About Us
Challenging and Revolutionizing the status quo on accessibility, inclusion, and interpreting.
Monarch was founded to fill a critical gap in the Bay Area: the absence of a truly inclusive, BIPOC, Queer, Woman, First-Generation, Disabled, Deaf and Hearing-led agency that reflects and understands the rich complexity of the communities it serves. In a region as diverse as ours, representation isn't optional—it's essential.
At Monarch, we believe accessibility must go beyond compliance. We challenge the status quo by redefining what it means to serve Deaf and Hearing communities in partnership. Our leadership reflects the lived experiences of those most often left out of the conversation, allowing us to build trust, create culturally fluent solutions, and foster true equity in service delivery.
We are proud to be the first agency of our kind in the Bay Area—setting a new standard for how agencies, consumers, and service providers can collaborate through intentional, intersectional, and justice-centered practice.
Our Story
Monarch was born out of a shared vision between two trailblazing, BIPOC, first generation, queer, Deaf and Hearing women who saw a better way forward for the interpreting field—one rooted in justice, community, and true partnership.
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Valerie, our founder, is a first-generation Mexican-American, queer woman of color who found herself deeply connected to the Deaf community from the moment she encountered it. The vibrant, expressive, and collective nature of Deaf culture reminded her of her own Mexican roots—where storytelling, shared experience, and community care are woven into daily life. ​
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In 2022, Valerie founded Monarch to address the long-standing gaps in the interpreting industry—especially the need for an agency that truly centers BIPOC, Queer, Deaf and Hearing leadership alongside their allies. Monarch was envisioned as a collective, where interpreters and Deaf consumers are not just clients or contractors, but valued partners in creating access.
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Over the years, Valerie crossed paths often with Angela Vilavong (AV), a first-generation Lao-American, queer woman of color who developed a deep passion for working as a Deaf Interpreter. AV’s insight, cultural fluency, and commitment to the community made her a natural collaborator. Both Valerie and AV had long observed how mainstream interpreting agencies often decentered and dehumanized Deaf consumers, as well as both Deaf and Hearing interpreters—particularly those from marginalized identities.
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In 2025, AV joined Monarch as a trusted vendor partner, bringing her leadership and lived experience to strengthen the agency’s mission. Together, Valerie and AV continue to reimagine what interpreting can look like when it’s built on equity, care, and collaboration.
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At Monarch, we’re not just interpreting—we’re building a movement rooted in justice, connection, and community care.