Cabarrus Today

The City of Concord, one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in North Carolina, has adopted a Language Access Plan to address communication barriers and ensure the city remains welcoming for its diverse population.

The Language Access Plan (LAP) is the result of a year-long collaborative effort with El Puente Hispano and experts at UNC-Chapel Hill. Concord was one of nine municipalities accepted into the inaugural Language Access Collaborative program facilitated by the Building Integrated Communities team at the Institute for the Study of the Americas. Through this program, city staff worked with El Puente Hispano to evaluate current practices and policies, conduct a needs assessment, and create a plan to improve communication with residents who have Limited English Proficiency.

Approximately 19.3% of Concord’s population speaks a language other than English, with 4.6% speaking English less than “very well.” The top three languages encountered in the community are Spanish, Hindi, and American Sign Language. These languages will be the initial focus of the LAP, with additional languages evaluated annually.

Over the next year, supported by grant funding through the Language Access Collaborative, Concord will implement several goals from the LAP:

- Increase translation of vital documents and notices in Spanish, Hindi, and American Sign Language.

- Provide interpretation services during public meetings upon request.

- Develop internal training on language access resources and services.

- Create an inclusive emergency response plan.

To accommodate various language needs online, Concord has added accessibility tools to its website. The Recite Me toolbar on concordnc.gov offers users translation, visual, and audio tools to enhance their experience.

Additionally, Concord offers a bilingual pay incentive to employees who pass a competency exam and contracts with on-demand interpreters for residents with Limited English Proficiency using Customer Care, public transportation, or public safety services. These efforts will be expanded through the implementation of the LAP.

For more information visit concordnc.gov/languageaccess. A Spanish translation of the Language Access Plan will be available soon.