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In-Person (Phoenix metro area)
Volunteer
Unpaid
At Borderlands Resource Initiative, we believe that seeking asylum is a fundamental human right, not a crisis. Our work is rooted in dignity, respect, and justice, and we partner with communities across the borderlands to support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers as they pursue safety, stability, and belonging. We believe in building bridges, not walls, and in honoring the strength, resilience, and wisdom of the people we serve.
Our community legal clinics and trainings are spaces where people receive information, support, and connection during some of the most important moments of their lives. Language access is not a bonus in that work. It is the work. When someone can ask questions, understand their options, and tell their story in a language they trust, they are met with dignity.
That is where you come in.
Why We Need You
You know that language is more than words. It is comfort. It is clarity. It is power. It is the difference between someone feeling lost in a legal process and someone feeling seen, respected, and able to make informed decisions.
We need volunteer interpreters because our legal clinics and community trainings only work when people can fully participate. Your fluency in English and a migrant or refugee language can help remove fear, confusion, and isolation from moments that already carry enormous weight. You will help make sure that people are not just present in the room, but truly included in the conversation.
You will be part of a compassionate, collaborative team committed to creating spaces where every person’s voice matters.
What You Will Be Doing
As a volunteer interpreter, you will support BRI’s community legal clinics, know-your-rights trainings, and other community education events. You will help interpret between English and another language spoken by migrant, refugee, or asylum-seeking communities so participants can understand information, ask questions, and share what they need with care and accuracy.
This role may include interpreting during one-on-one conversations, small group discussions, legal clinic intake, attorney or advocate consultations, and community presentations. You will not be expected to give legal advice. Instead, you will be helping make sure that people can communicate directly with trained staff, legal professionals, and community educators.
You may find yourself:
▸ Helping a family understand what to expect at a legal clinic so they can feel more prepared and less alone.
▸ Interpreting during a community training where people learn about their rights, local resources, or immigration-related processes.
▸ Supporting conversations between participants and BRI staff, attorneys, advocates, or partner organizations.
▸ Helping us create a warm, respectful, and accessible environment for people who may be navigating unfamiliar systems.
▸ Collaborating with BRI team members before and after events so interpretation support is clear, ethical, and grounded in care.
You Need These Qualifications
You may be a great fit for this volunteer role if:
▸ You are fluent in English and at least one language spoken by migrant, refugee, or asylum-seeking communities.
▸ You can interpret meaning accurately between languages without adding, omitting, or changing the speaker’s message.
▸ You understand the importance of confidentiality, especially when people are sharing personal, legal, or family information.
▸ You can stay calm and grounded when conversations involve difficult experiences, urgent needs, or emotional topics.
▸ You are comfortable receiving guidance from BRI staff and working as part of a collaborative team.
▸ You can communicate directly and respectfully when you need clarification, a pause, or support during interpretation.
▸ You are able to participate in clinics, trainings, or events with reliability and care, whether they are in person, hybrid, or virtual.
It Would Be Nice If...
It would be wonderful if you bring one or more of these experiences, though they are not required:
▸ You speak Spanish, Haitian Kreyol, Indigenous languages of Latin America, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, French, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Mandarin, or another language commonly spoken by migrant or refugee communities.
▸ You have previous experience interpreting in legal, medical, social service, school, or community settings.
▸ You have completed interpreter training or are familiar with interpretation ethics, including accuracy, neutrality, confidentiality, and role boundaries.
▸ You have lived experience of migration, refugee resettlement, asylum seeking, border communities, or family immigration experiences.
▸ You have provided frontline support during emergencies, community outreach, mutual aid, legal clinics, or humanitarian response efforts.
▸ You are comfortable supporting bilingual or multilingual spaces, especially English and Latin-American Spanish, in a way that feels warm, accessible, and culturally respectful.
What Comes Next
Please fill out our Volunteer Interpreter interest form, and we will contact you with information about our next Interpreter training.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
At Borderlands Resource Initiative, we believe in the power of a team of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired. If you need any assistance or accommodations during the application process, please reach out to us at contact@borderlandsinitiative.org. Join us in building an equitable workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to our mission and success.
