FROM THE MAG: Reclaiming the American Story
Vanessa Faura is restoring America's identity, one citizen at a time.
This is a special preview of an exclusive article from the Winter 2026 inaugural edition of Independence Magazine—our brand-new publication available to read for free online right now.
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A new home. A new culture. A new, American future.
Vanessa Faura embraced them all when she legally immigrated to the United States with her family from Peru at just 9 years old. Today, as director of Restoration of America Foundation's Citizenship Masterclass, Faura draws from her own naturalization journey to educate and equip the next generation of foreign-born patriots at the start of their American story. Through a program grounded in constitutional principles, biblical truth, and a profound love for the nation's founding ideals, she helps participants understand not only how to become American citizens but why joining the greatest country on earth is a privilege worth cherishing—and defending.
Vanessa, tell me a little about your journey. What led you to the Restoration of America Foundation and your current role as director of the Citizenship Masterclass? What inspired you to get involved?
I got involved because, at 18, while preparing for my citizenship interview and civics test, something about the process didn't make sense to me. How could we study only from a bank of questions, memorize the answers, pass a test, and easily become American citizens?
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When I went to register to vote, I was told I "needed" to register as a Democrat because I was an immigrant and Hispanic. When I asked why, there was no real answer, just a "That's how it is." That furthered my curiosity, so I did some digging. The more I researched, the more I discovered the incredible story of our founding, the principles behind a constitutional republic, and ideas I had never been exposed to. It all began to make sense as to why America is the greatest country on earth. I felt the need to tell my family because I realized we've been programmed to believe something that we're not. I wanted them to see that our political identity didn't have to be inherited or assigned—we could think for ourselves, ask questions, and choose what aligned with our values rather than what others expected of us.
That discovery was empowering and changed the trajectory of my life and my family's.
For readers who aren't familiar, what is the Citizenship Masterclass, and what makes it unique?
The Citizenship Masterclass is a 12-hour citizenship education program, spread over six weeks, to help legal immigrants prepare for their citizenship interview. The class equips them with the skills and civic knowledge necessary to pass the citizenship test and gain an understanding of how conservative values and policies shaped America into what it is today–the greatest nation on earth. Most importantly, throughout the program, we cover how biblical principles were the foundation of America's formation.
As a legal immigrant yourself, how has your personal experience informed your approach to this program, and what core principles or lessons do you hope participants take away?
As a naturalized American citizen myself, I find that a common misconception among this population is that we know the "what" and the "how," but we never ask ourselves the "why." Not why we want to become Americans—we know the answer is opportunity, prosperity, and freedom. The real question should be: Why is America the most exceptional nation in the world to begin with?
The Citizenship Masterclass answers that question with clarity by teaching participants our Founding Fathers' vision that shaped America. I'd like participants to build a solid relationship with American history to instill a sense of patriotism. I also would like to help them take the knowledge provided in the curriculum, apply it to their values, and get involved in the political process to the point where the foreign-born living in our country love and want to protect it.
Read the full article for free in Issue One of Independence Magazine
Restoration News, a project of Restoration of America, is your trusted investigative news source for the America First movement. As a rapidly growing conservative news site, we focus on delivering accurate and insightful exposés on political news, immigration news, leftist lies, and other pressing issues affecting everyday Americans. Our uncompromising commitment to a hard-hitting, fact-based, America First, and faithful perspective ensures that you receive news that aligns with your values.
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