Dr. Jean DeVard-Kemp
Assistant Commissioner
Office of Adult Literacy

IN THIS ISSUE

For Jaime Loera of Dublin, Georgia, life hasn't changed too much in the weeks since he became a U.S. citizen. Loera still works for a construction company, and he and his wife still operate a Mexican store. The difference, he said, is that now he and his family have greater opportunities to be successful in this country.

Loera, 36, is a student in the Adult Literacy Program at Heart of Georgia Technical Institute. He is the first_ever HGTI English Literacy Program student to receive U.S citizenship. He and his family moved to Dublin in 1996 and began attending English literacy classes soon thereafter. Recently, he sat behind the cash register at his store, La Fiesta, ringing up purchases. Between customers, he talked about becoming a U.S. citizen.

"Passing the test was a good feeling," he said. "There were lots of other people there taking the citizenship test at the same time." Passing the test was just Loera's first step. After nearly two years, Lorea began to grow discouraged, but then in November 1999, he was called to go to Atlanta for a final interview and swearing in. Today, he is a citizen of two countries _ Mexico and the United States.

U.S. citizenship, like the store, is a family affair for the Loeras. The children, who were born in Mexico, automatically became U.S. citizens when their father became a citizen. Loera's wife, Marta, and his brother Juan are studying English so they can take the citizenship test. His brother Pedro, has taken the written exam and is waiting to be called for the interview. All four adults are students in Pilar Archila's English literacy class.

Left to right: ELP Teacher Pilar Archila, new
U.S. citizen Jaime Loera with son Jaime

Loera works during the day for Dublin Construction Company. There, he uses the carpentry and welding skills he learned as a young man in his native Durango, Mexico. Since they opened La Fiesta five months ago, Marta Loera has operated the store alone most of the day. After school, their children, Jaime and Cindy, join her. In the evening, Jaime takes over.

"Business is good," Loera said as customers lined up to buy food such as tortillas, cheese, and chorizo, a type of Mexican sausage, as well as Spanish-language books, audio cassettes and videos. "We have many friends who speak only Spanish. They come here to buy groceries from someone who speaks the same language they do."

"Jamie came to class every night working on his citizenship," Archila said, adding that he also has taken and passed part of the GED Practice Test. Having so recently become a U.S. citizen, Loera and his family haven't made definite, long-range plans. "I don't know about the future, but for now we will stay in this country," he said.

Dahlia Wren
Adult Literacy Director
Heart of Georgia Technical Institute
Dublin, Georgia
SDA #31