In March, we shared with you that we had $690,000 in unpaid reimbursements from the Federal Government. Today I am providing an update on where things stand for Canopy in the ever-changing federal funding landscape. We started the year with eight federal grants. Three were abruptly ended and currently operate five.
While we are relieved to begin receiving reimbursements for completed work, we are unclear the total amount we will receive as services start and stop and federal government actions on grant suspensions are challenged in court. We are deeply committed to continuing our mission. While we have scaled back, we have been able to maintain our core programming and provide services to all the people and families counting on us. Given our experience since January, we are concerned that our funding could be cut, at any moment.
We are concerned that funds will be abruptly cut on September 30th of this year.
It is important for me to stress that Canopy has a history of performing our work with full compliance and achieving excellent outcomes. Our programs and organization has been monitored and audited for programmatic and financial compliance and we are consistently in good standing. The terminations and suspensions have nothing to do with the quality of our work.
In the refugee resettlement space, we live with the uncertainty that the funding landscape could change daily. It makes planning harder than it has ever been. However, we remain steadfast to our commitment to the NWA community that we will provide the Long Welcome and integration support to our new neighbors and community partners.
We will be here to provide a warm welcome to refugees when resettlement fully resumes. While the refugees who were going to come to Northwest Arkansas are now forced to wait longer, I have faith that our collective advocacy will encourage the national resettlement program to fully resume. My deepest gratitude to every individual, family, faith community, business, and foundation standing with us during these uncertain times to ensure Northwest Arkansas continues to have a nonprofit which welcomes refugees.
Please join us in the weeks ahead to celebrate our community! Find our upcoming events below.
See you soon,
Joanna Krause Executive Director
Upcoming Events
🎨 Youth Art Show May 30th | Faulkner Performing Arts Center | 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM 453 Garland Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Come experience the creative work of our youth as they share pieces that reflect their backgrounds, identities, and journeys.
🌍 June 21st | The Jones Center | 2-4 PM 922 E Emma Ave, Springdale, AR 72764
A joyful community gathering with food from around the globe, live international music, and celebration. Bring your friends and family. It's a free, drop-in event. All are welcome.
Do you live in Siloam Springs? Join Inspired Hands in Downtown on May 15th at Inspired Hands pop up in Siloam Springs from 6-8 pm as a part of Beautiful Lives' "Girls Night Out" event!
What Does It Mean to Become the Person You Once Needed? A retrospect for refugee students by Shabnam Faizy
"I graduated from college just yesterday. And as I stood on that stage, I thought about everything it took to get there; how I arrived in a new country with nothing but questions, how I kept searching, kept going, even when I didn’t know the way."
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