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Resident says Blue Ridge Literacy denied his fiancee a volunteer role supporting naturalization work
Summary
A Roanoke resident told council he sought volunteer work at Blue Ridge Literacy to help his fiancee prepare for U.S. naturalization, and said the organization declined her participation because she lacked required qualifications.
Brian McConnell told the Roanoke City Council during public comment on March 3 that he contacted Blue Ridge Literacy to volunteer to support his fiancee, who is preparing for a U.S. naturalization interview, and that the organization redirected them and later declined his fiancee's participation.
"I'm having difficulty making sense of that," McConnell said, describing the group's response that his fiancee did not have necessary qualifications despite his own stated willingness to assist and her need for language support. McConnell said he raised the issue so the city manager could review it and provide a response.
McConnell said his fiancee, Mina Musavi, speaks Farsi as her primary language and that he had been coaching her for the naturalization interview. He asked the city manager to follow up and report back to council as appropriate. City staff did not offer a substantive response during the public-comment period; the meeting notice indicated that matters raised would be referred to the city manager for response or recommendation.
McConnell also thanked the council and announced his engagement to Musavi during his remarks.
