The state’s second labor-supported immigrant advocacy center opened Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at the Jersey Gardens Mall, as the result of a unique partnership between Union County and We Are One New Jersey, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping more than 400,000 legal immigrants living and working in New Jersey become U.S. citizens.
We are One New Jersey – Union County Center provides U.S. citizenship application assistance, including preparatory classes for the citizenship test and referral, notary and translation services, at low- or no-cost to Union County residents.
The kickoff ceremony for the We Are One New Jersey – Union County Center was attended by more than 100 political, labor, community and civic leaders, who also helped launch the county’s Workforce Innovation Business (WIB) Center.
The WIB facility, which is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and shares office space with We Are One New Jersey – Union County Center, provides occupational and soft skills training and jobs placement for Union County residents.
Some 52,000 Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) live in Union County, including diverse and vibrant populations of Colombians, Ecuadorians, Portuguese, Haitians, Filipinos and more.
We Are One New Jersey – Union County is the second labor-supported immigrant advocacy center in the state. The first We Are One Center opened in October in Jersey City. Citizenship classes and information clinics have already drawn hundreds from the community to the centers.
For more information on the programs and services available through We Are One New Jersey – Union County Center, call 908-355-4444 or email center Executive Director Elizabeth Montes at Elizabeth@weareonenj.org.
Photo: Jim Lowney/County of Union)