Literacy Network and the Madison Path to Citizenship will receive a 2017 Community-University Partnership Award that highlights exemplary partnerships that get to the heart of the Wisconsin Idea — community members and UW-Madison personnel working collaboratively in the interest of the public good. They will be recognized at a private reception with UW-Madison Chancellor Becky Blank at Olin House on Wednesday, June 28, 5-7 p.m.
At the outset of the partnership, Literacy Network was the only agency in Dane County offering citizenship classes to help lawful permanent residents learn United States civics and history, and pass the United States citizenship test. Demand for citizenship classes increased 76 percent over three years, far exceeding their capacity.
“Our classes have people from all over the world coming together to work toward a common goal – citizenship,” Literacy Network Executive Director Jeff Burkhart tells Madison365. “We’re excited that UW-Madison is helping make the dream of citizenship come true for many adult learners. I look forward to continuing to work on this project so that we can help more of our learners live the American dream and be fully recognized by our government.”
Madison Path to Citizenship, a coalition among community organizations, UW-Madison, and UW-Extension, was created to provide outreach and support for citizenship programs. Madison Path to Citizenship used resources from the Baldwin Fund and the City of Madison to help Literacy Network expand naturalization classes, teacher training and tutor training, including instructor placement and consultation for new classes by partners like the Catholic Multicultural Center on Madison’s south side. There is a growing need for the estimated 15,000 lawful permanent residents in Dane County who are eligible to apply for United States citizenship.
“Madison Path to Citizenship was created to overcome barriers to citizenship and to strengthen naturalization services for the 12,000-15,000 immigrants in Dane County who are eligible to apply,” Laurie Greenberg, coordinator for Madison Path to Citizenship for UW-Madison Continuing Studies, tells Madison365.
Nationwide, there are almost 9 million people who are lawful permanent residents who are not advancing to citizenship.
“Among the biggest barriers to citizenship is limited English abilities. Literacy Network’s English and citizenship classes enable dozens of people a year to learn adequate English to pass the citizenship test and to become more fully integrated into our community,” Greenberg says. “We are thrilled that our work with Literacy Network has been acknowledged as an exemplary partnership expressing the Wisconsin Idea.”
Madison Path to Citizenship provides outreach sessions for Literacy Network’s learners to help them with other services needed to attain citizenship. Trained law students help them complete the 20-page Application for Naturalization and apply for help to cover the $725 fee for naturalization. Pro bono immigration attorneys review the applications before they are sent to the United States government.
The partnership has resulted in a significant increase in the number of successful applicants for citizenship. The project plans on continuing to offer more citizenship classes and services so that more permanent residents can become citizens and fully participate in life in the United States.
