HMI Grand Opening Celebration!
HMI staff members with Congressman Mark Takano
In a world where division and hatred seem to dominate the headlines, it's refreshing to see a community coming together to support one another. That's exactly what happened this past weekend, where people from all walks of life gathered to celebrate a new beginning for the refugee community in Riverside County. On Saturday, March 4th, 2023, the Human Migration Institute (HMI) celebrated the grand opening of our new office space in the Riverside County area of California. The event marked a significant milestone for HMI, as we continue to work towards our mission of educating and building communities for refugee newcomers in the area.
HMI Program Director, Teresa Hsu
The grand opening was a joyous occasion, filled with office tours, speeches from HMI staff and special guests, friendly chats, and delicious food. Attendees were treated to authentic Afghan cuisine, specially prepared by the Dawar family, and other delectable dishes made by HMI staff members Sedef and Benny. The day was marked by a sense of warmth, kindness, and community-building, as attendees mingled with HMI staff and people whose lives have been touched by the organization.
We were honored to have several esteemed speakers at the event, including Dr. Nathan Iverson, International Relations Protocol Advisor for Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson of Riverside; Congressman Mark Takano, Representative of the 39th district of California; and Amina Sadat, Afghan woman and PhD student at the University of California - Riverside. Each speaker spoke about the importance of community-building in Riverside and creating a more inclusive city.
HMI Student Volunteers helping check people in with a smile
The success of the event would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our student volunteers from UC - Riverside and HMI staff members, who poured their hearts into preparing the HMI office for use and crafting a fantastic grand opening event. We are immensely grateful for their contributions.
Finally, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for their support and for making the opening of our new office space possible. HMI was recently awarded a grant from the ORR, which has helped us to expand our reach and capabilities in assisting newcomers from Afghanistan as they navigate their new lives in Riverside County. We could not have accomplished this without their generosity and support.
Overall, the grand opening of our new office space was a resounding success and a testament to the importance of community-building and supporting newcomers in our area. HMI looks forward to continuing our mission and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
If you are interested in supporting HMI's mission to help educate and build a community for refugee newcomers in the Riverside County area of California, we encourage you to visit our website at hmir.org to learn more about our organization and the different ways you can get involved.
Whether it's through volunteering, making a donation, or simply spreading the word about our work, every little bit helps us create a more welcoming and inclusive community for refugees. Thank you for your support!
