Why Choose Our Citizenship Program?

During the 2021-2023 grant cycle, Learning Empowered has been able to consistently serve 250 students through innovative online/remote and virtual learning experiences. We use a hybrid model of virtual and in-person classes designed to meet the needs of all students by including choice, ease of access and flexible platform usage.

Learning Empowered provides citizenship instruction services to Legal Permanent Residents with legal supports through a partnership with Florida Immigration Law and Justice Center (FLJ-ILJ). Our combined efforts support hundreds of families across the Tampa Bay region to actualize their dreams of starting a new life as a citizen of the USA.

Our students have immigrated from over 43 countries, with the majority from Mexico, Central and South America, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Iraq, Egypt, and the Caribbean-Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Meet James

James has been with Learning Empowered for 9 years, starting as a volunteer in 2016. He became a citizenship instructor and Naturalization Navigator in 2017. Currently, he serves as the Project Coordinator for citizenship and ESOL. 

James is a graduate of the University of South Florida and St. Petersburg College. He has a M.A. in Public Administration and B.A. in Political Science, History, and Economics. James also has a State of Florida K-12 teaching license for Social Studies (6-12) and ESOL (K-12).

James has several hobbies such as: reading, collecting antiquarian books, and scuba diving. 

Email citizenship3@learning-empowered.org or call (727) 244-9301

Meet Marija

Marija has been with Learning Empowered for over 10 years. She first served as a Citizenship Instructor and Naturalization Navigator. She earned her bachelor's degree in her native country of Croatia.

Here in the U.S., she received Department of Justice Accreditation in 2022 to assist with immigration applications. She now works as a Legal Representative, helping with citizenship applications and representing clients at citizenship interviews.

In her free time, she loves to travel and learn about different cultures, entertain friends & family, and volunteer in her congregation. She speaks English, Spanish, Croatian, Bosnian, & Serbian.

Email citizenship1@learning-empowered.org or call (727) 222-8883

Register For Our Course Below

To learn more about this program, please email the following and our staff will reach out to you.

James Culp: email citizenship3@learning-empowered.org or call (727) 244-9301

Marija Hannen: email citizenship1@learning-empowered.org or call (727) 222-8883

This program is in partnership with: