MAY 10 2020
By Lauren Husband, Communications Team
Last week, we talked about all the reasons our Community of Welcome matters—
They welcome our new families and clients with open arms,
They financially sustain us so we can keep serving communities in need,
And they help us dream bigger and achieve more than we could ever imagine.
Our Community of Welcome is comprised of people from various walks of life and different backgrounds, from college students to business owners and everywhere in between! This week, we want to introduce three members of our Community of Welcome and share a little about their connection with Canopy!
Stephanie completed her undergraduate and Master’s degrees at the University of Arkansas. She is now a veterinarian working at the Animal Emergency and Specialty Center in Springdale! She lives with her husband and two children on a Winslow farm with lots of animal companions. She loves to spend time being active in the outdoors.
Stephanie got involved with Canopy after seeing a Facebook post about refugee resettlement—the message immediately resonated with her.
“I have not always understood the importance of embracing other cultures and people, but now I understand that our community is better with more, and different, perspectives.”
“I would definitely encourage others to become a part of the Community of Welcome and attend events as they are able. It is so great to be a part, no matter how small, of welcoming families to this community and helping them thrive.”
Ben was born and raised in Northwest Arkansas and owns Adkins Technology Solutions, an IT consulting and services firm. He’s an avid reader, gardener, cyclist, tinkerer, and a devoted sports fan. Ben loves spending time with family and friends and is active in the community, supporting local organizations and individuals.
After learning about the work Canopy does helping people find a home in NWA, Ben reached out to Canopy. He donates his time and skills by advising and assisting Canopy with all things tech; ranging from support and troubleshooting to security and acquisitions.
“I absolutely would encourage others to join the Community of Welcome. We must recognize what a privilege it is to be born in such a beautiful place and understand it is our responsibility as human beings to share that happiness with those who have not been afforded such privilege.
“It takes a village. I wouldn’t be who I am without the help of family, friends, and my community along the way. I refuse to believe that sense of community should be denied to anyone, regardless of the arbitrary circumstances they were born into. My place of birth was simply chance, and if the tables were turned I would hope there was an organization like Canopy to help me find a home and actualize my dreams.”
Ben finds strength in diversity. He believes that having community members from different backgrounds and walks of life strengthens enriches NWA, and that if we can create a safe place for those in need, we can be an example to other communities throughout Arkansas and the world.
After being born and raised in the UK, Janette moved to Fayetteville in 2006. Janette calls NWA her home and has raised three children here with her husband Steve. In 2015, her family became members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. As luck would have it, Canopy NWA was founded by Good Shepherd’s Pastor Clint Schnekloth later that year. Clint asked Janette if she would like to lead a Cosponsor group to welcome one of the first families to be resettled in NWA. She nervously agreed and got to work.
Since beginning her service to Canopy in 2015, Janette and her Cosponsor teams have helped resettle two families (a total of 11 individuals!). She was not prepared for how much her experience jumping headfirst into refugee resettlement would ignite her passion for sharing the stories and experiences of refugees.
“I feel that encouraging and educating others on the journeys and lives of refugees helps people understand how much we have that we can share with others. One of the things I have loved is sharing this experience with my family— they have all pitched in and helped with both of our resettled families. My daughter Katherine is also a Canopy volunteer, and she recently wrote her thesis at the U of A on human rights and interviewed some of our refugee families. It’s something she is also passionate about. Our children have been raised to care for others, and it makes me so happy to see that in them all.”
Janette hopes that sharing some of her experience is helpful for others to learn from. She has always treasured her time spent with the families she’s met through Canopy, and she hopes to see them again soon.
Canopy is so proud of our Community of Welcome, and so grateful. We are truly able to meet our mission of welcoming and equipping refugees to build new lives here in NWA only because of the support of this amazing group of people! In short: Canopy loves our Community of Welcome!
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