Citizenship Tutoring Program Chair Candidacy Statements

Colleen Berryessa
My name is Colleen Berryessa, I am a sophomore, and I am running for Citizenship Tutoring
program chair. I have been involved with citizenship tutoring during my freshman and
sophomore years, as well as being involved in other IOP programs. I have found my time in this
program incredibly rewarding. Immigration and the citizenship process are very close to my
heart, and I have watched many people go through the citizenship process. Citizenship tutoring at
the IOP is very strong in its main objective: building the relationship between the tutor and the
tutee, and the learning process that both go through during the citizenship process. However, the
citizenship community outside those individual relationships could be fostered much more
greatly. My platform for improving the citizenship tutoring are as follows: (1) fostering a closer
relationship with other IOP programs, (2) creating closer peer friendships between those students
involved in the program, and (3) incorporating discussions on immigration policy issues into the
program. Under my supervision, the Citizenship Tutoring program would become more
integrated into the IOP, crosscutting interests with other programs, and creating closer
relationships with those other programs. There would be more opportunities to foster friendships
between the students in the program, to socialize and become closer as a group to ensure
productivity and most importantly, enjoyment. Finally, the program would hold discussions with
relevant speakers and events that would focus on immigration policy issues and current
legislation, and how the citizenship process is affected by those issues.

Luis Martinez
It has been a blast working with all of you this semester to help prepare many of Harvard's
employees for the US Citizenship Exam. I'm sure that like me, you have all had enriching
experiences that prove how much can be accomplished with hard work and dedication. In the
coming semester I hope to expand the opportunities for tutors to get involved with more tutoring
opportunities and with activism on matters of immigration and citizenship. Opening tutoring
services to members of the greater community will allow for us to have a larger impact and for
more people to get involved in a meaningful way. More dinners with speakers will let us learn
more about, and discuss the issues that matter to us, and those we tutor. I hope that you will join
me in my goal of expanding this great program in the coming semester. I look forward to sharing
my ideas for the tutoring program and to hearing yours.

Inna Ryzhik
My name is Inna Ryzhik and I am running for Chair of the Citizenship Tutoring Program. While
I have found it incredibly rewarding to participate in an organization geared to preparing
immigrants for the US citizenship exam, I believe that there are many things that can be done to
further develop the program. Firstly, several steps should be taken to make the teaching process
more efficient and systematic. As Chair, I would allocate time during the bimonthly meetings for
smaller group discussions among participants about teaching strategies in the hope of making the
material in the "Civics and Literacy" books more manageable, accessible, and understandable for
the tutees. To increase the transparency of the tutoring process, I would promote the creation of
a running log in which tutors could record when their tutees achieve mastery of a certain chapter.
Doing so would allow for the potential of work redistribution – task groups of several tutors
could be formed to help the struggling tutees master the material. As Chair, I would also push
for a greater integration of the program in the larger IOP community. To spread awareness of
immigration issues, a partnership could be established with the CIVICS program in which tutors
would have the opportunity to teach youth in Boston public schools about issues pertinent to
immigration and immigrants' rights.

Courtney Yadoo
For the past three semesters, I have served as a committed citizenship tutor. Due my
experiences both in the program and on campus, I am qualified to effectively lead the program
with a vision for the future.
Last May, I accompanied Maria, my tutee, to her citizenship exam at Government Center.
Tutoring had been a real struggle - lacking a primary education, Maria was barely literate in even
her native language. After months of hard work, her testing date finally approached – I had the
pleasure of watching her become an American citizen.
Since I now work with a tutee that is high school educated, I understand the wide range of
students that pass through the Bridge Center. I am in a position to provide volunteers with the
necessary resources and advice for effective tutoring. I also have extensive on the ground
experience with immigrant communities. This summer, I was a full time intern at a soup kitchen
that serves hundreds of immigrant families on Long Island – I acted as an ESL and GED tutor, as
well as advocate along with a social worker.
At Harvard, I direct Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment, a tutoring program for new
immigrants in Dorchester. In this role, I have often turned to and collaborated with professionals
at the Bridge Center. Since I am a member of PBHA cabinet, I am in the perfect position to
facilitate future partnership between PBHA and the IOP regarding immigrant advocacy.