When a fire struck a local family in 2000, their limited English made communication with emergency service providers almost impossible. This dramatic example of the need for accessible translation and interpretation services in Tompkins County inspired then Cornell undergraduate Fatema Sumar ‘01 and alumna Joyce Muchan ‘97 to found the Cornell Translator Interpreter Program (TIP) the same year.
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, TIP is holding its first-ever symposium, under the theme “The Future of Language Advocacy,” on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room G10, Biotech Building. The symposium is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.
To build the program, Muchan and Sumar began with a survey of the language needs of Tompkins County, then held training sessions for volunteers, gained the trust of the community organizations in need of accessible services, and recruited Cornell professors to approve the language proficiency of prospective translators or interpreters.
TIP has continued its operations as a free, student-run program since its founding, connecting bilingual and multilingual Cornell students with those needing translation and interpretation services in emergency and non-emergency situations. They have provided services during crises, including the 2009 Binghamton Civic Association mass shooting, and for ongoing community needs such as parent-teacher conferences, medical services, and food banks interactions, audio tours for the Cornell Botanic Gardens, and special events such as the Immigrant ARC asylum clinic in 2024.
“Through addressing this targeted need of bridging language and cultural barriers, TIP aims to foster mutual understanding and community trust,” said Angelika Kraemer, director of the Language Resource Center, where TIP is now housed.
Sumar, now executive director of the Harvard Center for International Development, and Muchan, former assistant director of student development in the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, will be present to reflect on TIP’s journey and discuss the path ahead to build momentum for the future.
“Throughout the past 25 years, TIP has been powered by hundreds of Cornell student and faculty volunteers, representing many areas of study and cultural backgrounds, who share a common interest in TIP’s mission” Kraemer said. “TIP continues to build community on campus and to work toward advancing language justice.”
If you are interested in joining as a volunteer, or if your organization is seeking translation or interpretation services, contact TIP at translator@cornell.edu or visit their CampusGroups website.
More News from A&S
To disclose or not to disclose good deeds, that is the do-gooder dilemma_image
Psychology and philosophy
