Inland Empire Refugee Forum HMI x Lifting Humanity | March 2026

The first Inland Empire Refugee Forum of 2026, co-hosted by Human Migration Institute (HMI) and Lifting Humanity, gathered community members, service providers, and local representatives on March 11th at Chaffey Adult School in Ontario. The new venue was a meaningful addition in itself, the school's Vice Principal welcomed the group personally, expressed the institution's support for the refugee community, and offered their space as a home for this important conversation. That kind of local institutional support reinforces what these forums stand for: community-wide responsibility, not just nonprofit work.

A notable presence at this forum was Eric Myers, a representative from the Riverside Police Department, who joined the group to express his department's understanding of and commitment to the refugee community. He opened the floor to questions and engaged directly with attendees, a genuine exchange that matters in a community where trust with law enforcement can't be assumed and has to be built deliberately.

Attendees also received an important update from the State Refugee Coordinator, who shared current refugee numbers and the latest developments at the state level. Keeping local organizations and community members informed with accurate, up-to-date data is critical, especially at a time when policies and funding are constantly shifting.

Rounding out the forum, representatives from Church World Service (CWS) and CHIRLA shared community updates, highlighted available resources, and reinforced their ongoing commitment to standing alongside refugee families across the region.

We are grateful to Chaffey Adult School for opening their doors, to Lifting Humanity for their continued partnership, and to every organization and individual who showed up. The Inland Empire refugee community deserves a consistent, organized table, and these forums are that table. We look forward to continuing this work together.