Tutor Immigrants for Citizenship

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Position Purpose/Summary:

Many refugees and immigrants dream to obtain citizenship in the United States enabling them many opportunities that they otherwise would not have, including: (1) the right to vote; (2) securing United States citizenship for their children; (3) traveling with a United States passport; (4) new opportunities for employment; (5) eligibility for scholarships for their children’s education; and (6) applying for a wider range of family members to join them in the United States. There are many requirements to become a citizen and preparing by yourself can be overwhelming! With over a hundred years of dedicated service to our neighbors in need, Catholic Charities with the crucial help of volunteers, partner with refugees and immigrants on the path to citizenship.

The Citizenship Volunteer provides vital support to immigrants studying for citizenship exam. You will work with learners to memorize the 100 Civics Questions on the citizenship exam, learn how to respond confidently to questions on the citizenship application (please note, you are not responsible for filling this form out with your learner), and pass the reading and writing requirement.

Expected Availability and Commitment:

• 1-2 hours per week; most learners ask for 45 minutes to 1-hour sessions, once or twice a week at the learner’s home
• Schedules are determined based on both the learner’s and the volunteer’s availability; people meet during the week and weekend, in the mornings, afternoons, or early evenings
• A volunteer may work with one learner individually or a few in a small group
• Participate in a virtual information session and complete online training modules
• *Note: Due to the time it takes complete training and to find a learner who is a good match, Catholic Charities asks for a 6-month minimum commitment

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years old to volunteer
• Must be comfortable driving to a learner’s home in the Milwaukee area (typically on the southside of Milwaukee)
• Comfortable communicating in English to speakers of various levels- English speakers of all levels are welcomed and encouraged to apply

Required Training:

Volunteers will receive training before being matched with a learner. They will also have ongoing educational opportunities to enhance their teaching techniques. This includes: periodic check-ins, newsletters, and virtual Volunteer MeetUps that enable collaboration among volunteers and sharing of educational resources. Volunteers and learners will be provided with hard copies of Catholic Charities’ citizenship curriculum and books. In addition, the Citizenship Volunteer also have access to a vast virtual and physical library of supplementary instructional material, including videos on Catholic Charities’ YouTube channel.

Helpful Skills for the Role:

• People who have gone through the citizenship process themselves or have helped family and friends prepare are strongly encouraged to apply
• No previous experience is necessary; training is provided. Teaching, tutoring, cross-cultural experiences or additional language skills are a plus
• Additional language ability is welcomed

Share your existing skills and experience with your learners. Volunteering with us provides a rewarding cross-cultural opportunity to teach as well as learn from your students with the satisfaction that you are making a difference in their life! Be a part of someone’s citizenship success story and empower new immigrants to adapt to the United States!

Join our mission to provide service to those in need, to advocate for justice and to call upon others to do the same. Partner with us to improve the lives of those we serve, to empower the most vulnerable, and to help reduce poverty through quality, compassionate, and effective human services.

Contact with Questions:
Caitlyn Proietta, Volunteer Coordinator
Email: volunteer@ccmke.org
Call: (414) 769-3402