Lynn recently hired four part-time interpreters to assist residents in accessing city services and meeting other language needs.
The Arabic, Haitian-Creole, Khmer, and Spanish interpreters are stationed during designated hours in the second-floor foyer area near the welcome desk at City Hall. The Arabic, Haitian-Creole, and Spanish interpreters started mid-February, and the Khmer interpreter begins March 14.
The initiative, intended to reduce language barriers in a diverse community, is funded for three years through money that Lynn received from the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Biden last year.
In addition to in-person assistance, the interpreters will be able to provide their services by phone and e-mail. Officials said that at least initially, they will not be able not be able to translate documents.
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Faustina Cuevas, the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer, is coordinating the program. For more information, contact Cuevas at fcuevas@lynnma.gov.
John Laidler can be reached at laidler@globe.com.