Our staff and volunteers provide ESL tutoring, citizenship preparation, and assistance on naturalization applications. We also welcome and accompany refugees as they rebuild their lives in the local community.
Some information about what we did last year:
To learn more, read our annual report.
Read about the people we've helped over the years.
Immigrants enrolled in ESL often have multiple and persistent barriers such as multiple jobs, health issues, lack of transportation or childcare. Those who have never been in a school often don't do well in classroom settings and classes seldom address their immediate needs. Our tutoring offers individualized instruction tailored to people's immediate and specific needs. It includes right, responsibilities, and cross–cultural information. When volunteers give freely of their time and energy, it shows a level of welcoming and support that means more to immigrants than anything else we do. Contact Sayuko Setvik, Tutoring Coordinator at 206-382-4511 or ssetvik@stjames-cathedral.org.
Many people are fearful, anxious, and confused about applying for citizenship. To pass the interview, they have to answer questions about their application, learn the answers to 100 civics questions, and read, speak and write English at an intermediate level. The pressure of the interview can cause people to forget the English they know, the answers to questions on the application, or the civics they’ve learned. Our citizenship tutoring uses a standard curriculum, includes everything needed to pass the interview, and offers a sense of comradery and support. Contact Sayuko Setvik, Tutoring Coordinator at 206-382-4511 or ssetvik@stjames-cathedral.org.
Applying for U.S citizenship is often confusing and stressful. There are options for fee waivers, age waivers, and disability-based waivers. The rules, exemptions, and opportunities are neither straight-forward nor easily understood. It's a detailed and daunting task. We shepherd applicants throughout the process including screening, collecting documentation, filling out and filing the application, following up on requests for further evidence, providing mock interviews for practice, and attending citizenship interviews. After becoming a citizen, we help new citizens to understand their rights, responsibilities, and benefits. Contact Patrick Suhrbier, Immigration Legal Services Coordinator at 206-382-4511 or psuhrbier@stjames-cathedral.org.
Refugees arriving in our local communities are supported by resettlement organizations to secure housing, find employment, enroll children in school, attend to medical needs, access benefits, use public transportation and more. We deepen this support by accompanying refugees as they navigate the many components to rebuilding their lives. Volunteers are connected with families who have recently arrived and commit to walking alongside them through their first months in the United States. Interested in joining our refugee support efforts? Contact edeklerk@stjames-cathedral.org.
