Fostering the Voices of our Nation: Civics & Literacy in the Digital Age.
Currently, there are 9 million permanent residents in the United States eligible to apply for citizenship at this very moment, but only 10% of those apply for citizenship each year. At Community Center for Immigrants (CCI), we make resources available to all students regardless of economic status and location using dynamic instruction techniques, expanding the reach and increasing the number of permanent residents that apply and become citizens annually. Thus creating more civically engaged participants in the United States.
Our mission is to provide social and educational opportunities to meet immigrants' individual and family needs by teaching developing citizenship skills. Gifts will allow CCI to grow capacity to expand services both physically beyond the local area as well as virtually beyond the
current scope.
CCI serves a population of 90% refugee, 80% below poverty level, CCI readily supports underserved
populations and enjoys a higher than average graduation rate that most other programs.
With 65 participants in year one, 16 have become US citizens and 6 gained U.S. passports. More than 1000 subscribe to the YouTube channel. Programs offered: virtual and when able, in-person citizenship curriculum focusing on reading, writing, speaking and listening, experiential learning outings to cultural institutions, community outreach to strengthen fellowship, cultural celebrations to share traditions.