A personal dive into the Citizenship Workshop - perspectives, community, and promise

Written By AFIRE Chicago

By Ana Klein and Michael Crino, AFIRE Interns

The Citizenship Workshop is an opportunity for eligible green card holders and legal permanent residents aged 18 and over. This program is exclusively in Illinois, and is funded by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) as part of their New Americans Initiative (NAI) program. Other organizations who are part of the North Collaborative such as Erie House, Palenque LSNA, and Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors (NIJFON) contribute to the process to make each step possible. Workshops are typically held monthly on Saturdays and last four to five hours. Locations vary depending on availability, and there is a $25 fee to attend the workshop. AFIRE holds Citizenship Application Preparation (CAP) Sessions before every workshop on Tuesdays to assist applicants with a smoother workshop process. 

Tomo Shibata has been a volunteer for AFIRE since 2023, working at various citizenship workshops and participating at other AFIRE events. In October 2025, Tomo decided to go through the citizenship process themselves, attending both the CAP Session and Citizenship Workshop. We sat down with them to gain some perspective on what it’s like to be an applicant going through the process. Tomo’s responses are italicized below.

What was the Energy Like on the Day of the Workshop?

It feels like the organizations that are involved really make it so that people don’t feel scared of the process. I love that they try to take the fear out of it. They take the unknowns out of it. It’s really inspiring actually that there is a program like this. 

What Was it Like for You as an Applicant?

It feels more like a family affair, which is very encouraging to see, because immigration is a family affair. Immigration affects generations. I really enjoyed the temperament of, like, the volunteers. They were also very encouraging. They were excited for me. They were congratulating me on my process.

What Were the Volunteers Like?

The runner was very helpful. It was nice having a guide that could answer questions. If they didn't know the answer, they knew the people to ask, they felt like a buddy to me in the citizenship workshop. they were  attentive to my process, [and] how I was going through the process. They were also really good at checking in on how I was feeling.

What Was it Like to Work With the Legal Volunteers?

It felt like they were there for us. It felt like they were very understanding of the demographic that they were working with, and they didn't try to be intimidating with their language. They tried to come down to like layman's terms … so that you can better understand it, 

What is Something That You Didn't Expect About the Workshop?

I didn't expect so many people to wish me well along my process. It just really affirmed how the community can come together to inspire each other to keep going and pulling resources together to push for immigrants to have better rights in this country. It was really beautiful how I saw people come with their families and friends to the citizenship workshop, and seeing how it affects people's lives. 

Do You Have Any Tips for Those Attending a Workshop?

I would definitely recommend bringing a charger, like a portable charger for your phone… you're going to be needing your phone for information, so it's good to have your phone charged. And then if you want to bring company, I recommend bringing company.

We are grateful to members like Tomo for sharing their experience with us. AFIRE has offered citizenship support services for many years. It has often been the first opportunity for many community members to begin getting to know the organization, whether that is because they are pursuing this service or because they responded to a call for volunteers. Continuing this service is possible through community support. If you are interested in volunteering at a citizenship workshop, please fill out this interest form. If you’re curious to know more, here are additional ways to engage AFIRE:

Thank you for your support, we look forward to seeing you soon!

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Kumusta! My name is Ana Klein, I am a current clinical mental health counseling graduate student about to enter my second year at Adler University here in Chicago. When I found AFIRE, I was immediately drawn to the community of people that were united by a passion for creating change and advocating for all marginalized identities. I am grateful to have this privilege to give back to my Filipino community; as a proud daughter of a Filipina immigrant, I have seen firsthand the impact of leaving your home country and adapting to a new environment. The work I do with the Citizenship Program is immensely fulfilling and helps me to feel like I am making a real difference in people’s lives and immigration journey.  

Hello everyone! My name is Michael Crino, I am a clinical mental health counseling student at Adler University. Part of what makes Adler’s graduate program unique is that we do a social justice internship in our first year. I was actually introduced to AFIRE by my colleague Ana Klein, and everything just clicked into place. I have a background of working in non-profit organizations revolving around immigration advocacy such as being a Spanish medical interpreter, working with immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through the U-Visa and VAWA programs, and more recently helping minority owned businesses access government contracting opportunities. So when the opportunity came to help AFIRE with their citizenship program, I was excited to come back to these things that I care so much about. I am passionate about our Chicago immigrant communities; we are all immigrants, no matter the language we speak, and we are stronger when we come together and march towards a common goal to demand equality and justice. I am proud to be able to do this with AFIRE!

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