Our Programs
We work hard to offer communities all the support necessary for their social development through our various programs.
1. Advocacy actions
At NICE, we believe actions speak louder than words. Our advocacy actions are the driving force behind our success. From rallies to legislative visits and media campaigns, our actions raise visibility for issues affecting our communities. They help spread awareness to the public and deliver messages to decision makers.
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1a. Our campaign for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
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​Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration program that Congress created in 1990 to protect immigrants who were not able to return to their home countries due to unsafe or dangerous conditions in the countries. Congress gave the Secretary of Homeland Secretary the authority to designate a foreign country for TPS if such country is suffering from armed conflicts, natural disasters, or other temporary and extraordinary conditions such as an epidemic. If a country is designated for TPS, citizens of that country may be granted the ability to stay and work legally in the US.
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is going through the deadliest armed conflict in the twenty-first century and since World War II. The 28-year war in the DRC has killed more than 6 million and displaced nearly 7 million. Natural disasters such as volcano eruptions, earthquakes, and floods in the country have further pushed people out of their homes. Other conditions such as cholera epidemics also threaten local population in the DRC. These overlapping humanitarian crises call for the urgent need to designate DRC for TPS and protect Congolese people and communities in the US. Join us and support our advocacy efforts to secure TPS for the Congolese communities!
2. Conferences and Workshops
At NICE, we believe conferences are not only about talks, they’re about the community and the people who attend them. Our conferences offer our community members the opportunity to build stronger and more meaningful connections and create an engaged network dedicated to improving our communities. Our conferences provide a safe space to share ideas, learn from others, and develop solutions to the issues that matter to our communities.
3. Town hall meetings with government officials
A key aspect of civic engagement is knowing the people in charge of representing you and your interests at the federal, state, and local levels. Our town hall meetings provide our community members with a direct line of communication to their representatives. These meetings help government officials stay current with issues affecting the communities they serve. As part of the meetings, community members are encouraged to contribute their perspectives to inform decisions.
4. English language teaching and US Citizenship prep program
Our English classes help our community members acquire essential English skills, integrate into the American society, and increase their employability. We also offer citizenship classes to help our community members understand their rights and responsibilities as US citizens. Additionally, we hold monthly naturalization clinics where we help aspiring US citizens prepare for the naturalization interview and test. To register for our upcoming classes, please complete this form:
5. Immigration legal services
There is a great need for quality and affordable immigration legal services, including representation before the immigration courts, in our local areas due to thelargepopulation of immigrants and the shortage of immigration legal service providers. At NICE, we work to meet that need. We provide support on a variety of immigration applications and petitions, including:
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Family-based immigrant petition for relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents
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Adjustment of Status “green card” application
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Naturalization application
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Asylum application
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Employment Authorization Document (EAD) application
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Advance Parole and Travel Document application
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TPS, DACA, and VAWA application
We make every effort to provide an appropriate referral for cases we are unable to take.