The Swearing In of Eva, Our First Citizenship Borrower!
Authored by Andy Posner, CGF’s Co-Founder and Director
Andy Posner poses with Eva after the ceremony
On Thursday, September 17 Eva, our first citizenship borrower, officially became a United States citizen during a moving swearing in ceremony at the International Institute of Rhode Island (IIRI). CGF’s loan of $875 covered Eva’s cost of applying for citizenship, as well as what the IIRI charges for legal representation and citizenship classes throughout the process. This special day—which was special for Eva, CGF and the 24 other immigrants who finally became naturalized citizens—was made even more special by the fact that it was also citizen and constitution day, a fact whose significance was not lost on the speakers and members of the audience. After taking an oath of allegiance to the United States, the new citizens received certificates and celebrated their new status! Read on for more photos from and thoughts about the event.
Thoughts and Photos From the Ceremony
As director of CGF, I spend a lot of time working on things that can sometimes feel disconnected from what the work is really about: making loans to amazing people like Eva so that they can start or expand businesses, become United States citizens or build their credit and reduce their energy bills. Since we made the loan to Eva back in March (she was our very first borrower) CGF has grown and evolved, but what has remained constant is our commitment to making affordable financial services available to the communities of Providence. So it was with great joy that I traveled to the ceremony and watched 25 eager, hopeful and delighted individuals from all walks of life raise their right hands to take the oath of allegiance and become citizens. It is nice to remember that with all the problems and challenges that America faces—two wars, an economic and health care crisis, to name a few—the idealism and optimism that first inspired the constitution still manages to permeate the hearts of those seeking a better life in this country.
It was beautiful and inspiring to see with what glee these new citizens leafed through their brand new copy of the U.S. constitution that was issued to them by a government and people who, though they sometimes fall short of the ideals expressed therein, retain in their hearts the spirit of democracy and are able, in moments such as these, to call upon it and remind us of what is great about America. All the feelings inspired in me by the simple yet quietly elegant ceremony reminded me that CGF would be meaningless were it not for the brave, bold and entrepreneurial individuals that approach us with dreams and hopes; all we do is finance those dreams!
I have no doubt that as a citizen, Eva will be an informed and engaged voter, and she will continue to be a leader in her community. CGF’s second citizenship borrower recently passed his exam, and we are equally excited about attending his swearing in ceremony, as well as the ceremonies of countless others whose citizenship will be financed by CGF and achieved thanks to perseverance and a tenacious desire for a better future.
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