Video description: Darlene Zangara is explaining the purpose of this website. She is a white woman with short blonde hair, wears black glasses, and is wearing a black blouse and standing in front of a black background. The transcript is provided below.

Introduction

Hello! I’m Dr. Darlene Zangara, Executive Director of the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. I am thrilled to share the work of Minnesota’s Interpreting Forward 2030.

First, I want to celebrate all the work that many people have done over the last two years. Thank you to the hundreds of people that have participated in this project: working group members, community members, stakeholders, and participants. You are why the Interpreting Forward work has been successful. You are the ones who continue to carry this work through. Even though the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing has supported this work, it is our Minnesota community that is the heart of this work.

On this website, you will see the results of that work. Together, we created possible answers to this question we are all asking: with the growing shortage of sign language interpreters, how do we advance the quality and availability of interpreting services across Minnesota?

This question unites us, and we focus on what matters for our community and for our communication access.

Through many conversations and meetings, our community developed over 100 potential solutions. Some of these solutions will help us achieve our shared goals. Some of these solutions are not strongly supported. Some of these solutions contradict each other.

While each potential solution has value, over 100 potential solutions are not achievable. Instead, we recommend making choices, together, on which potential solutions to pursue.

Generations of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Minnesotans have worked tirelessly for a better future so we can enjoy access to our larger community. Now it is our turn to collaborate and make sure we pave the way for future generations to have access to high quality and greater availability of interpreting services.

Minnesota has a long legacy of being an excellent place for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing people to live. Let’s continue that legacy.

Interpreting Forward 2030 is an important initiative, led by stakeholders, supported by the Commission, and facilitated by the Dendros Group.

Minnesota is facing a big obstacle: approximately 40% of working interpreters imagine working less, leaving, or retiring in the next few years. Additionally, fewer new interpreters are joining the field. In addition, concerns about the quality of interpreting services have been raised repeatedly.

This initiative is focused on increasing the quality and availability of professional interpreting services for our diverse and large community in Minnesota.

Explore findings

Explore the data

Image description: Darlene, wearing a black long sleeved top is signing passionately while being surrounded by six people on a backdrop of large sticky notes with text.

Minnesota’s DDBHH and interpreting Community Coming together

Video description: Darlene Zangara is explaining why you should consider relocating to Minnesota. The transcript is provided below.

Why Minnesota?

Welcome to Minnesota!

Hello! I’m Dr. Darlene Zangara, Executive Director of the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing.

Minnesota is a place where the Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing community thrives. Our services are excellent, our quality of life is excellent, and we have a rich Deaf cultural history here.

I’m proud to call Minnesota home. I have lived in many places in our country and Minnesota has been an amazing place for me and my family. (Ok, I’m not gonna lie, you do have to get used to the cold.)

If you’re an interpreter, or a new interpreter starting out, Minnesota is a great place for your career and your services to the Deaf community. We have efficient interpreter referral companies, excellent mentoring programs, three top-notch interpreter training programs in the Twin Cities, and of course, the best State Fair in the country. Seriously, you can get thousands of foods on a stick!

I especially want to invite new interpreters to consider starting your careers here. We enjoy a high quality of life; people can still afford a home, and the natural world is beautiful here. Check out Minnesota RID’s website. They are a lively professional organization working hard to support the profession in Minnesota. We are lucky to have them as allies.

If you’re a Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing community member, we have so many wonderful community organizations. Leadership in our community is vibrant and skilled. We have the Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, Minnesota DeafBlind Association, Deaf Equity, Deaf Queers, St. Paul & Minneapolis Black Deaf Advocates, the Minnesota Deaf Muslim Association, our Local Deaf Club at Charles Thompson Hall and more! We have excellent state services and programs for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people. We even have lots of sports teams! Go Vikings! Go Lynx! Go Minnesota United!

Deaf professionals and business owners will love Minnesota. We are the place to find meaningful work or start a business. Our state offers excellent support to disadvantaged businesses, as well as communication access support for small employers. The only reason to not come to Minnesota is the mosquitos. And the cold. Did I mention that it can get cold?

As a Deaf professional who has lived and worked in many places in the US, Minnesota is my home.

If you’re considering a relocation, choose Minnesota.