Have you ever reflected on the continuous growth of the immigrant community in the United States and the positive and direct impact your bilingual or multilingual abilities may have on the lives of people with little to no understanding of English? Nonprofit organizations across the country that serve recent immigrants oftentimes struggle to meet the language proficiency levels needed to effectively implement their outreach programs<\/a>. Your ability to speak, read, write, or understand another language can be an asset to a nonprofit seeking these skills and for people suffering hardship due to language barriers.<\/p>\n English language learners from different cultural backgrounds face numerous challenges when looking for affordable housing, overcoming crises such as natural disasters, dealing with financial illiteracy, and\/or seeking wellness for the members in their family, including the elderly. This is where the resources and support of the nonprofit sector play a fundamental role in the social and economic health of communities struggling to overcome language barriers to fulfill basic human needs.<\/p>\n There are countless organizations that have been aiding and transforming people\u2019s lives<\/a> for years and where your work as a bilingual or multilingual professional can make a difference. Family Promise<\/a>, whose mission and goal is ending family homelessness, is an example of how a family\u2019s livelihood can change when they have access to a nonprofit with staff members who are proficient in more than one language. One day, a single mom of two children who was struggling to pay her rent called their offices and left a message. A bilingual employee of Family Promise returned the call. The mom had reached out to several other organizations, but none had responded. Thanks to the bilingual employee\u2019s language skills the mom was able to secure a rental assistance agreement and maintain the family in their home.<\/p>\n In addition, financial literacy assistance in various languages can help diverse segments of the population make better decisions about their finances. As English speakers, we sometimes find it difficult to manage our personal finances. Can you imagine how daunting it must be for non-English speaking people to understand how to navigate a financial system that is new to them? As a bilingual or multilingual professional, you can help guide individuals to information and resources that can help improve their economic situation and alleviate hardship.<\/p>\n If you are a person interested in helping the senior population and their caretakers with immediate food assistance, perhaps your local food pantry is a good starting point. The relatives and caretakers of elderly people often resort to their local food pantry for healthy and nutritious options when food is scarce. Most local food pantries determine a person\u2019s eligibility for help through an application and interview, many times available only in English. Accurate communication is vital since certain state and federal programs may ask for supporting documents when going through the application process. As a bilingual or multilingual leader in your community or as a professional looking for a job opportunity in a nonprofit organization, looking for agencies near you that serve a non-English speaking senior population and that align with your interests can make you a champion of families who need help with their application forms. You can be the difference between someone experiencing food scarcity or not.<\/p>\n An ACTFL language proficiency assessment, delivered by Language Testing International<\/a> (LTI) can help you determine your specific proficiency level<\/a>. LTI offers language assessments in over 120 languages. ACTFL assessments are a valid and defensible language credential that is widely recognized by organizations worldwide. You can test for speaking, reading, writing and\/or listening, and each test is designed to ultimately provide a valid and defensible credential of your language skills.<\/p>\n Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n Carly Simon-Gersuk. MoveCU. \u201cFive Financial Literacy Organizations You Should Know About\u201d.<\/p>\n https:\/\/movecu.com\/blogs\/5-financial-literacy-organizations-you-should-know-about<\/a><\/p>\n HAC Housing Assistance Council. Resources. \u201cNonprofit Organizations\u201d.<\/p>\n https:\/\/ruralhome.org\/information-center\/links-and-resources\/nonprofit-organizations\/<\/a><\/p>\n Senior-Meals.org. Elderly and Senior Meal Delivery Solutions from the Experiences of Family Caretakers for New Family Caretakers. \u201cHow Your Local Food Pantry May Be a Resource for Family Caretakers and their Loved Ones\u201d. https:\/\/www.senior-meals.org\/senior-food-pantries<\/a><\/p>\n