April 18th, 2016 is the date that Canopy NWA received its nonprofit designation. That moment kicked off many firsts for Northwest Arkansas and a decade of community welcome of people forced to flee their homes. The 10 year anniversary of the official founding of Canopy NWA invites us to reflect on the tremendous heart, heartache, struggles, and successes over the last decade and look ahead for our vision for the future.
What We Mean by the “Long Welcome”
While refugee resettlement has changed dramatically over the last 15 months, at Canopy, our vision and mission has not changed. We are here to welcome and equip newcomers to our community with all they need to build new lives. Our mission is not only a warm reception, a safe place to sleep, and a first job. Our collective aim is the Long Welcome. What does the Long Welcome look like? It looks like college graduations, meaningful careers, home purchases, and a deep network of neighbors and friends.
Safie’s Story
In January of last year, Canopy received the travel cancellation notices for 36 people as thousands of refugee travel was cancelled nationwide after the United States indefinitely suspended refugee resettlement. One of those cancelled flights was for Safie’s son*. Fleeing flighting, Safie and her son were separated. After years in a refugee camp, Safie and her younger children were approved for resettlement and arrived in Northwest Arkansas. Later that year, her son was found. Now on opposite sides of the globe, Canopy filed documentation in support of Safie and her son’s reunion. The filing, vetting, and wait took years. Finally, in December of 2024, Canopy received the notice that Safie’s son was approved for travel. A plane ticket was booked for early February 2025. Safie and her family made all the preparations. Where to live, who would meet him at the airport, ideas about how to connect him to his first job. Then, the third week of January, Canopy had to make the terrible call to Safie that her son’s flight was cancelled. Since January of last week, Safie comes to the office weekly, asking when her son will come.
A Changing Landscape for Refugee Resettlement
Recently, the US Department of State updated available data for the Refugee Admissions Program from 1975 through March of this year. This year’s welcome of refugees is at a historic low, almost fully ground to a halt. However, refugee resettlement ot the US has had periods of high admissions and lower admissions over the years and decades. This year’s resettlement number in the United States does not meet the global humanitarian need. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimates 2.5 million people are in need of resettlement in 2026. This need will continue.
We are determined to keep our doors open, so when resettlement resumes, we will be able to provide Safie’s son with an airport reception, a safe place to sleep, and the Long Welcome.
Looking Ahead, Together
Today – and for the rest of this year – please join us in reflection and celebration of the good that has come from the Canopy community. Celebrating the successes and joy of Canopy is what will motivate us to keep looking forward and staying hopeful for the future. We will celebrate big again in December, which is the 10 year milestone of the first refugee families welcomed by Canopy in Northwest Arkansas.
Join us for the Long Welcome.
*Name changed and details changed for privacy
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