15-04-2025
Cook County rolls out ‘I Speak' Cards as part of April's ‘Language Access Month'
CHICAGO — Cook County is trying to make navigating its services easier for people, regardless of what language they speak.
Starting Tuesday, people who may not speak English but need help from the county can pick up an 'I Speak' Card at the Sheriff's Kiosk in the Cook County Building, 118 North Clark Street, or at the George W. Dunne Cook County Administration Building, 69 West Washington Street.
The card has 34 languages on it to help get people to the right Cook County department and to someone who speaks their primary language.
'Here in Cook County, we're committed to meeting people where they are,' Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. 'That means recognizing that language is a barrier, but it doesn't have to be.'
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The 'I Speak' Card initiative was spearheaded by 13th District Commissioner Josina Morita and was announced as part of Cook County's 'Language Access Month,' which is being recognized for the first time throughout April.
The effort is being made in part to combat the Trump administration's rolling back of some of its language services and declaring English the national language.
'Here in Cook County, we believe that language access is a human right,' Morita said. 'Language access is essential. In many ways, there is nothing more basic than the right to communicate, to be understood, to be represented, recognized and respected.'
Non-English speakers can use the 'I Speak' Card by showing it to a county employee and pointing to their language. The other side of the card tells the employee in English what language the person needing assistance is pointing to so that they can get the help they need.
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Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said the 'I Speak' Cards will 'immensely help people throughout this county.'
'This is not some theoretical thing that sounds nice,' Dart emphasized. 'No, this is very, very practical (and) pragmatic, and it's going to be so helpful for the people in this county who rely on us.'
While the 'I Speak' Cards are for now available only at the two aforementioned locations, there are plans to expand them to other county facilities in the future.
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