Preview: Translating Critical Communications in NYC

On the next episode of Speaking of Design, we’ll meet the people responsible for communicating with residents in New York City during a water main replacement. Their work took on added significance during COVID-19, as they initiated a multilanguage public outreach plan for a predominantly Chinese-speaking community.

 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
I'm John Torek. And I'm Danny Sullivan.
When construction comes to your street for a
water main replacement,
the technical side is only half the challenge.
On the next episode of speaking of design,
we'll meet the people responsible for communicating with
residents in New York City. Their work took
on added significance during COVID nineteen

(00:20):
as they initiated a multi language public outreach
plan for a predominantly Chinese speaking community. So
you're basically replacing these pipes that have been
surveyed the communities for well over a hundred
years. One of the bigger challenges when we
go into a neighborhood and we say, hey,
by the way, we're coming into the neighborhood.
This is what's gonna happen. This is what
to expect. One of the responses was, well,

(00:42):
how come you're gonna shut off our water
during the pandemic?
Everybody was home. Grandma,
babies,
moms, dad, everybody was home. But somehow, they
worked with us because we were honest with
them. I will explain to them, it's better
to have a scheduled through shutdown
than to have a water main break. You
can kinda tell their body language and their

(01:03):
tone of voice from their responses that it
definitely helps to bring the communication in their
native tongue. I speak Mandarin. My wife speaks
Cantonese.
So a lot of times, I would check
with them if they speak English or do
you speak Chinese. And sometimes they'll say, you
know, I speak a little English, but mostly
Chinese. And then if that's the case, I
would do my best to communicate.
As an engineer,

(01:23):
in my equation is, timely and clear clear
communication
equals no surprises.
You inform the community in advance.
You keep them constantly
abreast of what's going on, and you're just
being straight just totally honest with them. Nine
times out of 10, the community will be
very receptive on what you're doing. Coming up

(01:44):
on the next episode of Speaking of Design.