Recommendation 20250318-005: Recommendation on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Senior Program Language Access — original pdf

Recommendation

ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY-OF-LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION (AAQoL) RECOMMENDATION 20250318-05 Date: March 18, 2025 Subject: Center (AARC) Senior Program Language Access Recommendation on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Asian American Resource Motioned by: Commissioner Nguyễn Drafted by: Hanna Huang (Chair) & AARC Workgroup Seconded By: Commissioner Chen AARC Senior Program Language Access Description The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) facility within the Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment (ACME) Office’s Museums & Cultural Programs Division has a robust senior program that serves 60-70 participants daily Mondays through Thursdays and has served over 10,000 meals within the FY2023-2024 year alone. In the AARC budget from FY2022-2023 and FY2023-2024, there has been a significant unmet need for additional funding for expanded Senior Language Access. The AARC had $43,198 in FY2023-2024 budgeted for interpretation. Of this budget, most of the funding is utilized for Mandarin-language interpretation due to the need from Chinese-speaking seniors. The AARC staff has identified a need for Vietnamese and Korean interpretation for activities as well as to better serve seniors with language barriers 32 to 40 hours a month during the senior programs at the facility. As the only senior program in the city with language access for Asian languages consistently available, it is essential that the AARC has an increased budget for additional language interpretation services to expand equitable access to our Asian American seniors. Recommendation An increase in funding for language access services is recommended for 32 to 40 hours of additional interpretation per month to add Vietnamese and Korean-interpreted activity days to the AARC senior program. Department Office of Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment (ACME) / Museums & Cultural Programs Division / AARC Alignment with Council Strategic Priorities Culture & Lifelong Learning: Quality, accessibility, and diversity of civic and cultural venues, events, programs, and resources; Vibrancy and sustainability of creative industry ecosystem; Quality of lifelong learning opportunities. Health & Environment: Accessibility to quality parks, trails, and recreational opportunities Government That Works for All: Condition of City facilities and technology; Public engagement and participation; Equity of City programs and resource allocation. Vote: 11-0 For: Chair Huang, Commissioners Chen, Xiyi Chen, Dolling, Easley, Nguyễn, Siker, Sin, Thakkar, Yang, Shrestha. Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Vice Chair Jambulapati, Commissionner Sha Attest: