2025 Accomplishments & 2026 Goals

2025 Accomplishments

Supporting Families Affected by ICE Deportation: Assisted Marshallese families impacted by ICE detentions and deportation orders, working with legal partners and local nonprofits to provide interpreting, case navigation, and family support (rights education, emergency resources, and humanitarian advocacy)

Driver’s Education Classes for High School Students & Recent Graduates: Expanded driver’s education for Marshallese youth with classes for first-time English learners, helping many prepare for exams, build safe-driving skills, and earn permits or licenses.

Marshallese Voter Registration Project: Partnered with Marshallese churches and community events to register new eligible voters, reaching hundreds of families and supporting greater civic participation and representation in local and statewide elections.

Poultry Wage Settlement Assistance: Conducted outreach for the poultry wage settlement by helping families understand eligibility, complete forms, and navigate the claims process in Marshallese, ensuring no one was excluded due to language barriers.

Warrant Clinic & Driver’s License Reinstatement Support: Organized warrant clinics with the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition and community interpreters to help individuals clear fines, resolve missed court dates, and restore suspended licenses—supporting compliance, employment, and safer mobility.

Housing Seminar: Pathway to Homeownership: Hosted our first housing seminar on renting, fair-housing rights, and pathways to homeownership, offering culturally and linguistically accessible guidance on credit, budgeting, and local lending programs.

Credit Counseling Partnership: Partnered with Credit Counseling of Arkansas (CCOA) to offer one-on-one credit reviews, debt-reduction plans, and financial guidance, helping families understand their credit reports and build strategies to improve scores and work toward homeownership.

Marshallese Inter-Family Adoption Support: Partnered with Wilson Law Firm to help 50 Marshallese families complete legal adoption paperwork, supporting relatives adopting within their extended family and securing the documentation needed for children’s stability and protection.

In 2026, Ozark Atolls will build on the strong work accomplished in 2025, offering even more consistent and comprehensive support for Marshallese families. Faster immigration response, year-round driver’s education, expanded civic engagement, deeper financial and housing education, more proactive legal navigation, and clearer adoption guidance will strengthen long-term stability and opportunity across the community.

This work is sustained by generous partners who believe in a stronger, more supported Marshallese community in Northwest Arkansas. Thank you for standing with us.