Inland Empire Refugee Forum | June 2026 Recap
The Inland Empire Refugee Forum returned on June 3, 2026 at the University of California, Riverside — and this one was our biggest yet.
Hosted by Human Migration Institute (HMI) and Lifting Humanity, the quarterly Forum brought together community partners, advocates, and regional leaders for one of the most impactful gatherings we've had to date.
This forum saw strong representation from across the region. We were honored to welcome Supervisor Jose Medina and representatives from Congressman Mark Takano's office, whose presence reflects the growing recognition of refugee and newcomer issues at the local and federal level. Alongside them from CA Refugee Programs Bureau, our State Refugee Coordinator, Abdi Abdillahi, and Chris Williams, Chief, Policy and Programs Section at the State’s Immigrant Integration Branch. We also welcomed partners from California Department of Social Services (CDSS), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), as well as community allies and partners joined the conversation to discuss the current landscape for refugees and newcomers in Riverside County and across the Inland Empire.
Celebrating a Milestone: ARSI
One of the most significant moments of the forum was marking the successful conclusion of the Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI) Program — our most successful program to date. ARSI represented years of dedicated work supporting Afghan students and families navigate K–12 education, and its impact across the community has been profound.
Looking Ahead: Introducing RSI
Building on the foundation ARSI established, we are excited to announce the launch of the Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program — an expanded initiative that extends the same model to a broader population of ORR-eligible refugees and newcomers across Riverside County. RSI reflects our commitment to ensuring that no newcomer family falls through the cracks.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the University of California, Riverside for once again opening their doors and providing a space for our community to come together. UCR has been a consistent and generous partner in making the Forum possible, and we are grateful for that ongoing relationship.
The energy in the room on June 3 was a reminder of why this Forum matters. We look forward to continuing this work alongside our partners and community — and we'll see you at the next one.
— Human Migration Institute & Lifting Humanity
