Christopher Palaia

Hello SAVRID Officers, Members and everyone else. I am happy to be here to share with you about myself. My name is Christopher Palaia. Abbreviated name sign, “CP”.  I was born & raised here in greater Sacramento. I know everyone and everywhere around here very well back then.  I went to California School for the Deaf in Fremont (Berkeley for a year then relocated to Fremont). Went to Gallaudet University and graduated with Bachelors in Business Administration, moved to Salt Lake City (SLC) due to an employment as a department coordinator and taught ASL full time for almost 16 years. While being in SLC, I decided to go for an advanced studies. I went to BYU (Brigham Young University) and graduated with MPA (Masters of Public Administration) with some overlaps of MBA courses. I left California for over 22 years until about over 2 years ago I returned with some cultural shock of everything changed. I have been catching up with new information around here.

SAVRID proposed that I would become one of MALs (Member-at-large) as Election approaches. MALs with various positions, various responsibilities and duties. Yes, I am interested in MAL that someone proposed. I said “Sure! I could start somewhere within SAVRID before going up within ladder rather than jumping into the highest level in the beginning.”  MAL itself aka “Member-at-large” which is abbreviated as “MAL”. It has various positions & responsibilities I looked at and found what I am good at: Communication. This is because I am a communicator and very good at advertising.

I have been working as Deaf-Blind Interpreter,  Deaf Interpreter (DI), Translator/Tutor (in Latin, English and Spanish) for so many years. Deaf-Blind Interpreting is the longest of all interpreting jobs I have. Deaf-Blind Interpreting have two major interpreting methods: (1) Tactile and (2) Close Vision (CV) I have done for approximately 27 years. As for Deaf Interpreter, I have done for about 20-25 years, approximately. I had been involved with so many various organizations in the past. Currently, I am a member of RID (Registry Interpreters of the Deaf), SAVRID and a few other organizations I was involved as Board of Trustee for one Deaf school in SLC for approximately 3 to 4 years. Also, was Board member for a Deaf camp organization and one advocacy-related organization as well. I knew government stuff pretty good. I used to get involved in SGB (Student Body Government) back in my CSD Fremont years and Gallaudet years, too. Served as Student Congress at Gallaudet for about 2 and half years.

I feel much more motivated to work with SAVRID now after over two years as observing member attending to most meetings, getting to know people and everything since I was still “new” returning Sacramentan. I don’t tend to jump and get involved & making commitment that quickly. This is not who I am. I tend to give myself sometimes as such as one or two years before jumping in with anything.

Really, I am much more ready than ever to get involved and to commit. Yet, I am very excited to work with all of you, SAVRID officers and members. I know I will contribute greatly to see that organization (SAVRID) to enhance/promote and to thrive with all of you and your help just like “We, the People” not just me egocentrically. If without you, it will be nothing. As famously told, “It takes a village” to do it, right?  Strongly-connected all of us, working together with possibly full positives despite our colors, deaf/hearing/CODA, our creeds, our beliefs and anything. We all are ONE Family. The name of the family is “SAVRID”.  Hope all of you vote for me as one of your new MALs perhaps in Communication portion or any duties within four listed MALs.  Please vote for me. Thank you.