COAR is seeking an Operations Director who will lead COAR’s programs and expand its network of volunteers, donors, partner organizations, community leaders, clients and other refugee advocates.

The Operations Director is one of two full-time employees. The Operations Director is responsible for working with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and staff to ensure COAR’s financial sustainability, manage its exposure to risk, and document its activities. These responsibilities must be executed in the context of pursuing COAR’s mission and executing the strategic plan under the supervision of the Executive Director.

To apply please submit a resume, cover letter (that explicitly addresses your qualifications in relation to the job description) and three references to Alisha Herman at aherman@coarweb.org by July 2nd, 2008.

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We are excited to announce our upcoming film series at the tempe Historical Museum! Clandestine acts for survival, an unforgiving immigration system, longing for family and identity, the hardships of belonging to a new culture, and hope found through music and brotherhood – these are some of the themes surrounding refugee communities that audiences will observe in the films selected for screening at COAR’s “Thoughts 4 Thursday” Refugee Film Series this February and March at the Tempe Historical Museum. Films will be on the following Thursday nights: * February 21, 2008 – "Don’t Fence Me In":getinvolved/calendar/2008/02/21/freefilmscreeningdontfenceme, Director Ruth Gumnit, 2004 * February 28, 2008 – "Sentenced Home":getinvolved/calendar/2008/02/28/freefilmscreeningsentencedhome, Directors Nicole Newnham, David Grabias, 2005 * March 6, 2008 – "Saigon, USA":getinvolved/calendar/2008/03/06/freefilmscreeningsaigonusa, Director Lindsey Jang, 2004 * March 13, 2008 – Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Directors Zach Niles, Banker White 2005 (collaboration with the award-winning documentary series "P.O.V.":www.pbs/org/pov This event is a collaboration between the Tempe Historical Museum and Community Outreach & Advocacy for Refugees (COAR), a Tempe based and youth founded non-profit organization supporting resettled refugees as they rebuild positive, self-sufficient lives. By exploring refugee community histories and identities, the film series seeks to initiate dialogue and increase awareness of the issues that confront Southeast Asian refugee communities, as well as other refugee communities throughout the United States. This series also seeks to support the Museum’s current exhibit, “A Proud Journey Home: Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese Communities in Arizona”. COAR has organized four films to be screened every Thursday starting February 21, 2008. Regional hor d’eouvres and beverages will be served. Each screening is followed by a guest speaker, cultural presentation, and discussion. This film series is free and open to the public. For more info, please follow the links above to each of the films or contact Tanny Men at tmen@coarweb.org press release attached.

Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COAR Exhibits Work by Local Artist: Portraits of Resettled Refugees in Phoenix

December 13, 2007
Media Contact: Cara Steiner Kiggins
Executive Director
Community Outreach & Advocacy for Refugees (COAR) (623) 399-4943
csteiner@coarweb.org
www.coarweb.org

Who: Community Outreach & Advocacy for Refugees (COAR), a local, Tempe- based, youth-led nonprofit that utilizes volunteerism and youth leadership to support refugees; and local artist Eliza Gregory, a member of the eye lounge artist cooperative on Roosevelt Row.
What: A photographic peek into the lives and experiences of resettled refugees in the Phoenix metro area.
Where and When: ASU Anthropology Museum, Tempe (from April 3 to Oct. 1, 2008) and eye lounge, 419 E. Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ, ( Sept. 19 to Oct. 11, 2008)
Why: To raise community awareness about resettled refugees who’ve fled persecution and now live in Valley. To honor the experiences, struggles and triumphs of refugees resettled here.

More information:
Refugees flee their home countries, in fear of losing their lives, their rights, and their family members in violent conflicts. Often, refugees can never return home. Each year, 2,000 refugees are invited by the US government to resettle in Arizona and build a new life for themselves and their families. COAR (Community Outreach & Advocacy for Refugees) a local, Tempe-based, youth-led nonprofit is collaborating with local artist Eliza Gregory to photographically document the experience of resettlement in Arizona.

Refugees hail from all over the world, including Iraq, Cuba, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burundi, Liberia, Iran, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Sudan. Eliza’s large format photographs show them in their new homes and communities including Glendale, Phoenix, Chandler, and Tempe.

These photographs will be displayed in two venues. The first exhibit, entitled Fuse: Portraits of Refugee Households in Metropolitan Phoenix will open at the ASU Anthropology Museum on April 3, 2008. The second show will feature different work from the same series. It opens at the eye lounge, 419 E. Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ, on September 19th 2008 and runs for one month, through October 11th.

