Citizenship Ambassadors

Transcription

1 Citizenship Ambassadors This document explains the volunteer opportunities available to Citizenship Ambassadors with the Global Detroit Cultural Ambassadors Program, and provides an overview of the program and its partners. Table of Contents Program Overview... 2 Global Detroit... 2 Citizenship Ambassador Program... 3 Sign up... 3 Volunteer Roles Promote Citizenship in the Community... 4 Outreach Volunteer at Citizenship workshops or other events... 5 Citizenship Workshops Assist candidates in completing applications... 5 Citizenship Workshops... 6 One on One Assistance at DNAC Offices Test preparation... 6 Classes... 7 Overview of Partners... 7 Detroit New Americans Campaign (DNAC)... 7 DNAC s 5 Collaborating Organizations:... 7 Chaldean Community Foundation... 7 International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit... 8 Michigan Immigrant Rights Center... 8 Michigan United... 9 South Asian American Voices for Impact (SAAVI)... 9

2 Program Overview The Cultural Ambassadors program helps regional economic development efforts and nonprofit services find professional volunteers. The program encourages Michigan residents with significant international ties, skills, and interests to volunteer their expertise, and it works to insure that volunteers are meaningfully engaged and effectively utilized. It aims to directly connect immigrants, international students, and young professionals to the marketplace, and Michigan s industries to the global economy. Global Detroit The Cultural Ambassadors Program is an initiative of Global Detroit, a national leader in an emerging economic development field centered on welcoming, retaining, and empowering immigrant communities as valued contributors to regional growth. Global Detroit s mission to create robust economic growth by tapping into immigrants and internationals can be boiled down to an effort to internationalize the region. This can be accomplished by simply better connecting existing international assets and relationships within Metro Detroit and across the state. A Cultural Ambassadors program and network can be a foundational element in implementing such a strategy. The Cultural Ambassadors Program functions in two ways: The Cultural Ambassadors volunteer program will connect organizations with a network of professional volunteers to capitalize on activities that foster engagement with new Americans and visiting internationals. Volunteers are engaged through program partners to participate in a wide variety of opportunities that allow them to provide their skills, talents and expertise in welcoming, retaining and supporting internationals. These opportunities will capitalize on the language and cultural competence, business and professional experience, and international connections of the volunteers. The connector program is a referral process by which foreign-born residents, international students, and young professionals grow their professional networks by meeting with established professionals in their field, more established residents who share their cultural, national, and ethnic heritage, or other volunteers interested in assisting international newcomers in the region. Internationals are able to strengthen their participation in the regional job market and business community. Their ability to live and work in Michigan will help diversify the state s economy. The program will not only grow, but strengthen the business networks within industries. You are able to sign up for these programs through the Global Detroit website at globaldetroit.com/cultural-ambassadors 2

3 Citizenship Ambassador Program The Citizenship Ambassadors Program, an element of the Cultural Ambassadors volunteer program, is a partnership between Global Detroit and the Detroit New Americans Campaign to recruit volunteers to support eligible Legal Permanent Residents in becoming citizens. The Citizenship Ambassadors an effort to promote the benefits of citizenship, and assist candidates in navigating the path to becoming citizens. Through four primary volunteer roles, Citizenship Ambassadors are able to help Legal Permanent Residents over hurdles and through barriers of the naturalization process. This document explains the roles and opportunities available for participants in the Citizenship Ambassador Program. Sign up To sign up, go to globaldetroit.com/cultural-ambassadors and click on the Sign up to be a Citizenship Ambassador link. This will take you to the volunteer registration on MyVolunteerPage.com. First, create a username and enter your address, and once you ve logged in, complete the intake form. MyVolunteerPage.com is volunteer management software that functions like a social network for volunteers. Through the intake form you will create your profile and you can regularly log in to update your profile and identify activities to participate in, so save your login and password. More detailed instructions can be found at globaldetroit.com/cultural-ambassadors/. Volunteer activities will be posted within the My VolunteerPage.com portal and you can browse upcoming events, choose the ones you wish to volunteer for, and sign up for them there. On the volunteer roles detailed below, contact information is provided for any questions you may have. Additionally, each activity posted in the Volunteer Portal will provide an activity lead and their contact information. 3

