Blue Ridge Literacy receives generous grant to continue Citizenship Preparation services
A $6,000 grant will help Blue Ridge Literacy provide continuity of English literacy and Citizenship Preparation services to adults in the Roanoke Valley.
The grant was awarded through Freedom First Credit Union’s (FFCU) Community Grants Program which supports the work being done by community organizations to break down barriers, enable people to fully participate as local citizens, and help families achieve economic success and a better quality of life.
According to BRL’s Executive Director, Ahoo Salem, funds from FFCU will support programming for a minimum of 60 foreign-born adults at different stages of their naturalization process. In order to pass the US naturalization interview, lawful permanent residents are tested on their knowledge of US Civics and English skills. BRL’s Citizenship Preparation Services are designed with consideration of the learners’ skill-based needs and naturalization processes. The goal is a 100% pass rate for the learners who take their citizenship test.
Salem, who became a US citizen herself in 2021, continues to say that “becoming an American Citizen is an important life goal for many BRL learners. Our affordable and structured Citizenship Preparation Programs ensure that lawful permanent residents have the needed skills to realize this important goal”.
BRL offers in-person beginner-level English and Civics classes for lawful permanent residents at the earlier stages of their immigration journey as well as online and in-person high intermediate and advanced level citizenship preparation classes and citizenship study groups for foreign-born adults who have started their naturalization process.
Founded in 1985, Blue Ridge Literacy offers English literacy services to adults living in the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Franklin, Alleghany, Craig, and the cities of Roanoke and Salem. Last year, over 300 adult learners were served through ESOL classes, 1:1 tutoring matches, and citizenship preparation classes.
To learn more, please visit www.blueridgeliteracy.org. For questions, call 540-265-9339 or email info@brlit.org.
