ACCESS gets grant to help aspiring citizens

DEARBORN (AP) -- A Dearborn-based nonprofit social and economic services agency has received about $175,000 to broaden its work with those seeking U.S. citizenship. ACCESS announced Tuesday it's one of 40 organizations nationwide to receive a competitive grant from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The grant helps supports the agency's citizenship preparation services for the next two years. A program called The American Dream: Citizenship will provide services to about 200 legal permanent residents of Arab, Latino, Bangladeshi, African, Albanian and Bosnian descent in southeastern Michigan. Free services include a citizenship preparation course and other informational workshops. ACCESS says the aim of the program is to promote civic integration and participation by aspiring citizens. The agency was founded as the Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services. Published: Thu, Sep 26, 2013