Impact Stories

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…

Canopy NWA asks President Trump to maintain US commitment on Refugee Resettlement Today, President Trump signed an Executive Order to… Source:  WhiteHouse.gov Refugee resettlement is a tradition in our country that dates back to the end of the World War II. Since then, the United States has been a leader in welcoming the world’s most vulnerable…

Our First Three Families Have Arrived! First of all, we want to say thank you to all of you who gave backpacks, welcome baskets and financial contributions to help us Prepare a Place for refugees. Your gifts could not have come at a better time because, by Christmas, we had welcomed not one, not two, but three refugee families…

The Canopy Team is Growing! As of this week, we have two new faces in the office: Francisco Ayala, our Case Manager and Rick Barry, our Employment Specialist. This week, we want to introduce you to Rick. Up until a couple days ago, he worked for the Department of Human Services in Benton County as…