Tutor Refugees and Immigrants for Citizenship

Program Overview:

Catholic Charities Refugee Integration Services works with refugee communities and other partners to design programs that leverage community assets to facilitate the integration of refugees and immigrants into communities across southeastern Wisconsin.

Our Approach:

To foster integration, we focus on five instructional approaches:

• Cultural Humility
• Resiliency
• Community Cultural Wealth
• Strength-Based Approach
• Trauma Informed Care

Volunteer Role Description - Citizenship Volunteer Tutor:

You will tutor an adult learner from a refugee or immigrant background in their home, helping them memorize the 100 Civics Questions for the U.S. citizenship exam, practice responding confidently to questions from the citizenship application (note: you are not responsible for filling out the form), and prepare to meet the exam’s reading and writing requirements.

Traits and Tasks:

• At least 21 years old to volunteer
• Comfortable driving to the learner’s home (typically on the southside of Milwaukee)
• Comfortable communicating in English to speakers of various levels
• Additional language speaking abilities welcomed but not required
• Patience with learners who have never read before in any language

What We Provide You:

• 30-minute information session to learn more about the role and program
• 2 online learning modules (35 minutes each)
• 1:1 virtual training session with our Refugee Integration Specialist before you get started
• Pre-made lesson plans and workbooks

The Commitment:

• 1:1 tutoring with a learner or group of learners in their home
• 1-2 times per week for 45-60 minutes (plus lesson prep time)
• Weekdays or weekends
• 6-month minimum commitment to build report with your learner

Your Impact:

• In 2024, 110 volunteers spent 5,685 hours connecting with 211 refugees and immigrants, impacting 959 family members.
• Since 2019, 145 refugees have become U.S. citizens!
• Session by session, you can help a learner write their name for the first time, empower them to assist their children with their homework, identify the food they need as the grocery store, and so much more!

Contact with Questions:

Email: volunteer@ccmke.org

Call: (414) 769-3402

Watch our video to learn more: Volunteer Spotlight