Community Engaged Learning

INTR 1100 Connections to Community I - Final Reflection 

INTR 1110 Connections to Community II - Final Reflection 

INTR 2100 Connections to Community III - Final Reflection 

What fuels my goal to become an interpreter is my passion for the Deaf community, and part of that is working as an ally and understanding what changes need to happen to better that community. In many situations, including for the local Deaf community, philanthropy can be a huge help. I have learned that philanthropy is a great way to fund resources that can positively affect the Deaf. In the same vein, a lack of philanthropy can have a negative impact. Participating in philanthropy events and monetarily supporting local Deaf organizations creates an impactful chain reaction. 

Change cannot always happen from the top down; sometimes you must start small and work up. My role in addressing social change is through direct service. To me, direct service starts with asking a community what ways they need service and working to provide that. As a student at SLCC, the most valuable thing I have to offer is my time, so my role is to show up and be hands on in my service. Whether that is helping set up an event, interpreting for a church service, or assisting with an ASL class, these are ways I can listen to the Deaf community and meet them where they are. As I advance in my interpreter career, direct service may look a little different. I could do pro-bono work at shelters, continue to volunteer at the Deaf Center, and continue to educate myself on important causes within Deaf culture. Of course, it is necessary to approach this direct service from a desire to support, rather than pity or power. 

Equality and equity are two causes I value deeply, and I hope to always incorporate them in my work with the Deaf community. When I enter a Deaf space, I am always aware of my own hearing privilege and how it may pertain to the other individuals in the room. That is one reason why interpreters cannot be neutral; our very being there impacts a situation. So, when we are engaging with the community, it is important to work with people who are different than us, so we can learn their perspective. The communities’ perspective is also shown through their work. Expectations and mission statements of these community organizations should reflect the people they are working with, and when I choose to align myself with them, I am also aligning my beliefs. If an organization or company treats their Deaf clients in a more negative or pathological way, I know that that might now be the best place for me. If an organization wants to educate, support, and uplift the Deaf community through their projects, that is where I want to be. 

INTR 2200 Connections to Community III - Final Reflection 

INTR 2600- Final Reflection