Home / Candas Barnes

Candas Barnes, M.A., NIC: Advanced, CI/CT

Interpreter II
Gallaudet Interpreting Service

Candas Barnes

Phone Numbers

202-489-8223 (V)

Email

candas.barnes@gallaudet.edu

Personal Website

https://www.linkedin.com/in/candasthewordsmith

Location

Peet Hall 504

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 5 (plus most Fridays, many nights and weekends)

I have been a proud member of the Gallaudet University community since 1987. I currently work as a staff interpreter for Gallaudet Interpreting Service (GIS). In addition to GIS, I have also served as a Minority Fellow with the First Year Experience program (2005), consulted with the Department of Education and worked with the team that produced Deaf Way I (1988-89).

I hold a master's degree in Counseling G '07, a bachelor's in writing and cultural studies from Goddard College (1993), and an associate's in interpreting from NTID/RIT (1991).

I am affectionately known as a Linguistic Alchemist. I intentionally use words to create change. For over 37 years I have served as a transformational author, dynamic speaker, American Sign Language/English interpreter and passionate educator focused on helping people understand themselves, and each other, better. I am also a certified life coach and an ordained interdenominational minister.

Currently I am laser-focused on exponentially increasing the number of highly qualified interpreters of color and on strengthening the knowledge, skills and proficiencies of social justice, equity, inclusion and restorative practices for all professionals who work with people who are Deaf. To that end, I walk my talk through a professional development fund I established in 2016 entitled, "Sponsor a Student Interpreter of Color Initiative" (SASIOCI) which provides grants for students to attend professional development events and take their certification exams.

One of my proudest accomplishments is establishing what is on track to become an endowed scholarship fund at Gallaudet University honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Shirley Childress Johnson, the fir

I hold multiple national interpreting certifications from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: NIC: Advanced, Certificate of Interpretation and Certificate of Transliteration.

My primary area of specialization is interpreting from ASL to English for high impact/high profile assignments and I pride myself on creating message equivalence in both form and affect. I also take great joy in serving our students, faculty and staff in numerous classes, meetings and other events on campus each semester.

Potomac Chapter Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (PCRID) 2016-17

“The Four Agreements: Practical Principles for Enhancing Professional Practice” 2017
“B.R.A.V.I.N.G. - A Framework for Excellence in Interpreting” 2017
“Being LIT: Leveraging Our Internal Treasures to Create Effective Cross-Cultural Exchanges” - 2016
"Being an Ally. Am I Friend or Foe?" RID, Region II - 2016

Guest lecturer, University of North Carolina at Greensboro - 2017 ~ Professions in Deafness Program Advocacy class

Guest Lecturer, Gallaudet University - 2008

Narrative Therapy, COU732 Theories & Approaches in Counseling and Psychotherapy, Department of Counseling
Solution Focused Therapy, COU732 Theories & Approaches in Counseling and Psychotherapy, Department of Counseling
Reality Therapy, COU732 Theories & Approaches in Counseling and Psychotherapy, Department of Counseling
Informational Interviews, GSR 101/102 Honors First Year Seminar/Critical Reading and Writing, General Studies Division

Faculty, Energize Your Interpreting, Training Program, CJAGA Sign Language Interpreting Service - 2006

American Sign Language to English Interpretation I, II, III: A Theoretical & Practical Approach
Essential Habits of Highly Effective Interpreters: Coach Yourself to Succes

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Conference of Interpreter Trainers
DC Area Black Deaf Advocates
Linguistic Society of America
National Alliance of Black Interpreters
National Association for Multicultural Education
National Black Deaf Advocates, DC Area Chapter
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, 1988 - present
Society for American Sign Language

2017

StartingBloc DC Fellow - November, 2017
Multicultural Curriculum Transformation Institute - July, 2017
Certified Administrator, Intercultural Development Inventory - February, 2017

2016: Staff-focused Multicultural Competency Building and Curriculum Transformation Institute - July, 2016

Publications

Barnes, C. (2014). Sacred Musings: Volume 1: Essential questions for connecting body, mind & spirit so you can live an extraordinary life. Washington, DC: Masterful Communication Press.
Barnes, C. I. (2014). You can do it!. In T. Brinkley Potts (Ed.), Kaching!: How to add a digit to your income (Chapter 2). Dover, DE: TBPLLC.
Barnes, C. I. (2013). I forgive my father. In I. Vanzant (Ed.), Forgiveness: How to forgive everyone for everything (pp. 111-124). Carlsbad, CA: Smiley Books.
Barnes, C. I. (1990). Invisible or Simply Ignored. Empty Closet.
Editor, The Weekly Word. Howard University School of Divinity, 1993