Elgin launches Spanish web resources, video series

Elgin has launched an informational video series in Spanish and added a Spanish-language component to its website to better communicate with residents, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new video series is called "Elgin en Español, or "Elgin in Spanish," and features police Cmdr. Eric Echevarria and Karina Nava, assistant to the city manager, discussing city services, resources and community news. The videos can be viewed on the city's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

The website's new "landing page" at cityofelgin.org/es provides general city information and links to other information in Spanish. The city also created a Spanish-language version of its COVID-19 dashboard with data on cases, available hospitals beds and more that can be found at cityofelgin.org/2388/Coronavirus-Informacin-y-Recursos-en-Esp.

In the first episode of the video series, Echevarria and Nava introduced themselves, saying they are both natives of Elgin. They discussed taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing face coverings, being extra careful around older people, and testing locations in Elgin.

Elgin had 1,406 cases of people who tested positive for COVID-19, 396 in Cook County and 1,010 in Kane County, according to the latest data. Hispanics represent at least 46% of confirmed cases.

"The idea for the series had been around for some time, but there was no better time to put this initiative on the fast track when we learned how much the pandemic was impacting the Hispanic community," Nava said in a statement. "We saw the opportunity to be a vessel for education."

Episodes will be released on a monthly basis and more frequently if needed.

"I'm excited to collaborate on this video project as one more way the city is engaging with the Hispanic community," Echevarria said.

The Spanish-language version of the city's website will be an ongoing project, Nava said.

"While we have the Google Translate tool on the website, not all translations read appropriately," she said. "When we have extremely important information to share with our community, like with the pandemic, we need to be intentional and take it a step further."

Elgin residents who have questions or suggestions for the "Elgin en Español" series can call 311 or post on the video comment section on Facebook and YouTube.