PRESS RELEASE: Wilmington City Council Launches Live Language Translation Service to Bridge the Gap for Spanish-Speaking and Immigrant Communities
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Wilmington City Council Launches Live Language Translation Service to Bridge the Gap for Spanish-Speaking and Immigrant Communities
City Council will officially launch the translation software Wordly on Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. during the Regular City Council meeting. Wordly is an AI-powered translation tool available in over 50 languages.
Wilmington, DE – Wilmington City Council is taking a bold step toward inclusion by launching a new AI-powered language access service called Wordly, a real-time translation tool that will make government meetings more accessible for non-English speakers. The official launch will take place Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. during the Regular City Council Meeting.
For years, Wilmington’s growing population of Spanish-speaking and immigrant families has struggled to engage with local government due to language barriers. City Council heard the need loud and clear and responded.
“We recognize that many of our residents speak a different language,” said Council President Trippi Congo.“Government should never be out of reach because of language. With Wordly, we’re breaking that barrier and inviting everyone to the table.”
The effort to bring Wordly to Wilmington was spearheaded by 2nd District Councilwoman Shané Darby, who emphasized that while the initiative begins with Spanish, it represents a broader commitment to inclusive governance.
“Government must reflect the people it serves,” said Councilwoman Darby. “When we make space for more voices, we make better decisions.”
Wordly allows attendees to receive real-time translations in Spanish and more than 50 other languages, including Haitian Creole, Mandarin, and Arabic.
“As the first Hispanic woman elected to Wilmington City Council in 2012, I’ve been advocating for inclusivity among Council and the City in general,” said Councilwoman At-Large Maria D. Cabrera. “From translation to accessibility, and culturally appropriate messaging. The information we release should have an option for translation, not just to Spanish, but to other languages as well. The Wordly software allows for more participation from those groups who may not have accessibility to this information in their language. I applaud everyone who made this happen. This is just one of the other initiatives we are working on to make government inclusive.”
Council colleagues have voiced their support for the measure, citing the importance of civic participation and equity.
“I support this initiative as a large population of non-English speakers in Wilmington live in my district,” said President Pro Tempore and 6th District Councilwoman Yolanda McCoy. “I think using AI for translation is a smart and cost-effective approach. It allows the city to better communicate with residents who do not speak English, without the need to hire multiple translators. This technology improves efficiency while helping us reach more people in an inclusive and fiscally responsible way.”
Whether in the Council Chambers, Council Committee Room, or watching from home, users can access live captions and audio translation right from their phones, tablets, or computers with no app or special equipment required.
How to Use Wordly at a City Council Meeting:
• Scan the QR code available in Council Chambers and the Council Committee Room, or use this link: https://attend.wordly.ai/join/FPLJ-7194
• Choose your preferred language
• Read translated captions or unmute for audio in your language
• For in-person attendees, Spanish captions will also appear on TV monitors in the chambers
You can also re-watch meetings with translations on-demand at WITN22.org, making civic engagement more accessible than ever before.
“We are proud to be a city that leads with heart and innovation,” said Council President Congo. “We hope other cities across Delaware follow Wilmington’s example in creating space where everyone’s voice is heard and understood.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com