Today, we feature Eli, who is the proud owner of the "NOT A COP" mobile we featured here this past Saturday. When we traced the car to the Reconsidered Goods, A Non-Profit Creative Reuse Center, Eli happened to be working at the front counter and we learned it was, indeed his car. Eli hails from Hendersonville, North Carolina and studied at Blue Ridge Community College before transferring to UNCG. Eli is a student in the American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting program at UNCG, learning to interpret for the deaf with a special interest in community interpreting. After we talked about the history of his imposing black and white Ford Crown Victoria, we commenced to talking about when Firefighter Andrea Hall lead the Inaugural Pledge of Allegiance, spoken and in sign language. Without missing a beat, and ever the advocate, Eli immediately replied how it would have been nice to have had an ASL interpreter through the whole inauguration. We're sure by now, Eli is jubilant over the announcement yesterday that the White House will enlist ASL interpreters for the daily press briefings. Who knows, just maybe, someday Eli will be interpreting on a national level.
For now, we will cherish the time Eli is in Greensboro and, specifically working at Reconsidered Goods on Spring Garden Street. Eli has one of those cheerful expressions and you can tell there is a smile underneath that mask! For all of our readers who are teachers, please note, Eli credits a teacher for recognizing his talent and potential as an ASL interpreter. Teachers, it is true, you have a special power. Sometimes one sentence of encouragement can spark a chosen profession. Happy Tuesday! Oh, and Eli, this past Saturday, we were at a business meeting on a front porch in Greensboro, and one of the members in the meeting had just read the "NOT A COP" post on Greensboro Daily Photo and said, "You know, they live in our neighborhood!" Now we know and we LOVE your neighborhood!
Our government does use sign language interpreters in press conferences.
Posted by: William Kendall | Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 09:32 AM