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Letter from the Editor

There is a unique kind of energy that fills the Women’s Intercultural Center, and it is powered entirely by the people who walk through our doors. Whether we are celebrating major milestones or sharing everyday moments of connection, our community continues to prove that we are stronger, brighter, and more resilient when we stand together.

In this issue, we celebrate the incredible persistence of our students and participants. From Josefina officially achieving her dream of U.S. citizenship to Miguel taking a major step forward with his biometrics appointment, we are continually reminded of the dedication it takes to navigate complex systems and reach the finish line. When bureaucratic hurdles pop up like tracking down missing paperwork or pivoting to online portals, our community meets those challenges head-on with confidence and mutual support.

We also see the magic of our center reflected in hands-on creativity and shared traditions. From Lupita Zacarias leading a joyful workshop crafting vibrant Lele dolls to our ICAN classes cooking up delicious, healthy meals with fresh produce from La Semilla Food Center, culture and community go hand in hand. That same spirit of care extends to our physical home, thanks to wonderful volunteers like Alicia, who brought her own background and heart into painting our spaces.

Above all, this issue is a testament to the generosity that surrounds us. Whether it is Walmart gifting fresh sunglasses to our citizenship class, long-time partners like Ms. Fisher embarking on a well-deserved retirement after forty dedicated years, or neighbors stopping by with homemade treats and visits from the next generation, these moments remind us of what family truly means.

Thank you for being the heart of WInC. As you read this newsletter, we hope you feel the warmth, creativity, and bright future we are building together.

In solidarity and community,

Mary Carter
Editor & Executive Director
Women’s Intercultural Center

 

Navigating USCIS Appointments

Navigating USCIS appointments can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when exciting travel plans pop up on the horizon. One of our participants recently found herself in this exact situation when she wanted to reschedule her upcoming biometrics appointment so she could go on vacation. This sparked an important conversation and highlighted a crucial rule that every applicant needs to know.

Unlike many standard appointments or commercial scheduling systems, USCIS does not allow you to cancel or reschedule a biometrics appointment for leisure or personal travel. Under current guidelines, changing your appointment date requires compelling reasons, such as a serious illness, medical emergency, major life emergency, or another truly unforeseen circumstance.

The risks of simply skipping or attempting to cancel for non-emergency reasons are severe:

• Case Closure: Failing to attend without an approved, valid reason can cause USCIS to treat your application as abandoned and close your case.
• Starting Over: If your case is closed, you will have to restart the entire application process from the beginning.
• Double Fees: You will lose your initial filing fees and be required to pay all government fees all over again.

If you have an upcoming USCIS appointment on your calendar, always plan your travel around it to protect your hard work and avoid putting your immigration case at risk!

 

Having a Seat at the Table

At the Women’s Intercultural Center, we firmly believe that being present for our community means much more than just showing up. We take every opportunity when we are at the table to ask tough questions. Whether we are attending public forums, collaborating with local partners, or sitting in on official proceedings, we make it a priority to advocate for the everyday situations that impact our participants.

Our attendance at every Naturalization Ceremony is a prime example. While we go to celebrate the breathtaking achievements of our new citizens, we also use those moments to connect directly with USCIS personnel. Having a direct line to officials allows us to seek clarity on complex cases and ensure our students navigate the system with complete confidence.

Recently, this proactive approach made all the difference for a participant in our current Spanish Citizenship class. After submitting her N-400 application through an outside preparer, we discovered the form was filled with a series of significant errors. When she sought advice from an immigration attorney, he suggested she simply proceed with the interview as-is and hire legal counsel later if things went wrong.

We knew our participant deserved better than a "wait and see" risk. We were convinced that resolving the errors beforehand was the safest, most effective path forward, and we were right.

While considering whether to upload corrections on the online portal, we brought the specific scenario directly to USCIS personnel during last week’s ceremony. Thanks to that conversation, we learned the single best method to safeguard her application: preparing a clear paper document detailing every necessary correction for her to hand directly to her officer at the start of her future interview.

We love having the opportunity to ask the right questions, untangle complex issues, and pave a smoother path for the women we serve. Having a seat at the table is a privilege, and we will never stop using our voice to make sure our participants are protected, prepared, and empowered every step of the way.

 

Community and Connection in Our English Citizenship Class

There is a wonderful, focused energy in the air during our weekly English citizenship classes at the Women’s Intercultural Center, where students are rolling up their sleeves and diving deep into their studies.

