LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 12th Annual Citizenship NOW!
Campaign to be held April 28 - May 2, 2014

WHEREAS, The United States is predominantly a nation of immigrants which
draws strength from the diversity of its residents; and
WHEREAS, The cultural diversity of immigrants to the United States
adds to the social fabric of this nation, and the new ideas and energies
immigrants contribute to the economy strengthen the nation as a whole;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate the 12th
Annual Citizenship NOW! Campaign to be held April 28 - May 2, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Under the able coordination of CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor
Jay Hershenson, the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS and CUNY will kick-off the 12th
Annual Citizenship NOW! Hotline offering free information to immigrants
as they travel the complex road to citizenship; and
WHEREAS, More than 400 trained volunteers and counselors who speak
more than 20 different languages will be available by telephone over the
course of the week; and
WHEREAS, Launched by the DAILY NEWS and CUNY to address the systemic
lack of access to free immigration information for the people who need
it, CUNY Citizenship NOW! is the largest university-based immigration
legal assistance program in the nation providing free, high quality, and
confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families
on their path to U.S. citizenship; and
WHEREAS, The Citizenship NOW! Campaign helps thousands of immigrant
New Yorkers with the naturalization process and the transition to life
in America; and
WHEREAS, Led by immigration attorney Allan Wernick, CUNY Citizenship
NOW!'s attorneys and paralegals assist close to 8,000 individuals each
year at centers, and over 2,600 at citizenship events; since its incep-
tion in 1997, more than 127,985 people have been helped with 2,000 calls
received daily; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the attorneys and paralegals coordinate communi-
ty, educational, and volunteer initiatives to help expand opportunities
for New York City's immigrant population, as well as serve the community
in several languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean,
Polish, French, and Italian; and
WHEREAS, The CUNY Express Center was selected by the New York Depart-
ment of State as a neighborhood-based Opportunity Center to help immi-
grants fully participate in New York State civic and economic life by
providing English classes for speakers of other languages; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State
of New York, believes in the human dignity of all its residents and
recognizes the importance of the many contributions immigrants have made
to the social and economic fabric of this great Empire State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the 12th Annual Citizenship NOW! Campaign to be held April 28
- May 2, 2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to CUNY Citizenship NOW!