ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
- Founded in 2007 by Captain Jason Faler, an Iraq War veteran, after witnessing the consequences of insurgent threats and brutal assassinations levied against interpreters who have risked life and limb to work alongside US and Coalition Armed Forces
- 501(c)(3) Non‐Profit/Tax Exempt Organization as adjudicated by the Internal Revenue Service
WHAT WE DO AT THE CHECKPOINT ONE FOUNDATION
- The Foundation provides programmatic support to qualifying Iraqi and Afghan interpreters (as well as immediate family members) by:
- Providing Legal and Technical expertise and assistance in the immigration process
- Endeavoring to absorb or defray the costs associated with immigration applications, consular interviews and other immigration‐related requirements
- Offering financial assistance to help cover the cost of travel to the United States for the interpreter and their immediate family members
- Providing temporary housing and cost of living assistance upon arrival in the United States
- Offering Transition Education
- Assisting with Employment Search and Placement
- Partnering with other community‐based organizations in order to leverage broader expertise
- Our Newest Programs and Initiatives include:
- Partnership with Yale Law School’s Iraq Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
- Plans to initiate an Educational Fund in order to train new immigrants at colleges, universities, technical schools or other certifying institutions in
order to prepare immigrants for success in the US economy - Our strong reputation and history cause us to be continuously sought out by, and provide expert opinion to, Members of Congress and other officials as primary advisers concerning policy related to Iraqi and Afghan interpreters, refugees and resettlement efforts
ACCOLADES AND MEDIA ATTENTION
- The Checkpoint One Foundation has been featured in The New York Times, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, The Washington Post, ABC World News Tonight,
The Christian Science Monitor, The American Legion Magazine, The American Bar Association Journal, National Public Radio and numerous other local, national
and international news media. - The Checkpoint One Foundation and founder Jason Faler were recognized and lauded on the floor of the United States Senate in 2008.
- Founder Jason Faler was a finalist for the 2009 Above and Beyond Citizen Honors Award, the most prestigious civilian award in America, presented by the
Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Mr. Faler was nominated for the award by US Senator Ron Wyden.
View articles and other media featuring the CPOF by visiting the “In the News” section of our WEB LINKS page.
Download PDF About The Foundation
CPOF LEADERSHIP
Jason J. Faler, Founder and Executive Director
Jason J. Faler is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He created The Checkpoint One Foundation in 2007 after witnessing the consequences of insurgent threats and brutal assassinations levied against interpreters who have risked life and limb to work alongside US and Coalition Armed Forces. Mr. Faler and his efforts via CPOF have been featured in numerous regional, national and international media, and have been recognized on the Floor of the United States Senate. He is a frequent commentator on US policy as it relates to Afghan and Iraqi refugees and Special Immigrants. In 2009, Jason was nominated and became a finalist for the Above and Beyond Citizens Honors Award, billed as the nation’s most prestigious civilian award, presented by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Mr. Faler completed his undergraduate education at Oregon State University and the American University in Cairo (Egypt). He earned a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University and a Master of Science in Jurisprudence from the Seton Hall University School of Law. Jason is an Adjunct Professor at Portland State University. He speaks Arabic and Spanish.
Kelsey V. Lundgren, Program Coordinator
Kelsey V. Lundgren has been an integral part of The Checkpoint One Foundation since 2008, providing technical and legal support for U.S. affiliated Iraqi and Afghan nationals in the process of resettling to the U.S. through various Special Immigrant Visa Programs.
While an undergraduate student at Portland State University, Ms. Lundgren completed an internship working with Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian West Bank. In 2006, she was part of the first group of students to receive a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) enabling her to study Turkish in Istanbul, Turkey. She graduated from PSU in 2007 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies, a Certificate in Middle East Studies, and minors in Arabic and Turkish. After graduation, she returned to Istanbul, Turkey and worked with refugee and asylum seekers there. It was in Turkey, from an interaction with an Iraqi refugee, that she first became interested and decided to focus her studies on the Iraqi Refugee Crisis.
Last fall, Kelsey began her graduate studies in the Conflict Resolution Program at PSU. Her academic focus is on refugees stemming from conflicts in the Middle East–specifically, Iraqis. She received another CLS to study Advanced Arabic in Muscat, Oman from June 10th-August 17th 2010. In addition to this, Ms. Lundgren has been awarded a David L. Boren Fellowship in Jordan for the 2010-2011 academic year. In Jordan, she will focus on furthering her Arabic language skills, working with a CPOF affiliated organization, the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), and researching how the United States can address the Iraqi refugee crisis, including SIV issues, in a way that prevents further conflict, and builds peace, relationships and stability in the Middle East. She will be incorporating legal, peace, justice, and conflict prevention frameworks into her research and project.
CPOF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President and Executive Director: Jason J. Faler
Secretary: Brian S. Cross
Treasurer: Vacant
Director at Large: Michael I. Rosner
Director at Large: Brian J. Rogers
Legal Counsel (non-voting): Scott McGraw, Attorney at Law
© 2010 Checkpoint One Foundation