Since our first Cycle in July 2017, our Washington, D.C. Chapter has seen a lot of growth and community partnerships. Our Chapter has given back over two hundred hours of pro bono work to the community in the DMV area. We have mentored over fifty early career interpreters in our program. If you are interested in joining us for a future Cycle, please complete the "Get Involved" form on our website. If you are interested in joining us in the DMV, please email us at coreinterpretersdc@gmail.com.
TOTAL PRO BONO HOURS clocked since estd: 338
COACHES
Kevin Dyels
Kevin Dyels, CI, CT, is The Director of Interpreting and Captioning Services at TCS Interpreting. Kevin has served as a board member for both NAOBI-DC and PCRID. Originally from northern California, he has split his career between ASL interpreting and management positions in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. Kevin holds a partner position at a performing arts interpreting company called First Chair Interpreted Productions and presents workshops regularly on a national level. As a Coach, Kevin believes that CORE firmly stands in a position to guide new interpreters to the next level.
Kelli grant
Kelli Grant, CT/CI has been interpreting professionally for nearly 28 years. After graduating from the University of Virginia and earning a dual Bachelor's degree in Rhetoric and Communications and African American Studies, Kelli moved back to Philadelphia and began her journey of becoming an interpreter. After moving to DC in 2009, she freelanced for about five years until she moved into a management role as Director of Resources with Deaf Access Solutions (DAS). After nearly 10 years, she made the difficult decision to step down and has entered the freelance world again, while still doing consulting work with the agency. Kelli enjoys fitness & health/nutrition and hopes to gain her personal training certificate soon! She looks forward to sharing the wisdom and knowledge she has gained over these last 28 years and making a meaningful impact to the CORE community!
CHRISTINA WHITEHOUSE-SUGGS
Christina Whitehouse-Suggs (she/her), a Latina native of Miami, Florida, has been a nationally certified interpreter since 2001. She holds a Master of Divinity from Campbell University, a Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language and Theatre Arts from Gardner-Webb University, and Certificates of Interpretation, Transliteration, and Oral Transliteration (CI/CT/OTC) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Currently, Christina is a federal employee by day and a performing arts interpreter by night. She loves karaoke, dance parties in the kitchen with her family, and officiating weddings.
Sequoia Taylor-El
Sequoia Taylor-El, MA, NIC is currently a staff interpreter at Applied Development, LLC. Graduating from Gallaudet University's Department of Interpretation and Translation in 2011, she ran to the interpreting world gaining experience in government, medical, mental health, K-12 and the secondary education settings. Sequoia was former board member of PCRID and president with NAOBI-DC, amongst other activities to support the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities. She now lives in Silver Spring with her wife and child. Sequoia is excited to bring her nearly 15 years of experiences and perspectives to the CORE community!
SUPPORT CREW
khera colbert
Khera Colbert is an American Sign Language/English Interpreter who has been involved with the Deaf community for over 6 years. She was born and raised in the DC Metropolitan Area and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Deaf Studies from Towson University and an Associates degree in ASL/English Interpretation from Northern Virginia Community College. Ms. Colbert is the current Vice President of National Alliance of Black Interpreters - DC Chapter (NAOBI-DC) and a member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Potomac Chapter of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PCRID). After obtaining her National Certification in 2022, she made a career change from a full time government employee to be a freelance Interpreter. Thrilled to be a part of the growing team!
courtney thomas
Courtney Thomas, NIC, is originally from Illinois. While she misses her family, she does not miss the Chicagoland area winters, brrrr! After completing a two year Interpreting Training Program at her local community college, she moved to Washington, D.C. in 2016 to pursue her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpreting at Gallaudet University. Courtney has been working in the DMV area as a freelance interpreter ever since. A lot of her interpreting journey and growth has been nurtured by many fantastic mentors and internship opportunities along the way. Courtney received her EIPA and NIC Certification in 2018, and has enjoyed gaining work experience as a freelance interpreter. Because of the vast amount of support her mentors provided, as well as her desire to give back, Courtney joined CORE as a Mentor for Cycle 5. She is thrilled to be joining the support team for a program that has been so beneficial to her own growth. She feels CORE is a wonderful place for local interpreters to benefit from one another's experiences and a safe space for shared support. In Courtney’s free time, she enjoys working out and lifting, along with many outdoor activities such as hiking and rollerblading around the streets of D.C.
Xavier James
Xavier (James) is, yet another interpreter in the DMV area. Business stuff out the way first, he started learning ASL in high school, continued into community college, transferred to Gallaudet in 2017, graduated in 2020 (not the best year to enter the field), and started professionally interpreting in 2021. He is also a CORE Cycle 7 alumni and has also held student support positions at Gallaudet University so if you need anything, he got you.
Now for the fun stuff, if you like any of the following: K-pop, Hip Hop, Pro-Wrestling, Anime/Manga, Superheroes, Language Learning, Clothing/Sneakers. He'll be more than happy to talk to you about them. If not, he is all for listening not only to your experiences in CORE but you experiences and interests out of CORE. He is very much looking forward to meeting and supporting you all.
