PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Citizenship Consortium will receive $250,000 to assist permanent residents with the nationalization process, the Rhode Island delegation announced Friday afternoon.
The consortium, a partnership between Progreso Latino Inc., the Diocese of Providence, Genesis Center, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island and the Providence Public Library’s Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative, serves urban centers in Providence County, which has a high concentration of American immigrants.
The grant will allow the consortium to offer over 1,800 hours of citizen instruction over a two-year period.
“The consortium offers a wide array of support services to residents who want to begin their naturalization process,” said Progreso Latino Executive Director Mario Bueno. “We are excited and honored to be chosen among so many other worthy organizations nationwide and appreciate the support of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that make these funds available to help prepare people on their pathway to citizenship. Through our network of organizations we will offer immigration services and citizenship classes at multiple sites.”
The funds were made available through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as part of the fiscal year 2017 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program.
“These federal funds will allow Progreso Latino and their partners to offer classes to help prospective citizens assimilate to American civic life,” said Sen. Jack F. Reed, D-R.I. “Rhode Island is a welcoming place and I am extremely proud of our immigrant community. These organizations do important work to make our state a stronger community for all.”
More information on the program can be found at www.progresolatino.org.
