These are the 3 big barriers for immigrants seeking citizenship

“Around the Corner” is a PhillyCAM show that offers local social impact leaders the opportunity to share what impact their work is having on the Philadelphia area.

What are the barriers to American citizenship?

For many, it’s cost, information and trust.

Immigrant Leadership Institute wants to break down those barriers: Part of Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians’ Citizenship in Action program, the institute trains new immigrants in asset mapping, naturalization and media relations (hi!), among other leadership skills.

But for recent Colombian immigrant Katherine Prieto-Celis, who is part of the institute’s first cohort, its focus on community building is just as important — now, and for her future work.

“We are generating bonds and a fraternal relationship with the people who are in the program,” she said. “That’s really important for the immigrants who come to this country, because sometimes we leave our country and we start all over again in the other country, and we need that support system here. Because of that, there’s a lot of passion to help other people.”

Learn more about the Immigrant Leadership Institute in Prieto-Celis and Manuel Portillo’s “Around the Corner” interview below.

PhillyCAM is Comcast channel 66/966 HD/967 and Verizon FIOS channel 29/30 in Philadelphia.