By: Elizabeth Baldwin, Employment Services VISTA
When I first joined the Canopy team as an intern, I felt like I was standing at a crossroads.
As a Family and Human Services major, I had assumed my path would lead to counseling or social work. But as I immersed myself in a diverse academic environment—the most diverse I’d ever experienced—I began asking deeper questions. What did it mean to hold privilege as a white, middle-class American? What responsibility came with that awareness? I didn’t choose my starting point in life, but I could choose what to do with it.
That’s when I discovered Canopy. At a campus career fair, I stopped by a table where John Wilson, then the Volunteer Services Supervisor, introduced me to Canopy’s mission. His intentionality struck me, and soon after, I was offered an internship in the Youth Services department. I didn’t know much about the refugee experience, and I didn’t quite know what to expect.
A First Encounter
On my very first day, I was asked to take a refugee family to a doctor’s appointment. I knew only their last name, their country of origin, and their address. I had Google Translate at the ready and typed out an introductory message: “Hello, my name is Elizabeth, and I am with Canopy. I am here to take you to your doctor’s appointment, and I am so glad to meet you.”
When I handed them the phone, their puzzled expressions told me something had gone wrong—the message hadn’t translated properly. Still, they trusted me enough to get in the car. On the ride there, I played music in the language I assumed they spoke. At the clinic, while they were in their appointment, I searched tirelessly to figure out what language they actually spoke. Eventually, I cracked the code with the help of another website.
When the appointment ended, I tried again—this time, successfully. I passed them my phone with a new message in their language, and I was met with hugs and smiles. On the ride home, they recognized a favorite artist on Spotify and began to sing. They danced and laughed the whole way. When we arrived, they invited me in. We couldn’t speak the same words, but in that moment, we shared something deeper—our humanity.
The Art of Resilience
Just a week later, I helped with Canopy’s Youth Art Show. My day was spent transporting families—many without cars—so they could see their children’s artwork on display. At one point, I paused to take it all in. Two young girls stood in front of their artwork, radiant with pride. They had come from a place where creative expression was suppressed—especially for women. But here, they were being celebrated. As applause filled the room, I quietly stepped back and let my tears fall. I was so proud of them—their courage, their joy, their resilience.
New Eyes on an Old World
Throughout the summer, I supported a youth day camp for refugee children and teens. We explored the Northwest Arkansas community together, and I began to see the world through their eyes.
One trip in particular stood out: a movie outing. For many of the children, it was their first time in an American theater. They were buzzing with excitement and, curiously, seemed to expect chocolate during the film. While they enjoyed unlimited popcorn, they graciously accepted that chocolate wasn’t part of the plan.
Later, on the drive home, I impulsively pulled into a Walgreens and told them they could each pick out one treat from the candy aisle. All of them chose chocolate. Back in the car, I expected them to unwrap it right away—but they didn’t. They held their chocolate carefully, wanting to take it home, show it off, and savor it. That quiet moment has stayed with me.
A New Beginning
My supervisor, Elise, was a steady source of encouragement throughout my internship. Her guidance made a lasting impact—and so did her continued support afterward.
As I entered my senior year, I knew I wanted to pursue refugee resettlement work. But then, a new administration drastically cut refugee admissions and funding. I was disheartened. It seemed I would have to wait.
Then, in March, I learned about a VISTA position with AmeriCorps at Canopy. I immediately applied—only to find out the application had just closed. I reached out to Laurie, Canopy’s HR Director, and to my surprise, the posting was reopened. I was accepted shortly afterward.
There was just one problem: the position started in March, and I still had three months left of school. I braced for disappointment again, but Elise and the Canopy team worked with me, offering flexibility so I could finish school while beginning my role.
Where I Am Now
Today, I work full-time in the Canopy office. While I’m not in a client-facing role, I consider it a profound honor to support refugee families behind the scenes. I wake up each day filled with gratitude. Even in this challenging season for refugee resettlement, there is still so much meaningful work to be done—and I’m humbled to play a small part in it.
Our clients continue to teach me what resilience, strength, and joy look like. I have so much more to learn, and I couldn’t ask for better teachers than our clients and the incredible Canopy team.
Responses