Cities for Citizenship (C4C) becomes Cities and Counties for Citizenship (CC4C), growing national reach to assist eligible immigrants on their pathway to citizenship
Washington – In celebration of flag day, the national naturalization initiative, formerly named Cities for Citizenship, is renamed Cities & Counties for Citizenship (CC4C), reflecting the incredible growth of counties, in addition to cities, investing in local naturalization access. CC4C partners now include 12 counties across the country that are investing in citizenship access for eligible immigrants, bringing the total number of city and county partners to 103. The national initiative, housed under the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), announced today the name change with a new logo.
“We’re overjoyed to celebrate the growth of the Cities & Counties for Citizenship network over the last eight years. CC4C is an initiative that promotes naturalization among millions of eligible permanent residents to build inclusive communities united by one flag and one pledge of allegiance,” said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of NPNA. “We know that many localities are better positioned to fund and support naturalization initiatives that bolster local economies by combining forces with some of the country’s leading cities AND counties. We hope to continue reaching a wider range of eligible to naturalize folks through CC4C.”
In 2014, the mayors of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City launched the bipartisan national initiative to help eligible immigrants become U.S. citizens. Since its launch, the network has grown to over 100 cities and counties, reaching over 1 million eligible lawful permanent residents a year through communications, outreach, and application assistance programs.
“Our city has been enriched and strengthened by the generations of immigrants who’ve made Chicago home,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot of Chicago, a founding CC4C city and Executive Committee member. “We know that when immigrants naturalize, their earning power increases, and they become more civically engaged. That’s why the City of Chicago is removing barriers to naturalization and advocating for greater inclusion of immigrants in our country. We are excited to welcome the strategic expansion of the network to include more counties and additional city partners.”
“I’m proud that Seattle has long been a member of Cities for Citizenship that is now Cities & Counties for Citizenship. I join the rest of the coalition in happily welcoming the network’s newest member: King County, Seattle’s home county,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell, a CC4C city and Executive Committee member. “In Seattle, we are deepening our commitment to ensuring that vulnerable immigrants and refugees get the help they need today to become tomorrow’s new Americans. One Seattle means a commitment to welcoming new residents, especially those families fleeing war, violence, and terror. I am proud that we will continue providing them with the support needed to help integrate into the civic and cultural life of our wonderful city.”
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About Cities and Counties for Citizenship
Cities and Counties for Citizenship (CC4C) is a growing national initiative of 103 cities and counties aimed at increasing citizenship among eligible U.S. permanent residents and encouraging localities across the country to promote and expand citizenship programs. It is chaired by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, with support from the National Partnership for New Americans. To learn more or join Cities and Counties for Citizenship, visit http://www.cc4citizenship.com.
About National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)
The National Partnership for New Americans is a national multiethnic, multiracial organization that represents 60 of the largest regional immigrant and refugee rights organizations in 40 states. Its members provide large-scale services for the communities, to leverage their collective power and expertise for a national strategy.