The opinions, statements, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this session are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the conference hosts.

The multilingual population is growing in SD. With this growth service providers need to adapt how they provide their services. This session will explore how ones lived experiences can have positive and negative impacts on those they are trying to serve and work towards providing services in more inclusive ways. This session will provide best practices in working with interpreters and go beyond verbal communication to explore how different cultures communicate.

Presented by Taneeza Islam
Community Response to Child Abuse Conference 2022

Taneeza Islam, Executive Director, SD Voices for Peace Taneeza is a first generation Muslim-American and moved to Sioux Falls with her family in 2012. In 2013 she was awarded a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship and started her private immigration law practice. In 2017 she co-founded and started the work of SD Voices for Peace and SD Voices for Justice. SDVFP is an education, legal service, advocacy and rapid response organization lifting the voices of immigrants, refugees and Muslims in SD. She has a Master’s degree from SIT in Intercultural Management and Diversity Leadership and a Law degree from Hamline University. She is married and has two boys. She lives in Sioux Falls, SD where she recently ran for mayor.