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Breaking through the language barrier

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Categories: Blog

A smiling woman in a hijab operating a tablet.This fall, CATA will launch a new service to help non-and limited- English speaking customers overcome language barriers. Language Line will offer translation and interpretation services in nearly 250 languages, including American Sign Language. With 40 years of expertise, Language Line is a leader in its field.

CATA employees will be trained by Language Line to recognize when language assistance is needed and how to provide immediate help.

For phone translations, employees will connect callers to a Language Line interpreter. In-person assistance will be facilitated through tablets available at all public-facing CATA locations and workstations. These tablets will feature an app that connects customers with translators or ASL professionals.

CATA Customer Experience Manager Margaret Stephens said the main goal of the program is inclusion — so everyone who needs public transportation can use it successfully.

“The people we work with the most face enough barriers,” said Stephens. “Language and communication shouldn’t be among them.”

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This content has been published in the 2024 Community Report.  

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New microtransit service to offer seamless connections

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Categories: Blog

A smartphone screen showing an unlabeled map with two pinned destinations.CATA is expanding its reach with an innovative new microtransit service designed to revolutionize the way people utilize public transportation. Whether you're a stone's throw from a bus stop or miles away, CATA's latest initiative promises seamless journeys from your doorstep to your destination.

Contracting with Via, a leading microtransit provider, CATA will launch a new pilot program later this year. Imagine the flexibility of Uber or Lyft combined with the reliability of public transit. Via’s zone-based system will offer rides within service areas, all accessible through app. Future plans include seamless integration into CATA’s Transit app for ultimate convenience and accessibility.

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This content has been published in the 2024 Community Report.  

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Refugee Development Center partnership helps Lansing newcomers ride & succeed

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Categories: Blog

A mother embracing her smiling daughter's shoulders.Do you remember a time when you felt lost, alone and confused by new surroundings? This is a common experience for newcomers to the United States, including those relocating to the Capital region. Fortunately, CATA and its partners are here to help.

Founded in 2002, Lansing’s nonprofit, the Refugee Development Center, supports mid-Michigan’s refugee population by offering crucial resources that help newcomers adjust to life in their new country. The RDC provides 13 programs, including English classes and driver education, alongside vital connections to resources necessary for thriving in a new community.

“At the RDC, it’s a good community to help you speak English. Your culture is very nice if you understand it. They help you write it and we repeat it for the teacher,” said Esther. “The teachers are all very nice. If you don’t understand something they repeat it and help you. They are very, very good.”

Rosie and her mother, Them, Burmese refugees who arrived in Lansing in 2024, also find the RDC’s classes beneficial.

“I can speak Hindi, but I never spoke English in India, so it’s a new thing for me,” said Rosie. “I take the English classes to improve my English skills. Before, I didn’t know how to speak or say anything in English. Now, day-by-day, I’m improving.”

The benefits of the RDC’s courses are clear, but there remains a challenge for aspiring English speakers: getting to class.

CATA partners with the RDC by providing bus passes for those who regularly use the center’s resources. The RDC even offers a program where instructors visit students' homes to teach them how to use CATA’s bus system to get to school, often their first experience with American public transportation.

When refugees arrive in Lansing, it is typically without a car, bicycle or other mode of transportation. It can be difficult to focus on classes when relying on neighbors or co-workers to get around. CATA services give them the freedom to build a life in this community without constantly worrying about how they will get from point A to point B.

“I’m not driving,” said Esther. “I take a bus to come to the RDC, go to the library or the supermarket because I don’t have a car.”

Mariah Shafer, the outreach director at the RDC, believes the center’s work with CATA is one of its most successful partnerships.

“For many, this is the only way they can get to class any time of year,” said Shafer. “CATA has provided us with a lot of support in terms of getting bus passes.”

CATA connects the community to the RDC and other resources.

“If there is no CATA, we can’t go anywhere because we don't have a car,” said Rosie. “Plus, we don't know how to drive yet. So, if there is no bus, we can’t go to the RDC to take classes or to go to any appointments.”

Hundreds attend classes at the RDC each week with many taking the bus. To better accommodate riders, CATA installed a bus shelter at the bus stop near the RDC to protect students from inclement weather while they wait for transportation.

“We needed a shelter for the students and CATA provided it,” said Shafer. “We needed bus passes for our students using Spec-Tran and CATA provided them. We needed passes for students who are taking one, two, three buses to get here and CATA once again provided.”

CATA not only helps connect these new members of the community to their destinations but also fosters a sense of belonging. Shafer recalled something that Rosie and her mother shared with her about their experience with CATA’s service.

"When they get on the bus, they feel engaged in the community," said Shafer. "They see their neighbors, friends and classmates, and they feel a part of something. After having to leave your home and relocate to a new place, it can be very isolating."

CATA is more than just a bus service; it’s a vital part of the community for many who make Lansing their new home. CATA's partnership with the RDC creates a lifeline for newcomers to the region.

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This content has been published in the 2024 Community Report.  

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