The Human Migration Institute (HMI) will celebrate a decade of transformation and resilience at its 10th Anniversary Gala, held at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in Riverside, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. The evening will spotlight powerful stories of refugee and newcomer families who have turned courage into new beginnings, honor the community that has walked alongside them, and unite community voices to shape a new decade of hope, resilience, and possibility.
Founded in 2015 by a small group of Riverside residents, HMI began with a simple yet radical idea: that refugee families should be met not with fear or charity, but with compassion, commitment, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to rebuild. Since then, HMI has grown into the only organization in Riverside County solely dedicated to empowering refugees—providing education, job training, intercultural programming, and day-to-day guidance to help families not only survive but also thrive.
Over the past decade, HMI has supported more than 1,500 individuals, facilitated over 10,000 hours of training and support, and helped countless newcomers pursue education, launch careers, and make meaningful contributions to their new communities. Its impact is not only seen in numbers, but felt in the voices and lives of those it serves…