coUrbanize Launches Language Equity Plan for Real Estate Development

Cambridge-based technology company coUrbanize has launched a Language Equity Plan (LEP) to ensure that people whose primary language is not English can have a say in what gets built in their neighborhoods.  

The Language Equity Plan requires translation for all projects on the coUrbanize platform that meet specific criteria:  If at least 5% of residents in the area where the project is located speak the same non-English language at home, all communications on the platform and all related materials will be translated into that language at no additional cost to customers. In some areas, multiple languages meet this threshold, which coUrbanize determines according to the most recent estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). 

“We’re proud to take this step, and hope that it encourages others involved in development and planning to make multilingual engagement a priority, rather than a nice-to-have,” said Kristen Veit, director of community engagement strategy at coUrbanize. “Our recent survey showed that most people are pro-development. But you can’t expect support when language barriers impede understanding and inclusion in the process.”