SF Spotlights Immigrants at 20th Anniversary of Immigrant Rights Commission
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During the month of June, the City’s Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) invites residents to submit their individual or families’ immigration stories to #SF IMMIGRANT STORIES, an Instagram campaign celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month that will feature more than 30 stories of immigrants in 30 days.
On June 12, San Francisco celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Immigrant Rights Commission with the Inaugural Immigrant Leadership Awards, honoring eight immigrant leaders and immigrant advocates in San Francisco.
The honorees include grassroots leaders Lorena Melgarejo of Faith in Action and Adoubou Traore of the African Advocacy Network; and youth leaders Camilia Razavi and Kayla Razavi of #NoBanNoWallSF. Corporate leader Kate O’Sullivan of Microsoft, entrepreneur leader Alba Guerra of Sunrise Restaurant and the Vera Haile Champion of Justice Award recipient, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, will also be honored. The collaborative leader awardee is the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, a public-private-non-profit partnership that aims to promote citizenship among San Francisco’s eligible immigrants.
On June 17, San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative will host a free, public workshop at City College of San Francisco to help eligible green card holders apply for U.S. citizenship and connect to local resources like application fee waiver assistance, citizenship test preparations, and much more.
“In the past four years, our collaborative has assisted over 7,000 residents to become citizens,” said Anni Chung, president and CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly, the lead organization of San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative.
“Many have been living in great fear and anxiety in light of the anti-immigrants policies from the current administration,” said Chung. “Getting their U.S. passports, being able to vote, securing scholarships for their children and better employment opportunities for themselves---these benefits and the strong desire to become U.S. citizens before more anti-immigrant policies are passed by the federal government----greatly increased the attendance at each workshop since February 2017.”
But, she said, there is still a lot of work ahead. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCSIS) estimates that there are over 50,000 residents of San Francisco who are eligible for citizenship but have not applied.
“The SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, supported by Mayor Ed Lee and OCEIA, will continue to expand our naturalization activities to reach as many people as we can in San Francisco as well as in the Bay Area,” said Chung.
To help eligible immigrants apply for citizenship, the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative is organizing a free workshop on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at City College of San Francisco, Multi-use building (MUB) Room 140, 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, 94112. Registration is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointment is needed. For more information, go to: www.sfcitizenship.org or email civic.engagement@sfgov.org.
How to Get Involved:
1. SF Immigrant Stories Campaign
Share your immigrant heritage or immigrant story in celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month. Submissions may be featured on Instagram (sf_immigrants) and other social media platforms. To submit your photos and short, compelling captions about you or your family’s immigrant experience, please complete this short survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/sfimmigrantstories
2. Immigrant Rights Commission’s 20th Anniversary Celebration
Join the celebration on Monday, June 12, 2017 from 5:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, North Light Court, San Francisco, CA 94102. This event is open to the public, but space is limited. To reserve your spot, RSVP here.
3. FREE Citizenship Workshop at City College of San Francisco
All eligible green card holders are invited to a free workshop to receive high-quality, free assistance applying for U.S. citizenship on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at City College of San Francisco, Multi-use building (MUB) Room 140, 50 Phelan Avenue, San Francisco, 94112. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 12:30 p.m. No appointment is needed. Free parking is available. For more information, visit: www.sfcitizenship.org or email civic.engagement@sfgov.org.
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About SF OCEIA
The Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) is a policy, compliance, direct services and grantmaking office. OCEIA’s mission is to promote inclusive policies and foster immigrant assistance programs that lead to full civic, economic and linguistic integration.
Follow OCEIA: facebook.com/sfgov.oceia| Twitter: @OCEIA_SF| Instagram: sf_immigrants
About the Immigrant Rights Commission
Created in 1997, the Immigrant Rights Commission consists of 15 members who advise the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on issues and policies related to immigrants who live or work in San Francisco.
About SF Pathways to Citizenship Initiative
San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative is a public-private-non-profit partnership that aims to promote citizenship and civic participation among San Francisco’s citizenship-eligible immigrants. Participating organizations include Asian Pacific Islanders Legal Outreach, Jewish Family and Children's Services, Self-Help for the Elderly, Catholic Charities CYO, International Institute of the Bay Area and La Raza Community Resource Center.