CCA and 9NEWS Anchor Kyle Clark Join to Help Make Citizenship Dreams a Reality

AURORA, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora Foundation (CCAF), in partnership with 9NEWS anchor Kyle Clark, is giving the community a unique opportunity to help people realize their citizenship dreams with a new fund dedicated to turning those dreams into reality.

The CCAF has established the Advancing Economic Mobility (AEM) Fund, with the goal of raising $30,000 by the end of April. The money will go toward helping current and future students continue participating in the Community College of Aurora’s Citizenship Preparation course, which prepares students to take the naturalization test.

On his show, “Next With Kyle Clark,” Clark hosts a weekly segment titled, “Word of Thanks.” The segment brings awareness to local non-profits and their causes. This week, Clark is highlighting CCA’s efforts to prepare remarkable individuals who strengthen and bring important diversity to our community by becoming American citizens by promoting the fundraiser. 

CCA President Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee spoke about the partnership, saying, “We are deeply grateful to Kyle Clark and the “Next with Kyle Clark” ‘Word of Thanks’ micro-giving community for stepping up in such a powerful way to support the Community College of Aurora. As a community college, it brings us great pride to see our community come together—rallying behind those pursuing their dream of citizenship and economic mobility. Their generosity not only helps keep these vital classes in place, but also reaffirms that when a community cares for its college, the college can continue to care for the dreams of others.”

The fund was established following a move from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that terminated a grant previously funding the college’s citizenship classes.

For more than a decade, the Community College of Aurora has been preparing future American citizens through the course. Following a 10-week program, students go on to take the naturalization exam, where, upon passing, they take the Oath of Allegiance and pledge to “support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America.” The fund will help support CCA in providing eight 10-week Citizenship Preparation sessions per year. The course offers the following support:

• 40 hours of comprehensive instruction in U.S. history and civics, along with vocabulary found on the naturalization application.
• Student success services such as access to nutrition, transportation, and mental health counseling.
• Hands-on learning through audio, visual, and real-world simulation activities (mock interviews, group reading and listening activities, digital literacy, and two integration activities per session, such as virtual walking tours of Washington, D.C., and guest speakers from the Aurora Police Department and other state, county, and local departments).

Director for the Center for Adult Education, Jackie Zvejnieks, is in charge of the program. She said of the fundraiser, “The Citizenship classes have been an important part of our programming for 12 years. I have been part of its administration for almost 10 years and have seen the many lives it has impacted. Students put their whole heart into studying for the naturalization interview, and they are so proud and joyful when they pass and take the Oath of Allegiance at the Oath Ceremony. These classes provide a significant step toward meeting their goals in the United States.”

With an average class size of 13 students, CCA has served learners from over 73 countries through its Citizenship Preparation sessions and English as a Second Language classes. Seventy-five percent of students demonstrated improved English language skills on pre- and post-tests.

Learn more about how you can contribute and make an impact on the lives of future citizens by visiting https://ccaurora.edu/AEMFund.