#Milu Benko Finally Has a Voice
"I have lived in this country for a long time and [until now] I could not vote. I didn't have a voice," Milu Benko said. "As a high school teacher, I would always encourage my students to vote and register to vote. But I myself couldn't do that. One summer, I took my daughter to the Southeast Library and saw a flyer for classes for citizenship... I decided it was time."
Now, Milu has a voice and with FREE help preparing for the U.S. Naturalization Test and Interview, you can too! She's looking forward to voting in our next election and being a contributing member of this society by having that right. "I've paid taxes since I was a student but never had that right to vote... Now that I am a citizen, I can do that."
#Milu's Path to U.S. Citizenship
Milu came to the United States in 1994 to attend Hope College in Michigan. "I have worked [in the United States] with an H1B for many, many years," she said. She had even started the process of studying and preparing for the U.S. Naturalization Test and Interview a few times.
It wasn't until her husband got a job with the Jaguars and they started to put down roots here in Jacksonville that she decided that she needed to continue that process.
#The Naturalization Process
After completing the nine-week online course with the Library's Center for Adult Learning, she scheduled her test and interview and started reviewing everything she had learned. "I did my flash cards. I would practice with my daughter to make sure I knew my answers... Once that was done, I went to my interview in Orlando and was granted my citizenship that day."
For general information about U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship.
#Thinking about signing up?
Here's what Milu has to say to anyone who's considering taking the class at the Library:
Thank you for sharing your story, Milu!
#Are You on the Path to U.S. Citizenship?
You, too, can get free help preparing for the U.S. Naturalization Test and Interview.
Classes meet once a week for nine weeks, online via Zoom, and are offered 3-4 times a year. Instructors cover United States History and Civics, the naturalization process, and interview preparation.
#How to Sign Up
Our next Citizenship Course starts November 17 (through January 19). To express your interest in US Citizenship classes hosted by the Jacksonville Public Library, visit our Become a U.S. Citizen page and complete the Citizenship Course Wait List.
Registration is open to residents of Duval County, 18 years of age and older.
Please note: Due to COVID safety, all appointments and classes are currently only offered online via Zoom.
#Have Questions?
If you prefer, you can also call (904) 255-6135 to speak with our Center for Adult Learning staff.
Want to know more about the Center for Adult Learning? Read our Student Success Stories.
#Borrow a Laptop or WiFi Hotspot
Did you know that you can borrow a laptop and/or a Wi-Fi hotspot for FREE at several Jacksonville Public Library locations? Devices are available to cardholders in good standing, ages 18 and older.
Click here to check availability!
#Support Adult Literacy and Learning
"One in five adults in Duval County perform at or below the lowest literacy levels," said Missy Peters, director of community relations at Community First Credit Union. "To further our mission to help build healthy communities, the Community First Cares Foundation is proud to support adult literacy through our public library." That is why they have pledged up to $10,000 in matching funds for selected gifts to the Library Foundation of Jacksonville during the fourth quarter of 2023.
#Double Your Impact
For every dollar the community gives to support adult literacy to the Library Foundation of Jacksonville---and for annual gifts received---between September 1 and December 31, 2023, Community First Cares Foundation will match 100 percent up to $10,000. Giving is as easy as visiting www.lfjax.org and clicking the "Donate" button on the page. Donations are tax-deductible. Proceeds from gifts received fund programs and services at Jacksonville Public Library.
Make your gift through the Library Foundation of Jacksonville (now through December 31)!
