Read More"Thank you, CBU. This award truly means so much to HMI. At a time when the winds feel uncertain, we are encouraged to keep building a community where everyone belongs.” -Dr. Selin Nielson
Ten Ukrainian newcomers walked into a Newport Beach community center for a 2.5-hour workshop and walked out with new LinkedIn headshots, ATS-proof resumes, and a real plan for getting hired in California. Here's what happened inside Mission Hired, including the resume trick that beats the 75% of applications ATS software rejects before a human ever sees them.
Read More
Summer break can mean losing routine, especially for a family still settling into a new country. For one week, HMI's Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program gave 30 kids that routine back, plus a camp full of learning with bugs, slime, and school supply giveaways.
Read More
At the Governor's Inland Empire Immigration Roundtable, HMI’s own Dr. Selin Nielsen joined local community organizations, legal service providers, and state officials to discuss what immigrant and refugee families in the region really need. From the Inland Empire's status as a "legal desert" to the power of trusted messengers, here's what stood out and why collaboration, not competition, has to be the path forward.
Read More
A reflection on advocating for our refugee and newcomer families at Refugee Council USA's Advocacy Days: what it felt like to speak up in this moment, to share what we're seeing on the ground in Southern California, and why it matters now more than ever that we raise our voices for our refugee neighbors, with so much at stake this year.
Read More
"Thank you for your willingness to tell your story. I also understand that your stories hold a great deal of sorrow. You have experienced a great deal of loss and grief that most of us cannot understand unless there are opportunities like this, where those of us who have not had those experiences are able to put ourselves in your shoes, even if only for a moment, and walk the path you have taken."
Read More
The Inland Empire Refugee Forum returned on June 3, 2026 at UC Riverside — and this was our biggest gathering yet. With Supervisor Medina, representatives from Congressman Mark Takano's office, and community partners from across the region in attendance, we celebrated the close of our most successful program to date and announced a new initiative expanding our reach to even more refugees and newcomers in Riverside County.
Read More
Through this partnership, students have access to academic instruction, mentorship, and resources that help them develop important life skills and work toward their future educational and career goals. The collaboration aims to create a supportive learning environment that helps students successfully transition into life in the United States while achieving their academic aspirations.
Read More
“My favorite part was seeing these women come together by the ocean, sharing stories, practicing yoga, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Moments like these remind me that healing often begins with connection and a sense of belonging. Being their yoga guide for a day was the minimum I could do for the community.” - Anastasiia
Read More
“I’ve enjoyed watching families build language confidence when immersed in real-world educational environments. It’s here they can utilize English skills in a practical setting but maintain the familiar support of Ukrainian friends and colleagues.”
Read More