Wa Kuk Wa Jimor (Canoe of One Community)
Wa Kuk Wa Jimor (Canoe of One Community)

October 15th marked the opening ceremony of the Tarmeto (Navigating) Project, a collaborative partnership between ACOM, Crystal Bridges and the artist Kholoud Sawef as part of the Arts + Social Impact Accelerator Program (ASAP). The ASAP program partnerships call for collaborators to work to use arts to elevate social issues in the community.  Carving a canoe and connecting the cultural significance of the canoe to the stories of the Marshallese community navigating their lives in Northwest Arkansas is the objective of this project and partnership.  

Read More
Melisa Laelan
Full Statement of Executive Director Melisa Laelan to Congress
Full Statement of Executive Director Melisa Laelan to Congress

Being part of the strongest security force that protects the Marshall Islands and other Freely Associated countries was the greatest accomplishment I pursued as a young woman. At no time did I ever questioned my decision to be part of the US military because I was taught to think of Americans as our friends, allies, and family. This unique friendship through the Compact of Free Association outlines the mutual symbiotic relationship between United States of America and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which permits Marshallese and other Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens to travel to the U.S without any need for visa or limitation of stay. American citizens are also afforded the same visitation freedom to the COFA nations. 

Read More
Arkansas Coalition of Marshallesemarshallese advocacy, marshallese policies, RMI, Republic of the Marshallese Islands, Marshallese Community, freely associated states, COFA, FAS, Compact of Free Association, Marshallese Citizens, citizens of COFA, citizens of FAS
The CIFA Act Would Make COFA Citizens Eligible for Federal Benefits
The CIFA Act Would Make COFA Citizens Eligible for Federal Benefits

What is Compact Impact Fairness Act? What does it mean for citizens of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) that live in the US and US territories? What do you need to know about CIFA? How you can support and advocate for CIFA with us.

Read More
Arkansas Coalition of MarshalleseCIFA, compact impact fairness act, Compact of Free Association, RMI, FSM, Republic of the Marshallese Islands, Republic of Palau, FAS, Federated States of Micronesia
Restore Access to Federal Benefits for the Citizens from COFA Nations
Restore Access to Federal Benefits for the Citizens from COFA Nations

On May 28th Representative Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), Representative Ed Case (D-Hawaii), along with Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to restore eligibility for many federal benefit programs to citizens from the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) nations. The Compact Impact Fairness Act (CIFA) will help many Micronesians, citizens from the COFA nations that are living in the U.S. including an estimated 15,000 who are residents of Arkansas and not eligible for programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI),and Covid-19 Funeral Assistance grants.

Read More
Arkansas Coalition of MarshalleseThe Hill
Arkansas Pacific Islander Community Leaders Advance New Law That Expanded Health Care Eligibility for More than 12,000 Arkansans
Arkansas Pacific Islander Community Leaders Advance New Law That Expanded Health Care Eligibility for More than 12,000 Arkansans

On February 23rd the Arkansas Legislative Council approved a rule change that affirms health coverage for Arkansas’ significant Marshallese population, reversing a policy that stripped Medicaid eligibility inadvertently nearly three decades ago.

Read More
Arkansas Coalition of MarshalleseCOFA Medicaid, Medicaid Restoration, Medicaid Expansion for Marshallese, Marshallese Health insurance, Marshallese health equity, health, equity, accessibility, equal access, COFA, Compact of Free Association
Community Leaders Sustained Efforts For Over Two Decades To Win Federal Health Care Access for 100,000 Pacific Islanders
Community Leaders Sustained Efforts For Over Two Decades To Win Federal Health Care Access for 100,000 Pacific Islanders

This week Pacific Islander community leaders celebrated and recounted their efforts to permanently restore Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility to people living in the United States under the Compacts of Free Association (COFA).

Read More
Arkansas Coalition of MarshalleseMarshallese leaders, marshallese citizens, COFA leaders, COFA citizens, Compact of Free Association, health, equity, justice, policies, Marshallese Community