Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer joined community members and staff at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in Woodside for an information session explaining naturalization eligibility requirements, the naturalization process, and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
Van Bramer was pleased to allocate $7,500 to the center, which allows it to provide: various computer literacy classes for different skill levels, including special classes for seniors, public seminars on nutrition, census information, ESL-American Civics classes, and mental health counseling. In addition to funding, Council Member Van Bramer also supported a $125,000 grant from the Council to Emerald Isle for its numerous programs and services. The center also helps people with important matters such as bank accounts, driver’s licenses, housing, medical insurance, education and protection under the law, as well as job-training and placement services.
“Emerald Isle provides services that are vital to the people and communities of Queens. With a large immigrant population, we need to ensure that appropriate services are available to protect their rights and help them along the path to citizenship,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.