Literacy – Spanning the US :: Seattle WA :: Flint MI :: Greenville SC

Literacy: Spanning the US

@SPLBuzz

At The Seattle Public Library, Aspiring Citizens Receive Support Navigating The Labyrinth That Can Be The Citizenship Process

Daily UW: 7.17.2019 by Estey Chen

When was the Constitution written? Who is the current Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court? What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? These are all possible questions asked by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers during the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization interview.

Naturalization, the process of a foreign-born person voluntarily becoming a U.S. citizen, requires correctly answering at least six out of 10 civics questions in addition to passing English speaking, reading, and writing tests.

@ACRSNews

Recognizing a need in the community for support navigating the application and interview process, the Seattle Public Library (SPL) began partnering with Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) in July 2015 to offer a free, quarterly citizenship class. SPL has offered citizenship classes with a variety of community organizations for over 20 years, but ACRS is uniquely equipped to support applicants and provide citizenship instruction.

Though considered basic U.S. civics knowledge, according to a 2018 national survey released by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, most Americans could not answer these naturalization questions correctly.

Only 36% of American survey-takers achieved a passing score on the multiple choice test that sampled from the USCIS questions; only 24% of the 1,000 individuals surveyed correctly identified one of Franklin’s claims to fame.

Before even receiving an interview, aspiring citizens must work through an “Eligibility Worksheet.” Upon confirming eligibility, individuals may file a Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, which, at the Seattle USCIS office, can take anywhere between 15.5 to 17.5 months to process.  READ MORE >>

@NEWLifeFlint

Finding Refuge In North Flint: This Sanctuary For Women Is Building Futures By Mending Spirits

Flint Side: 7.17.2019 by Alexandria Brown

Men and women walk the halls. Some are looking for the food giveaway. Some are volunteers carefully rolling carts with donations from one end of the building to the other. In a classroom, a group of women sit in a circle.

Among them is Yolanda Hull, 49. With hands folded and eyes steady with attention, Hull is honed in on the material. She wears a gentle grin of contentment. Here, she is safe. Here, she is among friends that in the last 18 months she has come to consider family.

St. Luke N.E.W. Life center feels like a world unto its own. A packed campus, it offers resources for those looking to make a life change or to reclaim the life they have. For Hull, it offers education, employment training, and emotional support.

"We were just talking about like how we feel, how we can forgive people,” she says

The N.E.W. in St. Luke’s N.E.W. Life Center stands for North End Women. It’s where you will find women with children and women without. Women abused. Women with dreams of becoming a seamstress, having a newborn son, owning their own Chevy Malibu, or continuing to have the strength to show up for themselves day after day.  READ MORE >>

@GLiteracy

Giving Matters: Endowment gives Greenville Literacy Association Flexibility To Keep Up With Changing Needs

Greenville Journal: 7.18.2019

A thriving economy creates new job opportunities, but without the right skills and training, not everyone can participate. The Greenville Literacy Association is committed to ensuring all community members can take advantage of Greenville’s growth, offering classes in adult literacy and basic education and English as a second language (ESL) to provide the skills needed to meet employer demand.

John Jaraczewski, who joined GLA as executive director in February, said class participation fluctuates with the economy, but the need for quality, affordable adult education remains.

“In a strong economy, enrollment lags, but literacy levels and educational attainment are the same — students just have a harder time getting to us because of work and other barriers,” he said. “But if they don’t improve their skills and build for the future, they have less opportunity for growth.”  READ MORE >>