Thanks to a little “red tape,” and maybe a few new worry lines, Soultana (Suzie) Malakopoulos, 73, of Norwood is now a proud citizen of the United States of America. And she owes much of it to her friends at Schoolhouse Center.
A native of Greece, Suzie came to the Country on a green card in 1970. She worked as a seamstress, married and raised a family. Two years ago she joined Schoolhouse Center, and discovered a host of new friends.
Then one day Suzie decided to purchase life insurance.
“The company wouldn’t sell me any because I was not a citizen,” Suzie laments. “I was so upset. I didn’t have any ID—no driver’s license or anything, only a 40-year old green card that was expired.”
Suddenly Suzie realized how vulnerable she was. So she turned to Center Director, Kim McDaniel for help.
“Suzie told me that she wanted to become a citizen,” relates McDaniel. “She wanted to purchase insurance. Not having current ID was a problem, and it held her back in so many areas. So I referred her to our center Social Worker, Jean Sales. Jean secured an application, helped Suzie to fill it out, and encouraged her.”
The next hurdle they faced was the citizenship test. Suzie would have to
familiarize herself with American History and Civics, subjects most of us grew up studying in school. But it seemed like such a daunting task to someone who was still learning English.
That’s where her friends at Schoolhouse came in. They helped quiz Suzie about George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and all the figures and events that make up our country’s history and judiciary. As an added bonus, all received a refresher on the Constitution and our Judiciary Process, which some admit, comes in handy when they want to help their grandchildren with schoolwork.
Suzie passed the test. When the proud day finally arrived, Center Director Kim McDaniel accompanied her to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for the swearing in ceremony. Afterwards, Suzie’s Schoolhouse friends gathered around her to sing “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Today, now and then, they call her Miss American—to which she grins from ear to ear.
McDaniel says, “This is a typical example of the support and help our participants lend to others in need, whether it’s delivering meals to the homebound, helping to run our center programs, or pitching in on a more personal basis like this. I am so proud of them all.”
Suzie never takes her citizenship for granted.
“I am so grateful for all the help and support I received here at Schoolhouse,” Suzie declares. “Now I am a proud citizen of the United States of America!”
For more about Schoolhouse Center’s volunteer opportunities, call Michelle McGowan at (610) 237-8100, Ext. 25, or check out our website at scs-delco.org.