Citizenship Now Event Yields Crowds Of Many Eager Applicants

Senator Parker advocates for fair, fast, and free immigration services for all newcomers

Brooklyn, NY- State Senator Kevin Parker and The City University of New York at Brooklyn College partnered to host a free citizenship application assistance event on Saturday, October 18, 2008.  The turnout exceeded all expectations and all who attended received free one-on-one counseling, pro bono legal services and assistance in completing their applications. Visitors representing all corners of the globe attended to get a piece of the proverbial “American Dream”.

“What we are seeing in our communities is the desire and need to become citizens.  With the upcoming November 2008 election we are seeing excitement and willingness to become more politically active, said Senator Parker.  However, it is our job to make sure eligible constituents become citizens and encourage them to be civically active.”

Citizenship Now was held at Brooklyn College, a CUNY school as a site ghost for the event.  CUNY established the Citizenship and Immigration project in 1997 to address the growing need for immigration service’s among foreign-born students, faculty and staff.  The mission of the CUNY project is to provide free, high quality, and confidential citizenship and immigration law services to help immigrants on their path to U.S. citizenship.  In keeping with their strong commitment to community service, they later expanded the program to assist all New Yorkers.

The goal of this event was met by steadily increasing the number of citizenship applications completed and submitted by constituents within the 21^st District.  The CUNY Citizenship & Immigration Project provides free immigration law services located throughout New York City and at Citizenship Now!  For more information on Citizenship Now events, visit their website at www.cuny.ed/citizen shipnow.

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is committed to restoring the overall quality of life for the constituents of the 21^st Senatorial District in Brooklyn.  A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker has been a Flatbush resident for more than 27 years.  Having been nurtured, schooled and employed in the district, Senator Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of this ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in several communities which include:  Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park.