CAO has been awarded a 2011-2014 Ethnic Community Self-Help grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This grant will expand the role of CAO to that of a technical assistance provider for newly arrived refugee communities-- namely the communities from Bhutan and Burma. Refugees from these countries have outnumbered refugees from Africa in recent years, and they are in need of an organization akin to CAO so that their needs are fully met, and voices fully heard, in Colorado. Under this new grant, CAO will assist two ethnic community based organizations (the Colorado Rangers and the Global Bhutanese Community of Colorado) grow, so that they may advocate for and serve their respective refugee communities. Congratulations to all! For more information on this grant, please visit the ORR website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/. 

CAO is excited to announce we have received a 2011-2013 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services citizenship education grant from the Department of Homeland Security. This funding allows CAO to provide citizenship and civics-focused ESL classes to hundreds of African legal permanent residents per year, free of charge. For many immigrants, citizenship is the ultimate attainment of the American dream, and CAO is excited to support them on their paths to responsible citizenship. CAO was also the recipient of this grant in 2010-2011. For a full list of grantees, or more information, please visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov. 

The Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition held its annual assembly in Estes Park this past weekend (October 1-2). CAO's Adrien Mangituka Matadi led the CAO team of participants and served as the Master of Ceremony. CIRC is a statewide immigrants rights group that has traditionally worked with Latino populations, but in recent years has started to see "immigrant" rights as being a broader issue that simply that of Latinos. CAO sees its participation in such advocacy work as paramount to its mission and partnership with CIRC as a benefit to all-- regardless of place of birth, language or background. United, we stand!