LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A nonprofit organization is working to help boost civic engagement in immigrant and refugee communities in Kentucky. State Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, launched New Americans Initiative a few years ago.

The organization is now focused on identifying people eligible for naturalization, helping them to overcome barriers to citizenship and getting them ready to vote, she said.

Friday afternoon, Kulkarni helped Byishimo Jay register to vote.

Six years ago, Jay and his family were living in a refugee camp in Burundi after fleeing violence in Congo, he said.

They moved to Louisville in 2017 and Jay became an American citizen last year.

“A lot of people, they call USA … a land of opportunity,” he said. “There's a lot of opportunities here. And one of those opportunities was me going to school and get a degree from the USA so that I can be able to explore different opportunities of career, work in different companies.”

Kulkarni said expanding civic engagement in immigrant communities is crucial.

“This is a demographic that’s growing,” she said. “It has grown over the past several years in Louisville and throughout Kentucky, and it’s going to continue growing and we need to make sure that all of the new Americans that call Kentucky home feel at home and feel like they’re a part of our government and our community.”

Jay is now working as an operations manager and studying business.

He said he is ready to take part in his first election this November, but for now, he’s researching the candidates.

“I think this is a great opportunity for immigrant people to also feel included with activities going on in the country,” he said.