By Matthew Corso
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) awarded $7.8 million in grants to community-based organizations at a special Constitution Day and Citizenship Day conference in Washington.
The agency also announced a new web-based Citizenship Resource Center and discussed citizenship research and immigrant integration. The grant money will be divided among 75 organizations from 27 states and the District of Columbia.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program includes two competitive funding opportunities. The first grant program strengthens locally based citizenship education programs and expands naturalization services. The second grant program increases the capacity of national, regional and statewide organizations to offer new citizenship services through their members or affiliates in communities nationwide.
“The 2010 expanded citizenship and integration grant program and the new web-based Citizenship Resource Center provide much-needed support for citizenship services in communities across America,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “By supporting the integration of those on the path to citizenship, we are able to send a welcoming message to those who aspire to become U.S. citizens, and at the same time, proactively foster an increased understanding of the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship that are so foundational to our experience as Americans.”
This year”™s program saw a significant increase in funding over 2009, when USCIS awarded 13 organizations a total of $1.2 million to expand citizenship preparation programs.
The Hartford Public library was awarded $99,985 by the initiative that will allow it to expand its TAP (The American Place) program. Over the past 10 years, TAP has provided formal English language and citizenship instruction. With this funding, TAP will expand its citizenship education services by partnering with multiple ethnic-based organizations, such as the Pakistani American Association of Connecticut and the Bosnian American Islamic Cultural Center.
In addition to the grant program announcement, USCIS launched the Citizenship Resource Center, a web-based portal that centralizes citizenship resources for immigrants, educators and organizations. The free, easy-to-use website will help users better understand the naturalization process and gain the necessary skills to be successful during the naturalization interview and test.
The Citizenship Resource Center will include podcasts and interactive learning activities for applicants, links to an expanded America”™s Literacy Directory with a new online citizenship class search function and lesson plans and teaching tools for citizenship instructors.
The Promoting Citizenship and Immigrant Integration Conference is part of USCIS”™s celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, celebrated on Sept. 17 in remembrance of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
“U.S. citizenship is a critical milestone that many immigrants aspire to achieve,” said Mayorkas. “We at USCIS are proud to contribute the tools and resources these immigrants need to realize their aspirations and join the beautiful mosaic that is America.”
For information, visit www.uscis.gov.
