July 16 , 2007
Volunteers Needed
IIRI is participating in a 6 month national campaign to encourage legal immigrant residents to apply for citizenship. Volunteers are needed
for a special one day citizenship application event on Saturday, July 21st, with a training session on the evening of Thursday, July 19th. To sign up for this training or for more information on this volunteer opportunity, contact Michelle Mejia at mmejia@iiri.org or 401.784.8615
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International
Institute of Rhode Island's mission is to enable all area residents, especially
immigrants and refugees, to become self-reliant, invested participants in
our communities, while fostering respect and understanding among all people.
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ya es hora: a campaign for citizenship press conference
When: Tuesday, July 17 at 10:00 AM.
Where: Providence City Hall
Who:
- Individuals applying for Citizenship at Ya Es Hora: Mass Citizenship Registration Day on Saturday July 21
- Rocio Saenz, President of SEIU Local 615
- John Barry of the Diocese of Providence
- William Shuey, Executive Director of the International Institute of RI
- Representatives from Progreso Latino
- Juan Garcia of the Comite de Imigrantes en Accion
- George Nee, Secretary- Treasurer of the AFL-CIO
- Jim Riley, Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 328
- Representatives from Ocean State Action
- Community Supporters
Background:
Ya Es Hora, a national year-long citizenship registration campaign, led by organizations like SEIU and the National Council of La Raza, with help from media outlet Univision, is making its way to Providence. The campaign was launched in Los Angeles in January 2007 to empower immigrants, and has a goal to naturalize over 1 million new citizens over the course of the year.
On July 21, 2007, Immigration Service Providers in Providence, including Progreso Latino, the Diocese of Providence, and the International Institute of Rhode Island, will provide services for a mass registration day (services will be offered at four different locations in the Providence area). This is a crucial time because citizenship fees are going up drastically starting in August.
The Press Conference will feature community leaders, as well as immigrants from RI who will be applying for citizenship on the 21st. One of these immigrants, Juan Garcia, who emigrated from Guatemala City, will be speaking about citizenship and his own work. He has fought for immigrant rights across the country—for him, citizenship and a right to vote will be “just another tool I can use to build upon the social change and grassroots organizing I have been a part of for years.”
For more information contact:
Roxana Rivera at 401.965.3555 or Susana Aho at 860.208.4314
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