4 Volunteer Roles The four volunteer roles available to volunteers are detailed below. If you have questions regarding the volunteer roles, please contact Wojciech Zolnowski, Executive Director of the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, for more information, at or (313) ext Promote Citizenship in the Community Spread the word about the benefits of citizenship and the resources available to help. This requires an orientation on the benefits of citizenship, a general overview of who is eligible, and points on public speaking. We will provide you with materials to distribute and use to promote citizenship. The Citizenship Ambassadors Program relies heavily on the culturally competent and multi-lingual people in our communities for this role. Discussing the citizenship process, being referred to legal agencies, and engaging others about this important decision with someone known and trusted in the community is extremely valuable. Volunteer Role Opportunities: Outreach Outreach can be done within your own networks on the personal level, or in a broader scope within your community. Do you know any Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs), traditionally known as green card holders, who are eligible to become U.S Citizens? If so, ask them: What are you waiting for? Sometimes people need to be gently reminded and encouraged to apply for Citizenship. As a Citizenship Ambassador your role would be to enable and promote Citizenship in your community by referring interested persons to legal service providers DNAC agencies for FREE assistance with the Citizenship and Naturalization process. A critical component of the Citizenship Ambassador program is to recruit individuals in the communities with the largest LPR populations (Troy, Sterling Heights, Auburn Hills, Warren, Canton, Novi, Plymouth, Farmington Hills, Dearborn, Southwest Detroit, Hamtramck, and Ann Arbor). As a result, outreach to the respective immigrant communities is the pivotal means of promoting Citizenship and Naturalization. As the Citizenship Ambassador, 4

5 your task would be to distribute provided marketing materials to various locations such as: places of worships, schools, libraries, community centers, ethnic retail stores, and other places of business. 2. Volunteer at Citizenship workshops or other events Sign up for up to three volunteer roles at workshops and events: 1. Assist with logistics of events, such as registration and sign-in 2. Assist with the intake process of applicants and their application and relevant materials (orientation takes place one hour before event for this role) 3. Interpret at workshops between elderly applicants and volunteers or legal staff, and on more arcane language in the form for basic English speakers No knowledge of the citizenship process is required to fulfill this volunteer role, but volunteers will be provided with an orientation (at or before the event) on the workshop process so that they understand the stages that each applicant must go through. Volunteer Role Opportunities: Citizenship Workshops DNAC agencies, collectively or individually, regularly hosts citizenship workshops and need 3-5 volunteers to help with logistics at each. These workshops are usually held on Saturdays from 10am-3pm, and logistical duties include sign-in, directing people to their seats, intake, and prescreening for eligibility. Training is provided on-site one hour prior to each workshop. Once you have registered yourself for an event, the event coordinator will contact you with further details. 3. Assist candidates in completing applications Citizenship applications are 21 pages, can take approximately one hour, and can be challenging to non-native English speakers. Help candidates understand and complete the form. If you would like to familiarize yourself, the Application for Naturalization Form N-400 and instructions are available here: 5

6 We strongly encourage anyone assisting others with the application to receive the appropriate training and work within the network rather than doing it on their own. MIRC provides a virtual training and we encourage you to contact Ruby Robinson at rubyr@michiganimmigrant.org to receive the training. Volunteer Role Opportunities: Citizenship Workshops DNAC agencies, collectively or individually, regularly host citizenship workshops and need qualified volunteers to help attendees complete their applications. These workshops are usually held on weekends (Saturdays), and your task as a Citizenship Ambassador would to assist applicants with the N-400 application. Training will be provided prior to the event, and an experienced legal team will be on site to assist with questions and legal issues. Once you have registered yourself for an event, the event coordinator will contact you with further details. One-on-One Assistance at DNAC Offices This opportunity is for individuals with flexible work schedules and retired individuals. As a Citizenship Ambassador, your task is to assist the LPRs with the completion of the N-400 application at a DNAC partner s office, in a one-on-one setting. This particular process is by appointment only and at the locations specified by each DNAC agency. Once you select and identify your availability as well as preferred location, the agency will contact you and schedule your individual appointments accordingly. Lead Organization: International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit Contact Person: Wojciech Zolnowski Contact wojciech517@yahoo.com Contact Phone: (313) ext.241 Location: 111 E. Kirby, Detroit MI (across the street from the DIA) Date and Time: Monday through Friday, 9AM 5 PM 4. Test preparation Assist candidates with studying for the civics exam, practicing and developing their English skills, and mock citizenship interviews. Volunteer Role Opportunities: 6

