses to AI developments, and the crucial need for human oversight to ensure ethical standards and cultural sensitivity are maintained.Learn More at safeaitf.org SAFE AI (Stakeholders Advocating for Fair and Ethical AI in Interpreting)About our Guests:Dr. Holly Ann Silvestri has significant experience in the field of translator and interpreter training in addition to running her own language service provider agency as well as freelancing for other agencies and government entities. Currently she works as Senior Coordinator for Translation, Training, and Curriculum at the National Center for Interpretation at the University of Arizona. Her working languages are Spanish, French and English. She is a founding member of the American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education as well as Chair of the Public Relations Committee for SAFE AI. She is also a member of the American Translators Association and the Arizona Translators and Interpreters.Shawn Norris is a seasoned language access leader, holding key roles such as President of FRID and CCHI Commissioner. Raised by Deaf parents, he's a passionate advocate for the Deaf community with over a decade of experience in the interpreting field. Shawn founded a local agency in Jacksonville, enhancing language accessibility, and is now the COO of AI Deaf, focusing on advancing VRI services.

In this inspiring episode, David Hardin, a seasoned business advisor and entrepreneur, joins host Maria Ceballos-Wallis to discuss the transformative theme of his upcoming keynote speech for DLMII’s Annual Business Retreat & Holiday Celebration, The Power of Purpose: Embracing Your Mission in Life. Drawing from his 25+ years of experience, David talks about the profound difference between merely working and living with intention and offers practical strategies for aligning your values with your daily actions.David also provides a sneak peek into his exclusive workshop for freelance interpreters that will be held during DLMII’s Business Retreat. He’ll cover essential strategies on how to grow and sustain a successful business, from building client relationships to maintaining work-life balance. Whether you're a new interpreter or an established freelancer, this episode is packed with insights to help you find purpose and thrive in your career.Join us in Florida on December 7th to hear David's keynote live and participate in his workshop at our Annual Business Retreat: https://de-la-mora-training.thinkific.com/courses/annual-business-retreat-2024 

In this episode, veteran judiciary interpreter Janis Palma and our host Maria Ceballos-Wallis, delve into the evolving ethics of judiciary interpreting. They explore the foundational impact of the Court Interpreters Act of 1978, the influence of early conference interpreting standards, and the challenges interpreters face in maintaining ethical practices while ensuring fair due process. They also touch on how technology and collaboration are reshaping the field and the necessity of bridging linguistic and cultural gaps to enhance communication for limited English proficient individuals.About this week's guest:Janis Palma has been a federally-certified judiciary interpreter since 1981. She is also certified by NAJIT (the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators) as an English-Spanish interpreter and translator, and by the State of Texas as a Master Licensed Court Interpreter.She holds a Ph.D. in Language Studies, a Master’s in Legal Studies, and a Master’s in Puerto Rican and Caribbean History and Literature. She is now enrolled in the Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design Ph.D. program at Clemson University.She has been teaching judiciary interpreting through professional associations, private organizations, higher education institutions, and government agencies since 1986. As an independent researcher her interest is focused right now on the intersections between judiciary interpreting theory and practice, law and legal language, but is also starting to explore the rhetoric of justice for language minorities in the U.S.Her most recent published work includes “Literary metaphors in legal English and their conveyance to Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals in the context of U.S. courts.” (Oct. 2024) International Journal for the Semiotics of Law.; “When interpreting does not remove the language barrier: interpreter ethics at odds with due process rights in U.S. courts.” Texas Hispanic Journal of Law & Policy, U. of Texas at Austin Law School, Vol. 29, Spring 2023. (pp. 25-45).; The Legal Duty of Care: What is it and how does it impact the role of the judiciary interpreter? (Available at The ATA Chronicle. Vol 52)

In this insightful episode of Subject to Interpretation, host Maria Ceballos-Wallace sits down with Danny Serna and Miguel Juarez Vidales, two recent graduates of the De La Mora Institute's Train the Trainer Medical Track. They share their unique experiences and challenges in teaching medical interpreters, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the course structure and their teaching methods. Both Dani and Miguel reflect on their first classes, the importance of language diversity, and how community needs drive the demand for trained interpreters.Curious about becoming a trainer yourself? The next Train the Trainer Workshop starts January 14, 2025. Apply now: https://de-la-mora-training.thinkific.com/courses/dmtt25-01-train-the-trainer-workshopAbout the Guests:Danny Serna is a Spanish Certified Medical Interpreter with more than 20 years of experience, and he currently serves as the Cultural Services Manager at Logansport Memorial Hospital in Logansport, Indiana. Before coming to LMH in 2020, Danny worked as a freelance medical interpreter in Madison, WI for entities such as The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Meriter Hospital, St Mary's Hospital, Dean Health Care systems to name a few. He was a staff medical interpreter at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and now resides in Logansport, IN. Danny earned his undergraduate degree in Spanish Language and Literature as well as French Language and Literature from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He obtained his Master’s in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Danny is passionate about language access for optimal patient care and about giving back to the professional field of interpreting.Miguel Juarez Vidales is a National Certified Medical Interpreter with over 13 years of experience in language services. He holds a BA in Spanish from Boise State University and has worked in various fields, including education, medical interpreting, and interpreting for nonprofit organizations and state government agencies. Originally from Mexico, Miguel now resides in Nampa, Idaho. Currently, Miguel works full-time as a Program Specialist at the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, where he combines his interpreting skills with advocacy to advance language access. He is also an interpreter trainer and is actively involved in policy-making and local organizations that promote social justice and language access in Idaho. In his free time, Miguel mentors aspiring interpreters, providing guidance and support as they navigate the path to national certification. In addition to his training role, Miguel is a conference interpreter and the owner of Juárez Translations, a small company offering a variety of language services, providing high-quality interpretation and translation services across different sectors.

In this episode of Subject to Interpretation, host Maria Ceballos-Wallis sits down with Odilia Romero, a leading advocate for Indigenous rights, to explore the challenges Indigenous interpreters face and the work being done to create a more equitable code of ethics in interpreting practices. Odilia shares her experiences from growing up in Oaxaca to co-founding Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (Cielo). Tune in to listen to Maria and Odilia's discussion on the importance of language access, the concept of language violence, and the need for culturally relevant interpreting practices. Cielo: https://mycielo.orgBorn in Zoogocho, Oaxaca, Odilia Romero is the co-founder and executive director of Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO). She is also an independent interpreter of Zapotec, Spanish, and English for indigenous communities in Los Angeles and throughout California. She has more than two decades of experience organizing indigenous migrant communities, and advocating for language access. Her knowledge and experience are highlyregarded, with multiple academic publications, awards, and lectures in universities across the United States. In 2024, she was listed on the ‘L.A. Influential’ list, for her work eradicating indigenous stereotypes. Ms.Romero has published on the challenges of training indigenous interpreters, developing women’s leadership, and preparing a new generation of youth. Her work has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Vogue, Democracy Now!, Quien, El País, TED X, Forbes, and the Day Emmy award-winning series Pan Y Circo "Nadie es ilegal migrantes de Ida y Vuelta" with Diego Luna.