Washington, DC – Ayuda is pleased to honor the DC Bar Foundation (DCBF) at its 44th Anniversary event on May 16, 2017. Ayuda will induct the DC Bar Foundation to its Hall of Fame, to commemorate the foundation's support for the Community Legal Interpreter Bank.

"Washington, D.C. is the only jurisdiction in the country where public interest attorneys can access professional interpretation services, at no cost, when the need arises. This distinction is attributable to the DC Bar Foundation's leadership and support of the Community Legal Interpreter Bank. The bank ensures that a language barrier never stands in the way when low-income individuals need legal assistance," says David Steib, director of the Language Access Program at Ayuda.

The DC Bar Foundation is the leading funder of civil legal aid in the District of Columbia. It is committed to the vision that residents of the District have equal access to justice, regardless of income. DCBF's mission is to fund, support, and improve legal representation of the poor, vulnerable, and otherwise disadvantaged in the District of Columbia.

Kirra L. Jarratt, executive director of the DC Bar Foundation, will represent the organization during the induction ceremony.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from Ayuda, marking our longstanding support of Ayuda and the services it provides to D.C.'s immigrant community. Now in its tenth year, the Community Legal Interpreter Bank is a national model and has witnessed tremendous growth over the years. We are proud to be a partner in increasing the D.C. immigrant community's access to justice," says Jarratt.

Ayuda's 44th Anniversary Event will take place on May 16, 2017, at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in downtown Washington, DC from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, contact Sarah Block at (202) 387-4848 ext. 143 or at sarah@ayuda.com. Or visit the event webpage. 

About the Ayuda Community Legal Interpreter Bank

Ayuda's Community Legal Interpreter Bank provides professional and accurate interpretation and translation services to support Ayuda and dozens of other local civil legal services providers. Every year, the Bank provides interpretation on more than 2,000 occasions, allowing limited English proficient and Deaf clients to access legal services. The Bank contracts with more than 70 highly trained interpreters, working in more than a dozen languages, to assist with client meetings, legal clinics, know-your-rights trainings, intake, and trial preparation.

About Ayuda

Ayuda is a 501(c)(3) legal, social, and language access provider that helps vulnerable low-income immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia stop abuses and improve their lives. With 44 years of experience and a highly motivated and skilled team, Ayuda secures justice and vital resources for immigrant individuals and families. As a national leader, Ayuda shares innovations that increase the capacity of providers and systems throughout the United States. Ayuda regularly fields inquiries from attorneys, advocates, and officials residing around the world who want to learn more about our relentless, dignified approach that helps immigrants save and rebuild their lives.