Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Dec 13 2004
Red Cross is now in three new languages
The organization’s local chapter added Armenian, Korean and Spanish
versions on its website; use increasing already.
By Jackson Bell, News-Press and Leader
SOUTHWEST GLENDALE – Now it’s a lot easier for some to surf the
website for the Glendale-Crescenta Valley chapter of the American Red
Cross.
In late October, the emergency organization completed an update to
its website allowing users to peruse certain pages in Armenian,
Korean and Spanish.
Officials say the website’s popularity has taken off, noting that
there has been a 20% increase of visits to the site.
“The Red Cross’ mission is to help people prepare for and cope with
emergency,” said Ron Farina, the chapter’s executive director. “With
a multiethnic community like Glendale, it’s essential that we are
able to communicate in all ways possible. And one of the key ways is
with a website.”
About two years ago, the organization hired Browne Global Solutions,
a company that specializes in translation, to add the three minority
languages most present in the city on the website. People can click a
button and access main pages on the site.
Two months ago, the company also updated the website’s “Together We
Prepare” section, which includes directions on how to prepare a home
or workplace for disaster. It also lists where to donate blood.
“The Red Cross wants to reach out and be of service to these
individuals in the community so they know they are important to us,”
Farina said.
Armenians in the community would normally avoid using the website
because they are not fluent in English, said Alina Azizian, the
executive director Armenian National Committee’s Glendale chapter.
But to have the website translated into Armenian makes it more
accessible to them.
“[The Red Cross] is really reaching out to the community, and in this
community, there are a lot of Armenians,” Azizian said. “I think a
lot of people will feel less alienated to the organization [because
of this].”