Together We Rise: Citizenship clinic and community fair celebrate solidarity

The mood was upbeat, joyful and full of hope at the Community Fair and Together We Rise Citizenship Clinic Sunday. The event, sponsored by the AFT, Texas AFT, Texas AFL-CIO and AFT locals from the Houston area and featuring community partners, included health screenings and a job fair as well as children's games, crafts, food and a book giveaway for families. There was also a full panel of legal assistance available for people preparing to apply for U.S. citizenship.

The AFT is all about real solutions for a better life, and that was highlighted at the Together We Rise Citizenship Clinic. One of dozens that the AFT has offered across the country, the clinic provided free legal assistance, support and encouragement for 65 eligible individuals who want to pursue U.S. citizenship.

As a lead-up to the clinic, eight information sessions over the last few weeks prepared participants so they would have everything they needed to walk through the paperwork and applications. By the time participants came to Sunday's clinic, they were ready. Shane DeHorney teared up as she described how relieved she felt to finally have the information she needed-information that for years had seemed impossible to find. "This is going to be a weight off of me," she said.

Another participant delayed his application because he was afraid he would fail the citizenship test. He is older than 50 now and has been in the U.S. for more than 15 years, so he qualifies to take the test in Spanish. Why is citizenship important to him? "Libertad," he said. Liberty.

Like the thousands of others who have gone through similar AFT clinics, participants walked out with an application ready to put in the mail. Once those are accepted and participants pass their citizenship test, they will be able to register to vote-one common incentive to apply for citizenship, as this moving AFT Voices blog post describes.

Another strong incentive: to live without fear. "I'd like to be able to feel safe in this country," said DeHorney. Without citizenship, many are afraid they could be deported. That fear is magnified with the anti-immigrant rhetoric circulating during this presidential campaign, including candidate Donald Trump's promise to "launch the biggest deportation operation in the history of our country."

Coming together for citizenship and celebration

Citizenship is about participating in community, and Sunday's community fair was an opportunity to do exactly that. Along with live mariachi music, food, children's games and a book giveaway featuring bilingual selections and multiethnic characters-part of AFT's Reading Opens the World initiative-there were health screenings and a job fair.

And to spread the word about the importance of this work, a news conference featured speakers who discussed the "why" behind it all. Texas AFT President Zeph Capo described how much educators value their students and communities. U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), a sponsor of the American Dream and Promise Act, said teachers are the ones who best recognize children's potential, just as we recognize the value of the immigrants who built this country and will continue to lead it.

Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar listed the many unions working together at the event-including several offering information on job opportunities in the trades-and underscored the importance of working together. And Adrian Izaguirre of NALEO Educational Fund, noted the impact of the clinic not only on the individuals attending but also on the nation.

Although she was not able to attend, AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus sent remarks as well. "We know the naturalization process is daunting, but we are here-presente-to help! Labor and community, working mano a mano."

[Virginia Myers, photos by Pam Wolfe]

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