STOCKBRIDGE — Chris Flores isn’t one much for standing still.
Flores, a student at Williams College majoring in chemistry, spent the summer interning for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C. He’s got a passion for politics, in addition to the chemistry work — he loves hearing perspectives and he loves giving voices to people. He’s the first in his family to go to college, and the first to leave his home in Arizona.
Chris Flores enjoys the support of his friends from Williams College after the Naturalization Ceremony.
And as of Tuesday, he’s a citizen of the United States.
Flores plans to be a vocal advocate for immigrants living in the United States. He’s the son of a single mother, who brought him to this country from Mexico when he was young.
Flores said he feels a responsibility to make sure her perspective — and the perspectives of those like her — are heard and understood.
“I’m making sure that she gets to say what she needs to say,” Flores said. “And don’t get me wrong, I’m a nerd for chemistry. I love the sciences. But giving voices to people and making sure they’re heard is not mutually exclusive to following my passions. In fact, I think both of these are my passions.”
Melissa Canavan, Executive Director of the Berkshire Immigrant Center, speaks at the Naturalization Ceremony at Naumkeag in Stockbridge.
Flores became a U.S. citizen on Tuesday during a naturalization ceremony held at Naumkeag, a historic home and garden in Stockbridge, hosted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Berkshire Immigrant Center and the Trustees of Reservations.
A total of 19 people were naturalized as part of the ceremony, although 32 were expected. Those who missed the ceremony will have another opportunity for naturalization in the coming weeks, said United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Office Director Shanita Tucker. Tucker served as the master of ceremonies for the event.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Robertson presided over the naturalization ceremony, turning Naumkeag into a sort of courtroom and granting citizenship to the hopefuls gathered there. She also approved name changes for eight of the new citizens.
Nineteen people took the oath for U.S. citizenship during the Naturalization Ceremony at Naumkeag in Stockbridge.
“I hope there are many more proud moments for you, your families and your loved ones,” Robertson said. “As you participate in a new life, as you exercise the rights and obligations of citizenship that you’ve earned. We congratulate you, we welcome you, and we really wish you the best the United States of America has to offer.”
Robertson then led the new citizens in the pledge of allegiance, followed by “America the Beautiful” performed by singer and guitarist William Reyburn. The Berkshire Children’s Chorus then performed a medley of “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.”
The Berkshire Children’s Chorus sings “This Land is Your Land/America the Beautiful” at the end of the Ceremony.
People from 19 different countries were represented in the ceremony, including Bhutan, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Ghana, Poland, Turkey and Liberia among others. Many of the new citizens were joined by family and friends, and some cheered as the list of countries was read aloud by Robertson.
Even besides their countries of origin, the new citizens traveled different paths to arrive at the ceremony Tuesday. For Thelma Baddoo Abaka Mensah, it was standing apart from her family —literally — that convinced her to take the necessary steps.
Thelma Baddoo Abaka Mensah registers for the Naturalization Ceremony at Naumkeag in Stockbridge.
Six years ago, Mensah was returning from a trip to her home country of Ghana with her family. She has been living in the United States since 1998, and has three children with her husband. They are all U.S. citizens; at the time of the trip, Mensah’s status was permanent resident.
As they went back through customs after the trip, Mensah said there were two separate lines at the airport: one for citizens, and one for permanent residents.
“It was sort of weird,” Mensah said with a smile. “So I was like, you know, I really need to get this thing done.”
Mensah, who is working to obtain a masters degree in public health, said it’s going to be fun to visit home and come back with her family again. She plans to continue enjoying the opportunities she’s gotten since she began living in the United States, and that she plans to exercise her right to vote.
Chris Flores calls his parents after the Naturalization Ceremony.
Flores said he couldn’t have done it alone. He said the Berkshire Immigrant Center was with him every step of the way, providing him information he wouldn’t have had otherwise and even helping him to find a car to travel to the USCIS interview process held in Lawrence.
Flores said it was a long process, and things didn’t always go as planned — but with a community of support around him, he was able to see it through.
“This citizenship, it’s not just for me,” Flores said. “It’s for everyone who has supported me and loved me ... I know so many who are in similar positions as me, and I’m excited to use this position to keep going.”