The IRC in Northern California is excited to announce two new developments to our Immigration Department that will greatly augment the work we do in this area and allow us to serve our client’s full resettlement needs.
First, the IRC offices in both Oakland and Turlock will begin offering Civics Classes starting in mid-February. These classes will help prepare local immigrants, refugees, and asylees for the naturalization test necessary to gain American citizenship. Civics Classes have become a necessity for our clients in the recent years due to an overhaul of the naturalization testing format and content. Prior to 2006, the test asked simple questions about American culture and history, but recent changes now require people to pass a ten questions oral test that touches on American values such as freedom and democracy.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services recently awarded the Oakland and Turlock IRC offices in Northern California a two year grant in order to offer the Civics Classes. Our Senior Immigration Coordinator, Amir Music, expects the classes will assist 37 clients in Oakland and 20 clients in Turlock to pass the naturalization test by September 30th. The IRC in Northern California warmly welcomes two new additions to our staff that will lead and deliver the classes. Ms. Caitlin Albritton will be teaching the Civics Class for the Turlock office and Ms. Beth Silverstein will be teaching for the Oakland office.
If you have any questions or would like further information on the Civic Classes, please contact Amir Music at amir.music@rescue.org.
Second, the IRC in Northern California is pleased to announce Ms. Kimberly Janson as another new addition to the Immigration Department. Kim has worked for the IRC as a Resettlement Case Manager for the past two and a half years where she resettled over 250 Burmese, Bhutanese, Eritrean, and Sri Lankan clients in the Oakland community. In her new role as Immigration Caseworker, Kim will be focusing on community outreach and assisting refugees and asylees in obtaining green cards and citizenship. Please join us in welcoming Kim to our team!
