For immediate release May 24, 2017:
In partnership with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Douglas County Libraries hosted its first Naturalization Ceremony at its Parker, Colorado, location on Saturday afternoon, May 20. Twenty-eight individuals from 19 different countries took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens in front of their families, friends and library patrons. The new citizens all reside within Douglas County and Aurora.
Tiffany Curtin, adult literacy specialist with Douglas County Libraries, worked closely with USCIS to coordinate and facilitate the Naturalization Ceremony. “I have had the pleasure of seeing firsthand how new Americans enrich our lives,” Curtin said. “At the library, we see new Americans gain the language skills to become volunteers, gain employment, pursue professional goals, earn promotions, enter higher education, support their children in school, and transform their lives,” she added.
Bob Pasicznyuk, executive library director of Douglas County Libraries, was the keynote speaker at the event, which was open to the public. Other speakers from Douglas County Libraries included Tiffany Curtin; Norma Akers, a library volunteer and naturalized citizen; and Jessica Bassan, a library volunteer and citizenship class student. Political speakers at the event included Mark Jackson for Rep. Ken Buck, Andrew Dunkley for Sen. Cory Gardner, and John Griego for Sen. Michael Bennet.
Representatives from the Smoky Hill Trail Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented American flags to the citizen candidates. Two fifth-graders from the Parker Performing Arts School performed the national anthem and “Dream a Dream,” and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by the two daughters of one of the citizenship candidates.
The emotion and excitement in the event hall were palpable. Melek Eckhardt, a Highlands Ranch, Colorado, resident originally from Turkey, was one of the first to arrive for the ceremony, excited to be taking the Oath of Allegiance to conclude her journey to becoming a U.S. citizen. “I love the U.S.,” said Eckhardt, beaming with pride. “I love the people here, and this state.”
Douglas County Libraries offers one-on-one language tutoring (English as a second language); citizenship preparation classes to prepare for citizenship application and interviews, with representatives from USCIS available to answer questions; English-language conversation groups so non-natives can practice their English; and basic adult education classes for aspiring citizens.
USCIS is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the U.S. USCIS partners with libraries, national parks, schools and other entities to host naturalization information sessions and administrative naturalization ceremonies. The organization naturalized 752,800 people in fiscal year 2016. Information on how to become a U.S. citizen is available at uscis.gov/citizenship. For more information about USCIS, visit uscis.gov.
Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection. For more information, visit DCL.org or call 303-791-7323.