Our Staff & Interpreters – Alliance Language Network

We Recruit Our Language Professionals from the Communities that We Serve

Our language network consists of respected community leaders from professional backgrounds that span various disciplines, including health, law, education, and social services. ALN staff are linguistically diverse and culturally competent.

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Code of Ethics

ALN language professionals go through progressive levels of intensive trainings and are guided by a code of ethics set by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care. This code of ethics includes confidentiality, professionalism, a non-judgmental attitude, client self-determination, accuracy and completeness in interpreting, and conveying cultural frameworks.

Extensive Training

The minimum criterion for ALN language professionals is to pass a language assessment exam, complete an approved curriculum, pass a comprehensive competency exam, and train one-on-one with our in-house Training Specialist.

Continuing Education

ALN is also a strong supporter of continuing education. We conduct ongoing seminars for our ALN language professionals where guest experts are invited to speak on various issues pertinent to community interpreting and translating.

Interpreter Spotlight

Deogratias Burhama, Ph.D

Biography

Deogratias is an agricultural researcher and consultant. He retired after working as a General Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003. Dr. Burhama decided to move to the United States to join his family in Houston and has been working with Alliance Language Network since 2008. In his spare time, Dr. Burgama likes to put his agriculture knowledge to good use by helping refugee women learn how to produce honey bee.

Education

Doctorate, University of Florida

Master in Agricultural Economics, University of Maine

Bachelor in Biology, Lovanium University

Languages Spoken: French, Swahili

Carmen Lopez

Biography

Carmen Lopez is a native of the north coast of Spain and now calls The Woodlands, TX her home. After leaving Spain, Carmen moved with her husband and son on international assignments living in four countries before settling in the US. Her son continues the expat life as he was recently transferred by his employer to Kyoto, Japan.

Education

Carmen first learned English at the University of Cambridge’s British Institute in Madrid, Spain and later obtained an advanced English certificate at the British Institute in Caracas, Venezuela. After completing the Interpreting Course taught by Alliance for Multicultural Community Services in 1995, Carmen began interpreting ARD meetings and continues today with ARD interpreting assignments throughout the north Houston area. Interpreting ARD sessions for Alliance continues to be a rewarding profession that provides the opportunity for interacting with special needs children and seeing the program’s positive impact on their lives.