Gia Nghi describes what can happen when children are used

as interpreters.

"It was just one of those scariest experiences ever.  I always thought I was going to get into trouble if I interpreted something wrong.  There were times I didn't understand what the government official asked of me to interpret."

Avoid using a child as an interpreter:

~ "It causes unnecessary stress for the child, perhaps placing them in a situation where they are interpreting concepts and circumstances they don't necessarily understand or far too adult for their knowledge and their experience."

~ "It disrupts the balance in the family between the child and their parent which can cause unnecessary stress in the family."

~

"It

Why We Do This

At Outreach Communications, we believe students should be students - not interpreters. Drawing from decades of experience in school settings, we’ve seen the emotional and academic impact on students asked to interpret for their families. That’s why we provide professional interpretation and translation services - so your staff can communicate clearly and respectfully with families, adult to adult.

We help schools, programs, and agencies Build Strong Connections by reaching families in their home language—not just English. Our specialty is English-Spanish communication, and we can also source and coordinate bilingual facilitators in other languages.

We also believe in growing your team from within. Bilingual staff who are already serving as informal interpreters deserve professional training and support. Our workshops—delivered primarily in English with some Spanish-language sessions—offer skills development, shared learning, and a confidence boost for your bilingual facilitators.

Why Human-Centered Translation Matters

While tools like Google Translate and artificial intelligence (AI) may seem convenient, they fall short in capturing the cultural, contextual, and linguistic nuances of real-life communication. These tools often misinterpret gendered language, regional dialects, and idiomatic expressions—especially in Spanish, which varies widely across communities.

At Outreach Communications, we specialize in English–Spanish bilingual facilitation, providing professionally trained translators and interpreters who combine language expertise with cultural understanding. We ensure your message is conveyed accurately, respectfully, and professionally.  If your district needs support in additional languages, we can source and coordinate bilingual professionals to meet your needs.

As the use of AI grows, so does the gap between what is said and what is truly understood. Technology simply cannot replace the human connection and contextual awareness that skilled interpreters bring to school communities.

We prioritize precision, professionalism, and people in every communication.

Why Now

Over coffee in Corvallis, Oregon, as longtime colleagues and friends, we reflected on a shared challenge: too many schools and programs need language support, but don’t have trained staff to provide it. With years of experience building a district welcome center and supporting connections between educators and Spanish-speaking families, we founded Outreach Communications LLC—a mission-driven business grounded in people, communication, and access.

We specialize in:

• Training for bilingual school staff and district teams
• English - Spanish interpretation and translation services
• Assessing your current communication practices and designing outreach strategies that reflect the needs and voices of your multilingual families

Our initial goal was simple: to strengthen communication and connection so every student and family can fully participate in their educational journey. But as our work grew, so did our vision.

If you're a school district, community agency, small business, or nonprofit, we can tailor support to meet your needs—especially when reaching Spanish-speaking families, staff, or clients. Let’s build your outreach plan together.