Refugee and Immigrant Services and Empowerment
During Welcoming Week, September 10-19, organizations and communities across the U.S. bring together people of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. The Library's Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment team, along with other Library staff, celebrated the ties that bind community with a series of welcome messages.
Marcos Balam toiled through two English for Citizenship courses – each taking 12 weeks – and multiple one-to-one meetings with citizenship interview practice tutors to prepare for his naturalization interview.
Maria Hodge was part of the Kansas City Public Library's pilot program, English for Citizenship. For 12 weeks, she studied with her classmates in preparation for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ naturalization test.
On Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, Kansas Citians young and old, from all different walks of life and backgrounds, came to Central Library, 14 W. 10th St., with one common goal in mind: to show support for immigrants and refugees in the Kansas City community.
North-East Branch hosts World Refugee Day for the second time on Saturday, June 18, 2022. The celebration will take place in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In the spirit of service embodied by the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the Library’s AmeriCorps VISTA Project is collecting donations of travel-size personal care items for a Hygiene Kit Drive. Between January 2 - 16, 2019, visit any Kansas City Public Library location and bring supplies to drop off in dedicated boxes. Donated materials will be assembled into kits that will be given to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Fausto Montero prepared for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' naturalization test with the help of the Kansas City Public Library's English for Citizenship classes and one-on-one Citizenship Interview Practice sessions.