Amadou is a Senegalese immigrant living in the Bronx, he first came to Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS-NYC) seeking legal support for his citizenship journey. During hisintake, he was referred for social services after sharing that he was feeling emotionally overwhelmed and struggling to navigate complex public systems alone. What began as a search for legal help became a turning point in his journey toward healing and self-advocacy. “When I started the case with you, my priorities changed,” he said. “I learned a lot about myself. I gained tools to overcome challenges, and I appreciated learning how to count on myself. You made me realize my own potential and that I have it in me.”

Through his participation in counseling and case management, Amadou found consistent, trauma-informed support that helped him feel grounded and empowered. He described CIS-NYC as warm and welcoming, and said he had never experienced services quite like this before. “Cabrini humanized my challenges and gave me the support I really needed,” he shared. Over time, Amadou began engaging more actively with his care. He developed stronger advocacy skills and began approaching his interactions with landlords, doctors, and care providers with increased confidence. He often speaks about how the consistency of services helped him regain trust in others and feel less alone.

With the support of CIS-NYC, Amadou secured a CityFHEPS housing voucher, received increased hours for home care assistance, and was connected to resources and education around the citizenship process. These concrete changes, paired with emotional and practical support, helped him envision a more stable future. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I used to think of Cabrini as just a place to learn a few tools, but I ended up getting so much more. CIS is very involved. You don’t say, ‘I helped you with this,’ you say, ‘You did this, and we worked together.’ That makes all the difference.”