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John Breunig (opinion): She helps others become U.S. citizens. Now she’s done the same for herself and her family. ‘This is my moment.’

eva citz

By John Breunig, The Stamford Advocate

Pardon me while I skip to the ending.

Eva Lopez Reyman became an American citizen a few weeks ago. Talk to anyone who has taken the oath and they will tell you the emotions can be intense. It’s something natural-born U.S. citizens never get to experience.

It’s a personal moment, but Eva found her own focus shifting to the 30-or-so people surrounding her. She’s an immigration legal services paralegal for Building One Community: The Center for Immigrant Opportunity in Stamford, which means her job is to help people become U.S. citizens. Yet she had never been to a naturalization ceremony until her own.

“I can understand why they cry and are so happy. I was thinking about the journey of all of them. Their stories. It’s the last step of my work as a paralegal,” she explains.

I’ve made an Independence Day tradition of sharing stories about new Americans. Every immigrant’s chronicle is as different as a fingerprint. Eva’s isn’t unique just because of her work.

September Labor Day - Long Weekend - Operations Hours
Saturday, August 30
Shippan Center open 9 am-5 pm, no citizenship classes
Sunday, August 31
Shippan Center open 9 am-5 pm
Monday, September 1
Shippan and Yerwood Centers CLOSED
See you on September 2! Happy Labor Day! 

Día del Trabajo de Septiembre - Fin de semana largo - Horarios de operación
Sábado, 30 de Agosto
Centro Shippan abierto de 9 am a 5 pm, sin clases de ciudadanía
Domingo, 31 de Agosto
Centro Shippan abierto de 9 am a 5 pm
Lunes, 1 de Septiembre
Centros Shippan y Yerwood CERRADOS
¡Nos vemos el 2 de Septiembre! ¡Feliz Día del Trabajo!

Jou Travay Septanm - Long Weekend - Orè Operasyon
Samdi, 30 Out
Sant Shippan ouvè 9 am-5 pm,pa gen klas sitwayènte
Dimanch, 31 Out
Sant Shippan ouvè 9 am-5 pm
Lendi, 1 Septanm
Sant Shippan ak Yerwood FERMÉN
ap wè w sou 2 Septanm! Bòn Jou Travay!

Día del Trabajo de Septiembre - Fin de semana largo -
Horarios de operación
Sábado, 30 de Agosto
Centro Shippan abierto de 9 am a 5 pm, sin clases de ciudadanía
Domingo, 31 de Agosto
Centro Shippan abierto de 9 am a 5 pm
Lunes, 1 de Septiembre
Centros Shippan y Yerwood CERRADOS
¡Nos vemos el 2 de Septiembre! ¡Feliz Día del Trabajo!

Jou Travay Septanm - Long Weekend - Orè Operasyon
Samdi, 30 Out
Sant Shippan ouvè 9 am-5 pm,pa gen klas sitwayènte
Dimanch, 31 Out
Sant Shippan ouvè 9 am-5 pm
Lendi, 1 Septanm
Sant Shippan ak Yerwood FERMÉN
ap wè w sou 2 Septanm! Bòn Jou Travay!

September Labor Day - Long Weekend - Operations Hours
Saturday, August 30
Shippan Center open 9 am-5 pm, no citizenship classes
Sunday, August 31
Shippan Center open 9 am-5 pm
Monday, September 1
Shippan and Yerwood Centers CLOSED
See you on September 2! Happy Labor Day! 

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