WCEL Advocates for Language Justice
- ella1497
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
March 25, 2025
Bellingham, WASH — On March 1st the president of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. The U.S. has never had an official language in its 249 years of existence. This action effectively rescinded Executive Order 13166 and may be interpreted to allow agencies and entities funded by the federal government to choose whether they offer documents and services in languages other than English.
While this action may result in exclusionary practices, it is important to recognize that language access remains the law for the healthcare sector. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibit discrimination by government funded health programs and agencies based on “national origin”, which is interpreted by the Supreme Court to include language.
Lack of language access in health care services can result not just in miscommunication but also risks a patient safety and can have adverse outcomes, including death. Thus, Whatcom Center for Early Learning (WCEL) believes in acting together to advocate for language access. We will continue to offer interpretation and translation services, including ASL and indigenous languages, and take pride in our language justice work which includes bringing community stakeholders together in language justice convenings.
Andrés Sierra is the Language Access Specialist at WCEL and advocate for language justice. Drawing from his deep commitment to empowering underserved communities, his work focuses on breaking down systemic barriers.
“Language is not just a tool for communication, it is the foundation of dignity, opportunity, and inclusion. As a society, we must ensure that language access is not a privilege, but a right. My commitment to language justice is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of the language they speak, deserves the full range of services and resources to thrive. This is about empowering communities, dismantling barriers, and building a future where language is never an obstacle,” said Andrés Sierra.
Andrés Sierra goes on to say, “Our communities are entitled to true language justice. We believe that every individual, regardless of their language background, deserves equal access to healthcare, education, and legal services. It’s not about measuring ability; it’s about ensuring that everyone’s voice is understood, every story is valued, and no one is left behind due to the language they speak.”
In 2024, WCEL began a language access initiative working with Whatcom Health and Community Services and Opportunity Council funded by the Mount Baker Foundation. This works to ensure that children 0 to 6 in our services, and their families, receive high quality and culturally sensitive language access support.
Sierra James, WCEL executive director, states, “We began organizing community Language Justice Convenings to learn from each other and advocate for change together. On March 4, 2025, we held the second Whatcom County Language Justice Convening. The initial intention was to bring 40 or so participants together. However, interest in these convenings has grown, for this second convening we had 80 individuals attend from across various types of health, education and nonprofit entities.”
At WCEL, we are deeply committed to creating a world where every child—regardless of their race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, or background—can grow, learn, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment. WCEL recognizes the critical need for state and local officials to prioritize language access, especially in the face of efforts to undermine it at the federal level.
This is especially important as language access, or lack thereof, has a profound impact on the wellbeing and health outcomes of children and families.
Call to Action!
Speak Up: If you see language access issues please speak out. Your voice can make a difference.
Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding language access and how it impacts people is a big step in making a change. Visit our Language Justice Convening website to learn more. Watch this short clip to understand why language access is a game changer.
Support Access Programs: Do you speak more than one language? Volunteer with WCEL or another social services agency; your participation helps create more opportunities for every child to be supported and celebrated.
Advocate for Change: You can advocate for policy changes in your community, school, or workplace to ensure that people are treated fairly.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning's (WCEL) mission is to partner with families to provide high-quality, equitable, and comprehensive therapy and support services to children experiencing developmental delays and disabilities.
Our vision is an equitable society where children with disabilities and their families thrive, experience meaningful connections, and have a deep understanding of their strengths and needs.