Omaha council proclaims June 8–12 Language Access Week; World Speaks leaders urge expanded services

The Omaha City Council on June 8 designated June 8–12, 2026 as Language Access Week and heard from World Speaks Omaha about the group’s decade of local work to expand language services.

“My name is Leila DeChavez, and I'm the executive director and founder of World Speaks Omaha,” Leila DeChavez told the council, thanking members and Councilman Begley for support. DeChavez said the organization has marked 10 years of promoting language access and training interpreters so residents can access “critical and vital resources” regardless of the language they use.

Paulina Campos Guzman, program manager at World Speaks, described the organization’s outreach and interpreter training. She noted that Omaha Public Schools has nearly 21,000 students speaking 108 languages other than English and that language access helps reduce social isolation and improves access to education, health care and justice.

The proclamation, read by the presiding council member, highlights the role of language inclusion in civic participation and calls on residents and organizations to “recommit ourselves to bridging language barriers.” City staff asked that those not speaking in person submit written comments to the city clerk’s office for the public record.

The council recognized the presenters with a photo at the podium and the chair thanked World Speaks for its local work. The proclamation does not create a new program or funding in the text read to the council; it encourages awareness and partnerships to improve access.