A Non-profit Social Enterprise
MCIS Language Solutions is a Toronto-based non-profit that has evolved into a model social enterprise and has been relentlessly pursuing its goal to remove language barriers for over 35 years. With over 60 full time staff and engaging a roster of over 5,000 interpreters, translators, voice artists, transcriptionists, training facilitators, and other language professionals, MCIS provides a full suite of language solutions: from language interpretation, translation and transcription to localization, training and training development for government, legal, police services and healthcare organizations in 300+ languages.
Every year MCIS invests some of its net income into initiatives that support free services for victims of violence and the homeless, and training subsidies for aspiring interpreters and translators. With a growing demand for language services, a long track record of success, and deep roots in the community, MCIS has positioned itself to capture more market share in the language industry by simply demonstrating there is a better way to conduct business.
Our vision, to connect people globally through languages, is really about communication. We want to build authentic, transparent and trusted bridges world-wide that will break down silos between people and languages, fueling mobility and prosperity.
Our Mission
Mission
Vision
History
Over 35 Years of Expertise
BROKERAGE MODEL
The pilot, envisioned as a complex brokerage mo...Read More 1991
CRISIS
Following a year and a half in crisis, MCISR...Read More DECEMBER 1996
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT PROJECT…
Lack of interpreters’ education on working wi...Read More 1997
FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The organization’s first Executive Direct...Read More 1993
INCORPORATION
MCIS incorporates and moves its first office fr...Read More MARCH 17, 1995
MCIS: OUR HISTORY
MCIS Language Solutions is a non-profit social ...Read More 1989
MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY INTERPRETERS SERVICES…
Multilingual Community Interpreters Services (O...Read More 1989
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Latha Sukumar is appointed Executive Director i...Read More SEPTEMBER 1996
RENAMED MCIS
The Founding Board renames the agency again as ...Read More 1994
WEB-BASED INTERPRETER SCHEDULING SYSTEM
As its services expand, MCIS successfully appli...Read More 2000
Join the MCIS family as a vendor
Our Community
Since its inception in 1989, MCIS has remained committed to vulnerable persons and their rights to access important public services which help them navigate situations of crisis. MCIS has facilitated communication in shelters, for law enforcement, healthcare and criminal justice system agencies.
Our primary beneficiaries, people experiencing language barriers, are in need of professional language services and solutions so they can access the critical information & services they need (health and legal rights, education, employment), and have greater capacity to make informed decisions. This, our research has found, has an impact on their sense of safety and general well-being and, in return, creates healthier communities. Our mission is to improve access to critical information and services through high quality language solutions, and our vision is to connect people across the world through languages, serving as their global voice.
Partnerships
MCIS has identified non-profit service providers and aspiring/established language professionals as strategic partners with whose support we will build sector capacity. This will serve to ensure appropriate referrals to professional language services, greater public awareness of language barriers, and to improve industry standards to address them. Further, as a member of leading networks working to improve public sector access for vulnerable newcomers, MCIS influences and shapes public policy and best practices as they relate to access to professional language services.
We actively and continuously search for partners who will help us further our vision, mission and impact. The mission of our newly established MCIS Social Innovation Lab is “to provide a trans-disciplinary playing field for learning about and experimenting with all forms of social innovation. By combining courses, workshops and pilot projects, we offer a platform to connect business, public administration and civil society in joint projects.”
Finances
Growing its fee-for-service business arm nationally and internationally, MCIS has ensured continuous, uninterrupted revenue growth. In addition to several government grants to provide free services assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking, MCIS has carved its niche in the competitive languages industry with high quality services.
MCIS Intended Impact
MCIS’ intended impact is to improve the access of people with language barriers to critical information and services that support their rights, safety
and well-being. Furthermore, advocacy and sector leadership will promote access as a human right, best served through professional language services.
Educating Public Service Providers
MCIS educates public service providers on the importance of using professional community interpreters when serving non-English/French speaking clients. This includes the Online Training Initiative to Address Human Trafficking, one of the most comprehensive online training programs for service providers, funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General – Ontario Victims Services.
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Legislation
MCIS advocates for changes to legislation to ensure continued and enhanced access to public sector services for limited and non-English/French speakers. MCIS is part of networks involved in legislative reform, including professional recognition for Community Interpreters and their mandated use in all primary health care facilities and legal fora.
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Employment Opportunities
MCIS provides job opportunities for people who face barriers to employment, particularly those in receipt of social assistance. In partnership with the City of Toronto’s Investing in Neighbourhoods program, we recruit and train individuals, with 25 percent of participants absorbed permanently into our payroll.
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Educating Eligible Newcomers
MCIS offers quality training and training subsidies for newcomers to Canada aspiring to become professional interpreters. Exposure to the job market facilitates faster integration into Canadian society.
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Improving Access to Language Services
Focusing on non-English speaking victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and homelessness, MCIS has routinely absorbed the cost of interpretation and translation when individuals and organizations lack the resources to afford services.
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