By Clint Schnekloth
I have loved working with Emily Linn ever since we were in the nascent formation stages of Canopy NWA. Emily showed up, from the very beginning, ready to do the difficult daily work of forming an organization, and building a community ready to resettle refugees in Northwest Arkansas.
When it was time to hire a director for Canopy NWA, we all knew Emily was the one to ask. We were thrilled she said yes, and have benefitted greatly from her talent, energy, focus, and faith over these past years as she has led this organization to where it is today.
There is so much for which to give thanks. Over the past three years we have resettled over 150 refugees to our state. We have built bridges across religious lines, connecting co-sponsor teams to refugee families. We have developed programs that benefit refugees, and the wider community, in hundreds of ways. And we have Emily’s steadfast, wise leadership to credit for so much of where we are today.
So it is not easy for me to announce that Emily will be resigning as director effective August of this year. Emily and her family have decided to relocate to Washington D.C. so that Emily can pursue her graduate studies in international development and her husband Nicholas can accept a position as a clerk for a federal judge.
Emily is doing our organization a great service by giving us plenty of lead time to seek a new executive director to lead Canopy NWA. We’ll have the chance for a smooth transition. We’ll be able to pass her wisdom and knowledge to the next leader. We are also equipped with an amazing staff. They steward so very well the daily work of Canopy NWA, and as board chair, I trust we’ll be able to seamlessly make this transition to a next phase in Canopy’s young life.
I’m so excited for the Linn family and this adventure they’re entering into. I hope you’ll reach out to them and congratulate them, and thank Emily for all the ways she has poured her heart, and soul, and creativity into this work.
I’m also excited for the opportunities this presents for Canopy. With this announcement, our board of directors is officially beginning its search for Emily’s replacement. You can review the job posting here and reach out to apply@canopynwa.org if you have questions about the search process. We look forward to meeting and considering candidates throughout the spring and making a selection by the summer to allow for a seamless transition of knowledge, vision and direction for all of our programs.
Canopy NWA is great because of all of you. We are welcoming refugees, creating the Long Welcome, and impacting the Natural State in so many ways, because of what you all do to support the work. Thank you and stay tuned for more updates.
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