7 Classes The International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit holds Citizenship preparation and instructional classes at 6 locations (Troy, Hamtramck, Farmington Hills, Canton, Dearborn, Detroit) throughout the Metropolitan Detroit. Each session is 3 hours in length. Most of the classes are held in the evening (6PM 9PM) Monday through Thursday. As the Ambassador your task is to assist as a mentor, English language tutor, and teaching assistant. Teaching and tutoring materials, as well as training, will be provided by the Citizenship Program Coordinator of the International Institute. Overview of Partners The pilot program is a partnership between Global Detroit and the Detroit New Americans Campaign. The Detroit New Americans campaign is a collaborative of five local organizations. Detroit New Americans Campaign (DNAC) DNAC is a collaborative project of five immigrant-based organizations whose purposes are to mobilize and leverage local and national resources, civic and community partners, immigrant communities, and volunteers in an effort to promote and assist naturalization for eligible Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) throughout the metropolitan Detroit area. The project encourages naturalization and its benefits through media-based advocacy, informational sessions, and one-on-one meetings with immigration attorneys in individual appointments, clinics, and group workshops. DNAC is the largest regional collaborative project and with its programs is acknowledged as the Gateway to Naturalization in Southeast Michigan. Last year alone DNAC partners assisted over 1,000 LPRs with Naturalization Applications. Contact: International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit at (313) x241 DNAC s 5 Collaborating Organizations: Chaldean Community Foundation The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) is the charitable arm of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing the needs of the Chaldean American community and the communities in which they live and work through education, charitable giving and advocacy. Contact: Sharon Hannawa, Program Manager 7

8 Phone: International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit The International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit was founded in 1919, as part of a national network, to assist new legal immigrants to become U.S. citizens, learn English, learn the American way of life, appreciate freedom and democracy, find housing and jobs, and make a positive contribution to their new communities. It was also a goal to preserve the culture and heritage of the native countries and to share it with the Metro Detroit community. Its services are administered in three departments: Immigration Legal Services (Michigan s only U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Citizenship and Immigration Services authorized Citizenship Program; U.S. Department of Justice BIA accredited legal services), Center for Excellence (Jobs Program, ESL, GED), and Global Learning (annual International Festival, cultural programs, foreign language classes, interpretation and translation services, cultural sensitivity programs, Noel Night). Website: Contact: Wojcieh Zolnowski, Executive Director Phone: (313) ext wojciech517@yahoo.com Michigan Immigrant Rights Center The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) was founded in 2009 as a statewide resource center for advocates seeking equal justice for Michigan's immigrants. MIRC works to build a thriving Michigan where immigrant communities are fully integrated and respected. In addition to building capacity through education and training, leading systemic advocacy, supporting coalitions, recruiting and mentoring pro bono attorneys, and providing technical assistance to attorneys and advocates serving low-income immigrant communities, MIRC represents clients in impact cases involving violations of civil rights by law enforcement or government entities, access to public benefits for immigrants and children of immigrants, the unauthorized practice of immigration law, and any other civil legal issue relating to immigration status. Additionally, MIRC provides direct representation to unaccompanied children, survivors of domestic violence, and those seeking naturalization. MIRC has an immigrant integration program that promotes respect and understanding among immigrants and receiving communities through its Welcoming Michigan initiative. 8

9 Website: Facebook: Contact: Ruby Robinson Phone: x158 Michigan United Michigan United is a statewide coalition of faith, labor, social service, civil rights and business groups committed to participatory democracy at every level and working to stand up for the civil rights of immigrant workers, families and students. We conduct extensive community organizing of low-income Latino and Arab American families in Southeast Michigan. We have contributed to winning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, and its more recent parental equivalent, DAPA and have worked on implementation and community education for both programs. At the same time, Michigan United has developed its own legal services program and directly assists immigrant families apply for naturalization and DACA Website: Facebook: Contact: Diego Bonesatti Phone: (preferred): diego@miunited.org South Asian American Voices for Impact (SAAVI) SAAVI is a non-profit, non-partisan community organization that serves specific issues of South Asian Americans through advocacy, education, and outreach efforts. The South Asian American community includes people originally from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAAVI is an empowering agent to pan-asian Pacific American organizations in Michigan and provides access to groups that are dis-enfranchised due to religious and linguistic differences. SAAVI will also work in coalition with several grassroots advocacy groups, places of worship and cultural organizations in addition to city, county, and state agencies. We partner with Volunteer attorneys, accredited representatives, and law students to help eligible applicants with citizenship related study material and assistance in the form of citizenship workshops. 9

10 Website: Contact: Chandru Acharya Phone: acharyacp@yahoo.com 10