Citizenship Preparation Class
Orientation: Monday, October 5 6–7:30 p.m. / Zoom
Interested in becoming a United States citizen? Register for this orientation session and 10-week Citizenship Preparation Class, all held on Zoom, and taught by HIAS Immigration and Citizenship staff. Textbook and materials will be provided and can be picked up at Arlington Heights Memorial Library from 6-7 p.m. on October 1, or during business hours at the Reserve Holds pickup shelf inside the library October 2–19. Participants will need a tablet or computer, internet access, and a free Zoom account. Priority registration is now open for Arlington Heights residents. There is a limit of 15 people. If space allows, residents outside Arlington Heights may register at 9 a.m. on October 1. By signing up for this orientation, you will automatically be registered for the classes that are on Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m., starting October 12 and ending December 14. If you have questions, contact Elana Boiskin: 847-745-5405 or elanaboiskin@jcfs.org. Arlington Heights cardholders only.
Meet the Instructor
“It’s gratifying to see the students grow and watch their progress.” -Steve Krasner, HIAS
When the library’s first virtual offering of the US Citizen Preparation Class begins in October, facilitating and guiding the program will be Steve Krasner, a dedicated volunteer and experienced instructor with HIAS Immigration and Citizenship, a Chicago-based organization that assists people through the immigration and citizenship process. Through an ongoing partnership with the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, HIAS Immigration and Citizenship began offering citizenship education at the library in 2019 with sessions taking place in-person. Now, in the wake of COVID-19, the US Citizenship Preparation Class has moved online with an updated curriculum and resources tailored to its new virtual format. Similar to the in-person program, the class size is limited to 15 participants and the goal remains the same—to help students best prepare for the US citizenship test and interview. Instructor Krasner is ready and enthused to get started. “My goal is to try and make the virtual class as much as I can like the actual classroom,” said Krasner, “and by that I mean, the personal interchange. Building a rapport with the students is so important to understand who they are, where they are from and what they hope to achieve.”
22 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
OCTOBER 2020
