Impact Stories

Canopy NWA and AUCC will be meeting with Senator Tom Cotton’s office this month to ask him to remove his support of the RAISE Act. We would like to present him with a petition signed by Arkansans across the state to let him know his constituents do NOT agree with this proposed immigration bill that seeks to…

We at Canopy NWA and Arkansas United Community Coalition (AUCC) strongly oppose the RAISE Act, sponsored by one of our Arkansas senators, Tom Cotton. This proposed piece of legislation would hurt our region’s economic development, separate Arkansas families and close our doors to the world’s most vulnerable. It does not reflect our shared values as…

Day of Action: Raise Your Voice Against the RAISE Act This week, CRSA members met with the staff of Senator Tom Cotton to discuss his co-sponsorship of S. 354, the RAISE Act. This bill aims to cut legal forms of immigration in half over the next ten years. It will do this in multiple ways: We need you…

Last week, a big, beautiful Congolese family arrived in Northwest Arkansas. Their co-sponsors met them at the airport and brought them back to their cozy, furnished apartment. They showed them the meal they had prepared, the toys they had gathered and the chocolates they had left on their pillows. The family smiled and thanked them. They…

Mark Kessler is the Senior Director of Operations for Save the Children US and a former Walmart executive. He is a member of Canopy’s volunteer advocates team and serves on a co-sponsorship team as well. He drafted the following guest post on World Refugee Day, June 20.  Today, on World Refugee Day, I want to…

On Tuesday, June 20th, we want our Canopy community to join voices with millions worldwide in advocating for refugees. We need your help! The proposed budget makes cuts to the funding that refugee resettlement agencies receive, as well as funding that helps refugees abroad. CALL! We are encouraging everyone to CALL our elected officials to let…

We are excited to announce that on Sunday, April 23 from 12-6 pm, Students for Refugees and Canopy NWA will be hosting a Mock Refugee Camp at the University of Arkansas gardens (the area between Lot 56 and the Bud Walton Arena). Visitors will pass through several stations that simulate a refugee’s journey, from the decision to flee…

Last week, Chairman of the Board, Clint Schnekloth and I (Emily) had the opportunity to spend a day advocating for refugees on Capitol Hill. We were grateful that both Senator Cotton and Senator Boozman took the time to meet with us personally. We found some areas where we really agreed—and others where we would like…

Yesterday, President Trump signed a new executive order, once again banning all refugee arrivals—regardless of background or country of origin—for 120 days and reducing the total number of refugee arrivals from 110,000 to 50,000. Currently, there are 40 refugees in 7 families who have been approved to come to Northwest Arkansas and are waiting for their travel to…

Senator Cotton, On behalf of Northwest Arkansas Canopy NWA supporters, we are writing to ask for your continued support of the United States’s commitment to Refugee Resettlement, and to work to reverse President Trump’s Executive Order on Refugee Resettlement. While we do not support the United States giving preference to one religious group over another, we…