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Date: 10/5/2021
AMHERST – The Jones Library in Amherst hosted a naturalization oath ceremony on their front lawn on Oct. 1 as 21 immigrants from around the commonwealth officially became U.S. citizens. The applicants originated from 15 different countries.
Lynne Weintraub, the ESL center coordinator who works from Jones Library, has for over 36 years helped immigrants with English not as their first language seek citizenship with preparation for the test.
“I coordinate a program where volunteer tutors teach newcomers English, how things work in the United States, about the culture, and some of them, citizenship representation,” Weintraub said. “A lot of the students who come to us tend to be older, they tend to be people who don’t have a lot of formal education or a lot of English proficiency and are scared to death of that interview, as you could imagine. But they work really hard, they show a lot of persistence, they show a lot of courage, and you know what, every single one of them passes the test.”
In her time, Weintraub says she has never had a student fail.
One of the 21 new American citizens was Amherst resident Lang Phu, 73. She moved to America just over six years ago from Vietnam, where she was born. As a daughter of Chinese parents, Phu also speaks Chinese along with Vietnamese and her growing English.
“She worked really hard for this, she’s a fighter,” Weintraub said. “She came here with me every day for about three or four weeks, and we went through the material over and over and over again. She has a lot of courage. I’m so happy for her.”
Weintraub said most clients are typically younger than Phu, like the group of new citizens she was with during the ceremony. Many also already know English and often come from backgrounds with more of a foundation in education, but with clients like Phu who are older and newer to America, the ESL center provides excellent resources in helping people prepare for the citizenship process.
“The older folks that didn’t have the benefit of an education or don’t speak a lot of English yet, this is a tremendous barrier to overcome. Sometimes it takes us a year or even longer to get them ready for it, but if they’re willing to work hard, we’re willing to work with them and we do it and succeed,” Weintraub said.
Phu added, “I am so happy.”
Also in attendance was state Rep. Mindy Domb who gave thanks to Weintraub for her continued hard work and success in the program.
“I want to congratulate Lynne on 36 plus years of working with newcomers in our community to help them be comfortable, supported, have the skills, information, and language they need to succeed. Thank you so much,” Domb said in her opening remarks.
She continued and spoke to the crowd of new Americans and gave them words of wisdom as they accept naturalization.
“You really need to know that we need you. We are so glad you’re here, but we need everything that you bring to the community. That includes the culture you have left, the food that you’ve eaten, the dresses and the wardrobe you wear for celebration, and it includes teaching us about those celebrations. We need all of you,” Domb said to the new citizens. “You make us stronger as a community and as a country and as a commonwealth. We cannot be the United States of America without you.”
The ceremony ended with Massachusetts district Judge Michael Ponsor officially swearing in the applicants one by one.