THOMPSON ANNOUNCES $249,229 FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO EXPAND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES IN SONOMA AND NAPA COUNTIES
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced that the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving six northern California counties, has been awarded a $249,229 grant by the Department of Homeland Security to double its free citizenship education classes in Sonoma and Napa counties over the next two years.
The grant will provide for two additional 18-week citizenship preparation and literacy courses annually for a total of four classes in each county, each serving between 40 and 50 students. Currently there are only two of 21 adult schools in the entire six-county region that offer citizenship classes.
"We are a nation of immigrants. I am a third generation Italian-American on my mother's side. Every year millions of immigrants just like my family, come to our country in search of greater opportunities for themselves and for their families," said Thompson. "I will continue supporting these important grants that help make sure the dream of American citizenship is not only for those who were born within our borders, but also for those legal, permanent residents who have arrived on our shores in search of a better life."
Catholic Charities has been providing two classes a year since 1998. The courses are for English language learners who range in ability from high beginner to high intermediate. Classes are taught in English with highly trained tutors available for one-on-one or group instruction.
"Our program serves people from countries all over the world who face significant barriers to obtaining naturalization," says program manager Dina Lopez. "They are legal permanent residents who have been providing for their families and communities for years, as business owners, employees, and volunteers, yet were prohibited from voting. Obtaining citizenship is a dream that takes many months of hard work. During the last three years our learners have scored an average of 89% on the test, and every one of the students who received our assistance with the naturalization process successfully gained US citizenship."
The Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Services program of Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa was established in 1975. Most of the staff are Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) accredited, which is the largest accredited staff in the US. In addition to citizenship classes, services include assistance in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and refugee resettlement/family reunification services.
For more information, contact program manager Dina Lopez at 707.528.8712 x129 or dlopez@srcharities.org.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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