Preparing for citizenship takes dedication, but as our participants prove week after week, learning together makes the journey both rewarding and inspiring. Sergio, one of our dedicated class participants, shared his thoughts on the experience: "The class is pleasant, engaging, and enjoyable."

That vibrant atmosphere is what our community is all about combining rigorous preparation with mutual encouragement, supportive instructors, and genuine camaraderie. We are so proud of Sergio and all our participants for their hard work, commitment, and positive spirit as they step closer to their dreams of U.S. citizenship!

 

Staying Proactive on Your Immigration Journey

Navigating your immigration journey certainly takes patience, yet staying proactive is key to keeping everything moving forward! We always love seeing our community members taking charge of their goals.

Juan stopped by the center today to check his USCIS case status and make sure his timeline is staying right on track. Checking in on your progress regularly is a wonderful way to stay informed and prepared for every upcoming milestone.

Remember, every step forward brings you closer to your goal. You can easily monitor your own progress from home using the official USCIS online case lookup tool with your unique receipt number. If you ever have questions or need guidance on how to check your status, our doors are always open to help you navigate each step of the way!

 

A Handmade Touch of Team Spirit

Football season is officially here, and our community is feeling love and excitement in the most creative ways!

In honor of the season kick-off, Maria Morales dropped off a wonderful surprise for everyone at the center: a collection of the most adorable, handmade football keychains. These little tokens of appreciation brought so many smiles to our volunteers and participants, showcasing the incredible talent and generosity of our local friends.

Handmade gifts carry a special kind of warmth, reminding us of the deep connections that make our center such a vibrant place. Thank you so much, Maria, for the handmade love, your thoughtful spirit, and your continued support of our WInC community!

 

Fueling Our Volunteers

A massive THANK YOU to Luis and his incredible family! They recently reached out with the kindest gesture: treating our hardworking volunteers to a well-deserved break by covering our lunch for the week.

Our volunteers were absolutely spoiled all week with some fantastic food from Legend Burger!

We have an incredible community that uplifts one another. Helping others and supporting local is something WInC has valued for a long time, and it is truly inspiring to see Luis and his family embodying that exact same spirit. By treating our volunteers, they are supporting our local organization and pouring love right back into our local businesses like Legend Burger, too.

Thank you, Luis, for the amazing food and for supporting so many others through your family's actions!

 

A Bright Future Ahead

The future is so bright, they gotta wear shades!

This week, our amazing participants wrapped up their citizenship classes (English and Spanish) and were treated to a fantastic surprise: brand new sunglasses to celebrate their hard work. A massive THANK YOU goes out to our incredible partners over at Walmart for hooking everyone up and bringing so many smiles to the room.

The best part of the evening? The generosity didn't stop in the classroom. Many of our students eagerly grabbed a few extra pairs to share the love, passing along the fun and excitement to their families and coworkers back home! This is how community support and a little bit of brightness can go such a long way.

 

Cooking and Community in ICAN Class

The ICAN class was back in action this week, stirring up some serious sunshine in the kitchen! Our talented chefs rolled up their sleeves and dove right into hands-on cooking, expertly chopping, sautéing, and seasoning their way to perfection.

Together, the class cooked up a vibrant and delicious Southern Summer Squash Skillet, filling the room with wonderful aromas and celebrating the joy of preparing fresh, wholesome food.

The fun and generosity didn't stop when the cooking was done, either. To make the day even sweeter, every single participant went home at the end of class with a fresh box of vegetables generously provided by La Semilla Food Center. It is always a wonderful week when we get to learn, cook, and share healthy food together as a community!

 

Our Art and Traditions Workshop

Our Art and Traditions Workshop, brilliantly led by Lupita Zacarias, was a truly joyful celebration of creativity, culture, and community!

Participants gathered to craft traditional Lele dolls, pouring love and imagination into every detail. The results were nothing short of wonderful; each doll turned out completely unique, vibrant, colorful, and full of individual personality.

Gatherings like this show how the power of hands-on art connects us with our heritage and with one another. We are so proud of everyone’s beautiful work, the shared laughter, and the bright smiles that filled the room!

 

A Dream Realized

Huge congratulations to Josefina on officially becoming a U.S. citizen! She has been planning this milestone for a long time, staying completely diligent and focused on every step of the process.

Through hard work and perseverance in our Citizenship classes, her goal was finally accomplished, opening an exciting new chapter for her and her family. We are so incredibly proud of Josefina and thrilled to celebrate this joyous achievement with her!

 

A Step Forward

We just finished the paperwork for Miguel's upcoming USCIS biometrics appointment, marking a truly exciting milestone in his journey toward citizenship!