These exhibitions will foster critical thinking on who refugees are and how members of the Phoenix metro community can seek common ground. The photographs will validate the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of the photographed families, honoring them in a way that fosters a deeper sense of belonging in the community.

Additional resources include:
COAR: www.coarweb.org
The eye lounge artist cooperative: www.eyelounge.com
The ASU Anthropology Museum: http://www.asu.edu/clas/shesc/asuma/

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We are pleased to announce the support of the Jaburg & Wilk Foundation! They have generously contributed $7,500 to provide for Reaching Higher program costs and scholarships for Reaching Higher Scholars. The support of the Jaburg & Wilk Foundation along with our many other supporters makes higher education a reality for refugee youth! Check out the Jaburg & Wilk website at http://www.jaburgandwilk.com/.

Dear COAR Supporters, I hope this letter finds you enjoying a holiday season filled with joy and peace. COAR is a local nonprofit organization (contributions are tax-deductible) led by students providing voluntary assistance to refugees who have been displaced by conflict. We believe in the dignity and potential of refugees, and support them as they rebuild positive, self-sufficient lives here in the U.S. I hope that you will, in turn, support COAR as the season of giving is upon us. These last few months have been incredibly exciting for COAR as we began our 2007-2008 program cycles. Fall is always an exciting time to see our programs in action! * COAR welcomed 16 university-student interns to our youth leadership team. * The Volunteer Anchor Program recruited 39 volunteer applicants; these Volunteer Anchors are currently mentoring families from Burma, Iraq, Eritrea and Iran. * The Reaching Higher College Preparation Program recruited 19 refugee high school scholars from countries such as Somalia, Cuba, Sudan, Romania and Burma; held three out of six total workshops. * The Awareness & Advocacy Program co-hosted the Phoenix Refugee Soccer Tournament with the International Rescue Committee; 8 teams participated representing Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Ethiopia, Iraq, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Somalia. Every year, the U.S. government welcomes over 2,000 refugees to Arizona from war-torn countries such as Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Somalia. Together, with our supporters, COAR is making a very real difference in the lives of these inspiring individuals. That's why we're asking you to give $200 this holiday season so that COAR's valuable work might continue. The best part about this gift is that you may be eligible to earn a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your Arizona state income taxes! This means that every dollar you contribute (up to $200 filing single and $400 filing jointly) will be a dollar off your taxes. Fill out and return the included envelope with your contribution, or head to www.coarweb.org and donate online. As a holiday gift idea, consider requesting loved ones contribute to COAR in lieu of purchasing a gift for you. We look forward to a new year of supporting more refugee families and youth as they rebuild positive, self-sufficient lives in the US. Thank you for your contribution. Please feel free to contact me directly (csteiner@coarweb.org) if you have any questions or suggestions. Happy Holidays! Cara Steiner Kiggins Executive Director P.S. Don't forget! Your contribution may earn a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your Arizona State income taxes! All contributions to COAR are tax-deductible, however up to $400 filing jointly and $200 filing single qualifies as a tax credit. Check out www.azdor.gov and consult with your tax advisor for more details. Every dollar you contribute is a dollar off your state taxes!

On November 9-11, Community Outreach and Advocacy for Refugees (COAR), will be co-hosting with the International Rescue Committee a three-day Soccer Tournament. Refugee soccer teams, (representing Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Burundi, Sudan, Iraq, and Somalia) living in the Phoenix area, will compete. This tournament will be a chance for local refugee communities to come together and compete for the championship while enjoying time with family, friends, and refugee resettlement staff. Two of the games in the tournament will coincide with the annual Refugee Advisory Council against Crime (RACC) picnic and The Phoenix Children's Hospital will be hosting a public health booth. HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT! Game Schedule: Friday, November 9 Reach 11 Sports Complex Game 1 - 600-800pm Game 2 - 800-1000pm Saturday, November 10 Mariposa Park (33rd Ave/Northern Ave) Game 3 - 1000am-1200pm Game 4 - 100-300pm Reach 11 Sports Complex Game 5 - 600-800pm Game 6 - 800-1000pm Sunday, November 11 Reach 11 Sports Complex Game 7 - 600-800pm Game 8 - 800-1000pm Reach 11 Sports Complex 2425 East Deer Valley Rd Phoenix, AZ 85050 (602) 534-6267 Mariposa Park 3203 W. Morten Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85051 ** Email Amber Martinez (amartinez@coarweb.org) for volunteer opportunities at this event.