At 11 am on Tuesday, January 30, Canopy NWA will hold a press conference at St. Martin’s Campus Center (814 W Maple St.), to unveil a new temporary installation on the church’s property titled “Absence.” The installation will symbolize our community’s sorrow and frustration over efforts to hamper refugee admissions to the US—efforts that have kept 40 refugee men, women and children from being able to travel to their new home in Northwest Arkansas for over a year. Visitors to the installation will be prompted to join Canopy NWA in asking our elected representatives #WhereAreOurFamilies?
Following the unveiling, co-sponsors, refugee families and Canopy NWA staff will share stories of how restrictions to the refugee program have affected them personally, followed by time for questions from the press.
Canopy NWA will also participate in a prayer vigil at St. Martin’s Campus Center that evening at 8:15 pm, in collaboration with St. Martin’s, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Arkansas United Community Coalition and the NWA Justice Center. The prayer vigil will lift up all those affected by changes in policy to DACA, TPS and the refugee resettlement program, and will feature ”Absence” as a part of the liturgy. Media are invited to attend the prayer vigil as well.
The art installation will remain in place at St. Martin’s Campus Center from January 30 to February 27.
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