Coalition for Our Immigrant Neighbors was founded in March 2016 by attorneys Kent Newton and Lindsay Faulkenberg as a response to the legal and mental health challenges many immigrants and refugees face when they enter a new country.

Newcomers often experience unique legal and mental health challenges that are ignored, misunderstood, or denied. Moreover, many immigrants and refugees who are victims of crimes or violence do not come forward because of language barriers, shame, or fear of deportation. 

COIN, in partnership with other Indianapolis organizations, hosts and sponsors events, including:

• Monthly COIN partner meetings
• Continuing Legal Education events for legal professionals
• Know Your Rights events 
• Family Safety Planning Clinics
• Walk a Mile in a Refugee's Shoes simulation
• DACA Renewal Clinics
• Naturalization Workshops
• Trauma Informed Care trainings
• Basic immigration trainings for non-attorney professionals 

COIN's goals are not to provide direct service alone, but rather to facilitate and connect existing organizations that work with immigrant and refugee communities. We organize trainings for counselors, attorneys, and others so they are able to recognize how immigration law issues connect when advising and counseling clients. Outreach efforts and other referrals are made for our immigrant neighbors in order to educate and inform them about immigration law and pertinent legal rights and responsibilities. Referrals are made to social service providers as applicable.