The Houston Public Library has relaunched its Journey to Citizenship program, which helps people navigate the process to naturalization to become an American citizen.
The seven-week program includes 90-minute classes to help you pass the vocabulary, reading and writing portions of the civics exam. It also includes guidance through the interview process and the 100 civics questions featured on the exam.
The Houston Public Library received a $200,000 one-year grant from the Houston Endowment to relaunch its Journey to Citizenship program.
The grant will allow the library to hire four part-time instructors to help with expanding the program to more locations. The library hopes to have the instructors hired on by early-to-mid fall, said Donnie Byrd, manager of adult and multicultural programs for Houston Public Library.
The Houston Public Library also offers English learning classes. If you have a library card, you can check out a citizenship kit for three weeks at a time that includes a DVD, flashcards and study guides.
“You learn so much in class but we understand life happens and by the time you come back to class you may not be as fresh as you were before,” Byrd said. “So with that if you want to just continue to stay ahead or continue to learn more about what you need to know then that’s why those kits will be very useful.”
There are various resources to help with the long and complicated naturalization process.
Upcoming citizenship classes
Journey to Citizenship: Civics and Literacy
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Date: Aug. 20
Location: Melcher Neighborhood Library
Journey to Citizenship: Civics and Literacy
Time: 1-2 p.m.
Date: Aug. 21
Location: Jungman Neighborhood Library
Journey to Citizenship: Civics and Literacy
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Date: Aug. 28
Location: Vinson Neighborhood Library
Journey to Citizenship: Civics and Literacy
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Date: Aug. 28
Location: Vinson Neighborhood Library
Journey to Citizenship: Introduction to Citizenship
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
Date: Sept. 5
Location: Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library
*Register will open on Aug. 22
Journey to Citizenship: Civics and Literacy
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
Date: Sept. 12
Location: Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library
*Register will open on Aug. 29
Keep up with dates and registrations online here.
The Houston Endowment, which is a financial supporter of the Houston Landing, awarded the Houston Public Library a one-year $200,000 grant. The Endowment had no influence on decisions related to the reporting and publishing of this article. The Landing’s ethics policy and list of financial supporters are available online.
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