For today’s diverse communities, government agencies must ensure that every resident, regardless of language, has access to public information and services. Whether it’s a town hall meeting, a public health event, or an emergency response effort, community interpreters play a vital role in building trust and fostering inclusion.

But not all interpreters are created equal. When selecting language services for community events, it’s essential to work with professionals who are qualified, prepared, and culturally competent. Below are the top five things to look for when choosing a community interpreter, especially if you’re a government agency serving multilingual populations.

1. Professional Credentials & Training

A community interpreter should be more than bilingual; they should be professionally trained in accurate interpretation, code of ethics, modes (consecutive, simultaneous, sight), and vocabulary specific to the community setting. Look for interpreters who have completed a recognized program (for example, a 40-hour community or medical interpreter training course) and can show credentials that demonstrate both fluency in English and a non-English language, and additional formal training and experience. Always ask for certificates or proof of training, particularly if your event touches on legal, medical, or safety-related information.

2. Cultural Competency

Interpreters do more than translate words; they convey meaning, tone, and cultural context. The best community interpreters understand the diverse backgrounds of the populations they serve. They can navigate cultural sensitivities with professionalism, ensuring that messaging is not only accurate but respectful and relevant. For example, an interpreter assisting during a housing rights event should be aware of how certain terms may be perceived differently in immigrant communities or among different cultural groups.

3. Experience in Public-Facing or Government Settings

Community events often involve high-pressure, public-facing environments with multiple stakeholders. Whether it’s a city council meeting or a school registration fair, interpreters must be poised, professional, and comfortable interpreting in real-time in front of large or diverse audiences. If you’re in public health, education, or emergency management, look for interpreters who have worked in similar community or municipal settings.

4. Availability for On-Site and Remote Formats

Today’s community engagement takes place in many forms: in-person town halls, virtual Q&A sessions, hybrid community forums, and more. Depending on your needs, your interpretation partner should be able to offer flexible delivery, on-site and in-person, over-the-phone (OPI), or via video remote interpreting (VRI) for virtual events.

At Liberty, we offer 24/7 scheduling support and interpreter deployment across multiple platforms, ensuring your agency or department can successfully provide language access.

5. Compliance, Confidentiality, and Ethical Standards

When working with public-facing agencies, interpreters are often exposed to sensitive or protected information. Whether the content involves immigration, social services, or medical information, interpreters must adhere to strict confidentiality standards. Verify that your provider follows regulations such as HIPAA.

Why Government Agencies Trust Liberty Language Services

At Liberty, we specialize in partnering with local, state, and federal agencies to provide high-quality community interpreting that meets both linguistic and cultural needs. Our interpreters are:

• • Professionally trained and qualified
  • Available in over 300+ languages, including American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Experienced in education, healthcare, legal, and public services
  • Vetted for government readiness (background checks, vaccination records, etc.)
  • Backed by a dedicated scheduling and coordination team providing support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

Whether you’re preparing for back-to-school enrollment, a public safety workshop, or a multilingual voter registration drive, Liberty is ready to support you. We proudly hold a GSA MAS Contract for Translation and Interpretation Services (NAICS 541930), making it easy for federal agencies to procure our services with confidence and compliance.

Contact our Government Services Team today.