For those who might be wondering, the biometrics appointment is a standard and essential step where USCIS collects fingerprints, a photo, and a signature to complete background and identity clearances before moving forward to the interview and oath ceremony. Getting this form completed and submitted feels like a major checkmark, bringing Miguel that much closer to the finish line of his citizenship goals.

Please send some wonderful, good vibes Miguel’s way as he takes this next big step forward!

 

A Sweet Visit

We had such a wonderful visit this week from Nancy and her sweet baby! It was so lovely catching up, helping them pick out some books from our Free Little Library, and enjoying the delicious homemade beef jerky she brought for our volunteers.

This special treat is sold at the barbershop that Nancy and her husband own, making it a true family affair since their 18-year-old son works there alongside them. It is especially heartwarming for us to watch him there, knowing he literally grew up right here at the Center! This visit also marked a very special milestone: it was the first time her second son was visiting, whom she conceived 13 years after having her first child.

Nancy’s roots with our community run deep. She was once one of our dedicated volunteer instructors; she and her husband Armando used to teach dance, and Nancy also taught manicure classes. Over the years, we have always been there for them whenever they needed us, especially as they launched their own business. While running a family business keeps them extremely busy, we always cherish these wonderful moments to catch up.

We truly love seeing our WInC family drop by. Thank you for making our week, Nancy!

 

Overcoming Hurdles

Navigating bureaucratic hurdles can really test your patience. Gabby recently ran into a frustrating obstacle when she needed her husband's death certificate to process his pension. She had originally mailed a request for the document, but when she contacted the state office to inquire about the delay, she was told they had never received it, it was obviously lost in the mail.

Naturally, she felt frustrated and angry when she was asked to resubmit her request and pay the processing fee all over again, either through the mail or online. However, we didn’t miss a beat. We helped her switch to completing the process online, which not only streamlined everything but also guaranteed that she will receive the certificate by a specific date. By moving to the digital portal, we helped her bypass the uncertainty of postal mail and move forward with total confidence!

 

A Story of Compassion in Action

"Our volunteers are truly the heart of our Center, always ready to lend a helping hand!"

Yesterday evening, a few of our wonderful volunteers were leaving the movie theater when they noticed someone in need. A woman using an electric wheelchair had gotten stuck in the sand and rocks on the sidewalk while returning from Walmart, and her motorized chair had unfortunately broken down.

When trying to fix the chair didn't work, our team stepped in right away, pushing her out of the dirt and over to the nearby bus stop. But rather than driving off, they felt called to do much more. They went back to offer her a ride home.

Getting her home was no small feat! While she was easy to lift, hoisting her heavy motorized wheelchair into the vehicle took the combined strength of three dedicated volunteers. Once they arrived at her apartment complex, their act of service continued: they took her up to the 4th floor, brought in packages waiting by her door, and helped transfer her safely to her indoor wheelchair. She couldn't stop thanking them for their incredible kindness.

Looking back, there was a wonderful irony to the evening. Our volunteers had originally planned to see an earlier movie, but unexpected delays pushed their schedule back almost as if they were meant to be in that exact place at that exact time.

We are so proud and grateful to have volunteers who embody compassion, dedication, and selfless service every single day. Thank you for making such a profound difference in our community!

 

Honoring Ms. Fisher on Her Retirement

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude and warmest congratulations to the amazing Ms. Fisher on her recent retirement! After an incredible 40-year career at Walmart, she is stepping into a well-deserved new chapter of rest and relaxation.

Over the last couple of years, through our ongoing work together with Walmart, Ms. Fisher became much more than a great corporate partner. She truly became a cherished part of our WInC family, bringing warmth, kindness, and dedication to everything we shared.

We stopped by this week to drop off a small token of our appreciation and to remind her that no matter where retirement takes her, she will always have a home with us at WInC. Thank you, Ms. Fisher, for your extraordinary years of dedication, steadfast support, and wonderful friendship!

 

Brighter Spaces, Loving Hands: Thank You, Alicia!

A huge and heartfelt thank you goes out to Alicia for generously volunteering her time and talent to paint the bathrooms at the Center!

Her care, dedication, and generosity truly brighten our physical space and lift the spirits of everyone who walks through our doors. Alicia is an active and valued participant in our Art class and guitar class. Although she is a retired teacher, she learned hands-on construction skills through her father, who used to be a construction worker, expertise that certainly came in handy for this project! We are so deeply grateful for the warmth, talent, and love she brings into every single corner she touches, making our community feel even more like home.