Meet Madelin C.
Citizenship is about belonging, participation, and creating opportunities, not just for yourself, but for future generations.
Claiming Her Voice
When Madelin C. of Rhode Island was 5 years old, her parents left Guatemala in search of opportunity and stability for their family in the United States. Madelin embraced her new home — including the way government works.
“In high school, I was the only student in my class who watched presidential addresses and State of the Union speeches. I followed elections, policies and debates closely,” she recalls. “I wanted to be part of the democratic process, but I could not.” Because she wasn’t a citizen — yet.
In fact, due to her immigration status, she couldn’t even use a scholarship she had earned to the University of Illinois. “That was heartbreaking. I had done everything right in school, worked hard and followed every rule, yet it still felt like I wasn’t allowed to move forward.”
Still, Madelin persevered.
She earned a biology degree from Rhode Island College, built a career, and started a family. But even as she created a life in the U.S., something remained out of reach: the ability to fully belong and have her voice heard through the democratic process she had admired for so long.
That’s what ultimately motivated her to begin her citizenship journey. But like many immigrants, cost stood in the way.
“My sister told me about One Percent for America,” Madelin says. “They offer financing for the citizenship process, and knowing that kind of support existed made everything feel more manageable.”
Soon after getting a loan from OPA, Madelin applied for U.S. citizenship. Looking back, Madelin says, “When I received my citizenship application approval, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and relief. It felt like a door I had been standing in front of for so long had finally opened.”
After decades of waiting, Madelin officially became a U.S. citizen.
For her, the milestone was about more than a ceremony; it was about finally stepping into a role she had prepared for her whole life.
“For years, I cared about elections and public issues but could only watch from the sidelines,” she says. “After becoming a citizen, voting in my first presidential election felt incredible. And months later, standing in front of the Statue of Liberty—it was a true full-circle moment. I had admired the democratic process for so long, and in that moment, I was finally part of it.”
Today, Madelin encourages others to take that same step—no matter how far away it may feel.
If you care about being heard and being involved in the future of this country, don’t be afraid to ask for help
This testimonial was provided by a past OPA loan recipient. It may not be representative of the experience of other clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or result. Individual client experiences may differ and vary. This individual featured in this testimonial did not receive compensation for their testimony.