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The Citizenship Empowerment Program assists low-income immigrants in obtaining U.S. citizenship and becoming active participants in the civic and political process. The program provides outreach to the community and offers assistance in the citizenship preparation process, from helping people to determine their eligibility requirements and offering practice for their INS interviews. In order to build civic participation and amplify the voice of the Latino immigrant community, we also offer workshops on key issues including local government, school issues, and community safety.
In 2001, CEP recruited five community aides, all of whom are members of the local community that have volunteered their time to helping their peers understand the citizenship and immigration processes. Trained in public speaking, community organizing, and local and regional systems of government, the CEP aides are integrated into program operations and assist in conducting outreach and presenting information at workshops.
The components of the Citizenship Empowerment Program Include:
Citizenship Orientations are held two times per month. In these sessions, program staff give detailed information on citizenship qualifications, application procedures, and the time frame for obtaining citizenship status. Immigration Orientations are held three times per week. These sessions serve to inform members of the Latino community on the cost, eligibility requirements, and steps of the immigration process.
Citizenship Applicants are provided with step-by-step assistance and instructions in filling out the naturalization forms. This service is provided for a fee by legal professionals at the SSCF site.
Citizenship Preparation Classes
Once applications have been submitted, citizenship applicants may begin attending free on-site classes citizenship preparation classes. During these classes, applicants review the content of the 100 questions that INS may ask in the citizenship interview, practice responses, and learn about the interview process. In addition to practicing in a group setting, citizenship applicants are given the opportunity to practice individually. Typically prior to the citizenship interview, staff will set up a one-on-one mock interview.
Community Education Workshops
SSCF provides a series of workshops for members of the Latino community on several key issues, including accessing community resources, understanding government and educational systems, and community safety. Offered six times per year, this series of workshops is open to all community members and is designed to help participants understand and influence the structures and systems of our society.
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Citizenship 
