Civic engagement
Through citizenship promotion, voter registration, and turnout, PIC works to build immigrant electoral power and to address barriers to the civic participation of underrepresented immigrant communities.
New Citizens, New Voters
New Americans are a rapidly growing voting block in the United States, with 11.7 million New American voters nationwide. In the keystone state there are 490,000 New Americans statewide, which is larger than the entire city of Pittsburgh, the second biggest city in Pennsylvania.
PIC is committed to ensuring all new citizens are given the opportunity to register to vote, and the information they need to exercise their newly obtained rights. Our staff and volunteers attend weekly naturalization ceremonies at the Philadelphia USCIS office to provide non-partisan voter registration assistance to all new U.S. citizens.
"Voting is a powerful process, which I learned when my first vote brought forth a new president. I learned how to use the voting machines at PIC’s forum in Allentown in the fall and am honored to help others to register and learn about voting.” Yeka Kilikpo, originally from Liberia, who registered to vote with the help of PICC following his citizenship ceremony in 2008.
2024 PIC volunteer Belinda Glijansky said,“As a naturalized citizen myself, I recall my naturalization ceremony as if it took place recently, though it was many, many years ago. Therefore, it was with admiration and humility that I watched as new Americans accepted the responsibilities and privileges of USA citizenship. I so appreciate having the right to vote! So, I was thrilled to register voters so they could soon exercise this right, too. Most people who registered showed enthusiasm and some said they would encourage friends and relatives to register and/or vote. Thank you, PICC, for this volunteer opportunity."
In addition to voter registration assistance PIC's non-partisan civic engagement program provides education about voting rights, identification requirements, and language assistance through voter education calls and GOTV outreach.