General LILAC Meeting-
*Each month,
we will be alternating between Nassau and Suffolk.
RSVP to Cheryl Keshner CKeshner@empirejustice.org *New Members Invited!
RSVP to Cheryl Keshner CKeshner@empirejustice.org *New Members Invited!
Thanks to those of you who joined us at our recent LILAC conference!
The November 18th LILAC Conference was attended by approximately 125 people who were feeling the urge to learn more and to do more after the election to protect immigrants and other vulnerable community members on Long Island. Interpretation was provided in Spanish and Haitian Creole, providing an opportunity for greater community participation. We engaged in a dialogue with local law enforcement about language access and the need to protect our communities from immigration scams, ICE raids and hate crimes. We heard moving stories from community members who had themselves faced many challenges. We also discussed the need to create more programs and services for at-risk youth who speak languages other than English, expand protections for survivors of domestic violence, and address issues of meaningful access to protect against discrimination in our community agencies and institutions.
There is much work to do and we need to support one another now more than ever!
Please join us for our next meeting, bring info about your organization to share and find out how you can get involved! LONG ISLAND LANGUAGE ADVOCATES COALITION (LILAC) MEETING THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH @ 9:30 A.M. TOURO LAW CENTER, 225 EASTVIEW DRIVE, CENTRAL ISLIP FOR MORE INFO: 631-650-2317
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
Executive Order 13166 -
|
2015 Conference Materials
now Available! |
Announcements:
LANGUAGE ACCESS DENIED: LILAC RELEASES REPORT DETAILING FAILED IMPLEMENTATION OF NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE ORDERS:
August 25, 2015
Language access makes it possible for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals to access a wide range of services. As defined by the U.S. Department of Justice, LEP individuals are persons who do not speak English as their primary language, and who may have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. According to the most recent U.S. Census, Nassau County has 130,000 individuals who consider themselves to be LEP.
It’s been two years since Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano signed Executive Orders 67 & 72, promising interpretation and translation at Nassau County Agencies, yet little progress has been made. Many programs were already required to provide language access under federal law and have failed to meet their legal responsibilities.
This report from Long Island Language Advocates Coalition (LILAC) describes the importance of, and need for, comprehensive language access in Nassau County based on the demographics as well as moral imperative, the legal precedents and requirements which extend all the way to the federal level, and the history of advocacy efforts in Nassau County before and after the signing of Executive Orders 67 and 72. Also included are the results of testing efforts conducted by members of numerous community based organizations well after the language access orders should have been fully implemented.
continue reading click Here
August 25, 2015
Language access makes it possible for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals to access a wide range of services. As defined by the U.S. Department of Justice, LEP individuals are persons who do not speak English as their primary language, and who may have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. According to the most recent U.S. Census, Nassau County has 130,000 individuals who consider themselves to be LEP.
It’s been two years since Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano signed Executive Orders 67 & 72, promising interpretation and translation at Nassau County Agencies, yet little progress has been made. Many programs were already required to provide language access under federal law and have failed to meet their legal responsibilities.
This report from Long Island Language Advocates Coalition (LILAC) describes the importance of, and need for, comprehensive language access in Nassau County based on the demographics as well as moral imperative, the legal precedents and requirements which extend all the way to the federal level, and the history of advocacy efforts in Nassau County before and after the signing of Executive Orders 67 and 72. Also included are the results of testing efforts conducted by members of numerous community based organizations well after the language access orders should have been fully implemented.
continue reading click Here
Our Mission
Long Island Language Advocates Coalition (L.I.L.A.C.) is a coalition of individuals and organizations based on Long Island who are concerned about the unequal access to programs, such as health care, law enforcement, social services and justice through the courts, by persons with limited English proficiency. We seek to assure that this population receives full and equal access to programs and services. We aim to do this by highlighting the systemic issues that create barriers to meaningful access, advocating for the removal of these barriers, and educating on the advantages of systemic change.
Nuestra Misión
LILAC (La Coalición de Defensores del Lenguaje de Long Island) es una coalición de individuos y organizaciones con sede en Long Island que están preocupados por la desigualdad de acceso a los programas tales como el cuidado de la salud, los servicios policiales, los servicios sociales y la justicia en los tribunales para las personas con un Conocimiento de Inglés Limitado. Nosotros tratamos de asegurar que esta población reciba un completo e igual acceso a los programas y servicios. Hacemos esto para resaltar los problemas sistemáticos que crean barreras para el acceso adecuado promoviendo la eliminación de estas barreras y la educación sobre las ventajas de un cambio sistemático.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 declares,
"No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." 42 U.S.C. § 2000d.
"No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." 42 U.S.C. § 2000d.