ICCLS Hopes to Re-Educate Atlanta With A Unique Approach to Business As Usual

Started by two African-American graduates of the predominantly black Atlanta University Center, ICCLS opens its doors wide enough for everyone to see that cultural awareness is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. These two friends hope that they can make a positive impact on the situation in their community and beyond with their new consulting service and language school.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Dorian Turner, M.A.
ICCLS: International Cultural Consultants and Language School
P.O. Box 500901
Atlanta, GA 31150
Phone: 770-518-4776
E-mail: learnaticcls@aol.com

ICCLS Hopes to Re-Educate Atlanta With A Unique Approach to Business As Usual

Atlanta, GA-June 28, 2002- Atlantans are often stunned when they realize that the Hispanic population is eclipsing other ethnic populations in the area. Dorian Turner and Brian Hooper, however don't seem at all surprised. In fact, they're hoping that the population boom will illuminate the need for an increase in the allocation of funds for translating, interpreting and language instruction. The two former Atlanta University Center graduates (Miss Turner from Spelman in 1999 and Mr. Hooper from Morehouse in 2001) have started their own cultural consulting service and language school, catering to the needs of businesses and individuals.

According to Miss Turner, the services that ICCLS will provide are essential for everyone: "People readily acknowledge that the Hispanic population is growing at a rate that we never anticipated. However, most people believe that paying to learn a language or to attend a seminar is more of a luxury than a necessity. I disagree. I've seen people get into car accidents where the other person didn't speak a word of English. If there's a real emergency what will people do? In their moment of need will they go into a speech about how it is such a shame that "they" don't bother to learn "our" language? Communication has to flow both ways." That was essentially the idea behind offering their unique combination of courses and seminars in the first place.

Though far from stuffy or conventional, the pair of best-friends started ICCLS because they felt there was "no one offering cultural seminars and teaching languages from a youthful, yet professional point of view." They claim that their youth often stuns their competition more than it does their clients. "Sometimes Brian and I find it interesting that the other language schools underestimate us because we are young and African-American. We know that we are prepared and that we can get the job done. Our clients see results. Part of what we teach about is not making such assumptions," says Miss Turner.

Their qualifications often silence their critics. They've both had experience abroad, working and traveling on six of the seven continents. Between the two of them, they understand at least four languages. They employ an anchor staff of seven, each from around the globe and a variety of different disciplines.

Most of all, they know exactly what they are talking about. While Brian completed his degree in Business and Spanish, Dorian completed her Masters Degree in 2001 in Latin American Studies with a concentration in Politics from New York University. The duo hope that Atlantans are as receptive to the world as they were during the Olympics in 1996, and that they will choose ICCLS to prepare themselves as the world "moves back in droves". After all, as their slogan proclaims, its a small world...and ICCLS is "Making the World Even Smaller" one Atlantan at a time.

ICCLS opened its doors on June 1st, 2001 to the community at large. They offer courses in Arabic, French, Spanish, English and Portuguese as well as cultural seminars, travel preparation and consulting services. ICCLS can be contacted at (770) 518-4776 or by e-mail: learnaticcls@aol.com.