This interpreter support group is a safe space for medical interpreters to share their experiences.

Every Third Wednesday of the month, 5:30-6:30pm. RSVP for Zoom link. Registration is free.

We recognize the unique challenges you face in delivering crucial medical information and interpreting complex, emotionally challenging discussions. We hope to create a supportive community for you all in this challenging and rewarding profession.

This group is facilitated by Jamie Newell, LCSW, palliative care social worker at Providence with years of experience working with interpreters.

Sponsored by Providence, open to all interpreters.

Not an OSTI-sponsored event.

Greetings, OSTI members,

The OSTI board is moving its meetings to every 2nd Monday of the month at 7:30 PM.  The next meeting will be held on June 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM.  

OSTI Members are welcome to attend.  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link.

To request more info, please contact us.

 OSTI invites you to a very tasty lunch spot called 503 Hibachi on Saturday, June 13th in Tigard.  We haven't had a gathering in a few months so we hope that this is enough lead time for you to make plans to join us.   We especially look forward to meeting some of the people who live and work in the Hillsboro/Aloha/Beaverton region.  

 Please kindly RSVP for the event and encourage people who are not yet members to come along and make some connections with the OSTI's board and leadership.   

Metafóricamente el maaya t’aan es una semilla y como tal, en su interior encapsula la forma de vida de los mayas, la identidad cultural, el pensamiento y una forma distinta de mirar al mundo. Una semilla que anhela ser plantada, que ansía germinar, crecer, dar frutos y producir nuevas plantas; sobre todo desea preservar la encomienda que los yuumtsiles le otorgaron: “Que su sonido retumbe por los cuatro puntos cardinales de su nación”.

Metaphorically speaking, maaya t'aan (the Mayan language) is a seed and as such, it encapsulates the Mayan way of life, Maya cultural identity, and thought. It represents different ways of seeing the world. It is a seed that longs to be planted, that wants to germinate, grow, bear fruit, and produce new plants. Above all, the seeds of Mayan language and culture wish to preserve the commendation with the ancestors and to offer a bridge between ancient traditions and the present. This presentation will introduce translators and interpreters to many unique aspects of Mayan language and culture to facilitate communication with clients of Mayan background. It will build mutual understanding between interpreters working with those of Mayan heritage and their clients. May the Mayan language and culture resound through the four cardinal points of the world. 

About the presenter

Originally from Peto (Yucatán, México), Lizbeth Carrillo Can is a native Mayan speaker, a Spanish-Mayan/Mayan-Spanish translator, a promoter of the Mayan language, and a Mayan language teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Social Sciences. From 2002 to the present, she has taught courses to promote the acquisition of the Mayan language at various levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, as well as teaching Mayan literacy and grammar in collaboration with the Institutions: Directorate of Indigenous Education; Itzamná Municipal Academy of Mayan Language, at the institution's COEEST, CECIDHY's sites. She teaches "Spoken Yucatec Mayan" at the Yucatec Mayan Institute and at the UADY's (Autonomous University of the Yucatán) Language Institute Center. She has also been involved in several publication, translation and transcription projects, including: developing literary materials for Mayan-speaking communities published by El Instituto Nacional de Educación para Adultos (2004); voicing one of the characters in the audiobook "Kan maaya yéetel mejen tsikbalo'ob'' published by CEPHCIS, UNAM, Mérida (2009); creating a transcription and translation for the piece "Hispanic Linguistic Symposium" of Blooming, Indiana, E.E.U.U.; editing the book Elementos Esenciales del idioma Maya, published by the Ayuntamiento de Mérida (2015); translating of essays included in the 6th volume of the 2nd edition of the Yucatan Encyclopedia by the State of Yucatán’s Government (2018), publishing the text “U ch'a tuukulil u yúuchil ts'íib yéetel xook ich maayáaj t'aan”/ “Reflections on reading and writing in the Mayan language” (2019), and translating, into Spanish, the Mayan sections of the the Spanish-English-Mayan trilingual book Mar, Arena y Música:, Three Family Tales, written by Carlos Martínez Bolio (2020).

About the host

Allison deFreese is president of the Oregon Society of Translators and Interpreters and has been collaborating on translations with writers from the Yucatan including Janil Uc Tun, Karla Marrufo, Nidia Cuan, and David Anuar. Becuase leanring is a lifelong process and every language is important, even those of lesser diffusion, Allison has been studying Yucatec Maya since 2021.

*Note: This workshop will be presented in Spanish

A Day on the Coast July 25, 2026

Join us for a day of exploring the best of Tillamook! Whether you can make one stop or all four, simply follow the schedule below and jump in wherever works for you. We'd love to see you at any point throughout the day!  Meet at the front of the Courthouse by the steps.

Tillamook Farmers Market 10 Laurel Avenue, Tillamook, OR 97141 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

. 

Start the day at the Tillamook Farmers Market! Browse local vendors, fresh produce, and handcrafted goods in the heart of downtown. 

 http://www.tillamookfarmersmarket.com

Tillamook Creamery 4165 N Hwy 101, Tillamook, OR 97141 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

https://www.tillamook.com/visit-us/creamery

We're kicking off the day at one of Oregon's most beloved landmarks! Enjoy a free, self-guided tour at your own pace and explore:

• The Viewing Gallery — Watch award-winning cheddar being made right before your eyes
• The Farm Exhibit Hall — Learn about the multigenerational farmer-owners and how their cows are lovingly cared for
• The Sample Counter — Try a variety of cheeses (they're always switching it up!)

Entry is free to the public. No reservations needed.

Meet by the yellow bus at the main entrance, just inside the front doors.

Las Margaritas Restaurant 1160 N Hwy 101, Tillamook, OR 97141 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Join your colleagues for lunch at Las Margaritas, a locally owned family Mexican restaurant. Known for its homemade dishes, vibrant atmosphere, and classic margaritas, the menu features favorites like burritos, enchiladas, and tamales, along with vegan options

Fresh ingredients, friendly service, and a welcoming feel make this a Tillamook favorite. Outdoor seating is available.

Meet at the front entrance.

Cape Meares Lighthouse 3500 Cape Meares Loop, Tillamook, OR 97141 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

End the day with breathtaking coastal views at the Cape Meares Lighthouse! Built in 1889 and first lit on January 1, 1890, it's the shortest lighthouse on the Oregon coast at just 38 feet tall — but it packs a punch with its impressive first-order Fresnel lens, visible up to 21 nautical miles at sea. Located within Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, highlights include:

• Stunning ocean panoramas
• Old-growth forest trails
• The legendary "Octopus Tree" — a uniquely shaped Sitka spruce
• A 0.2-mile paved path from the parking area to the lighthouse

Note: A day-use parking permit is required and can be purchased on-site. stateparks.oregon.gov — Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint

Meet at the Trailhead Interpretive Board located in the parking area.

 The theme of #OSTI2026 is the Application of Ethical Standards in the Fields of Professional Medical and Legal Interpreting.  

Sessions will be held in Zoom, with an in-person dinner with OSTI.