Language access services
The Neighborhood and Community Relations Department (NCR) manages the City's translation and interpreting services.
NCR plays a major role in ensuring that the City effectively communicates with all residents, maintaining several systems for engaging residents with limited English in Minneapolis's major foreign languages. One of the largest barriers to participation can be language. The NCR department's community specialists speak Spanish, Somali, Hmong and Lao.
City-designated neighborhood organizations can request the services by contacting their neighborhood specialist.
Language access plan
The language access plan is a guide for City staff to ensure City programs, services and activities are accessible to non-to-limited English speaking residents and people with disabilities requiring information in alternative languages and formats. It outlines City operating policies and procedures such as identifying primary languages, interpreting and translation tools, and delivery of programs and services in non-English languages.
The City is strongly committed to making City services and information about those services available to everyone, regardless of language barriers. This commitment stems from overall City goals of responsive government, community engagement, and customer service. As residents, workers or visitors who contribute to City life, people with limited English proficiency are entitled to fair and equal access to service.