Red T founder Maya Hess was invited to the ATA 63rd Annual Conference as the Distinguished Speaker of the Interpreters Division of the American Translators Association. The conference, which this year brought together more than 1,000 attendees from across the world, is the largest gathering of T/I professionals and language service providers in the United States.

In a two-part presentation on October 13 (2:00-4:30 pm), the audience was introduced to Red T and why the protection of T/Is is paramount. Outlining the current landscape for linguists in conflict situations, Dr. Hess detailed the non-profit organization’s primary activities, its efforts to give linguists in high-risk settings a political voice and the push for international legal instruments that would lay the groundwork for a culture of safety.

On the occasion of this invitation, Carol Shaw from the Interpreters Division interviewed Dr. Hess on Red T’s origin story and evolution: maya-hess-a-path-not-planned.

We thank Helen Eby, Cristina Helmerichs and Cristina Green for the opportunity to familiarize ATA63 conference participants with the Red T cause.