First-Ever Inland Empire Refugee Forum: A New Chapter for Collaboration

On Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, the very first Inland Empire Refugee Forum (IERF) took place at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). This historic event marked the merger of the former Riverside and San Bernardino County refugee forums, creating one united platform to address the shared challenges of newcomers in our region.

The idea for this merger was suggested by the California State Refugee Coordinator, recognizing both the decrease in refugee admissions and the overlapping needs of our neighboring counties. Together, we now have a stronger, more connected forum to coordinate services and provide better support to refugee and newcomer communities across the Inland Empire.

The forum was proudly hosted by Human Migration Institute (HMI) and Lifting Humanity, with opening introductions from both organizations. Attendees also heard important updates from California state and county representatives, followed by a thoughtful discussion on the current landscape for newcomers in the Inland Empire.

The day’s activities reflected the heart of this work—community and collaboration. Highlights included powerful community stories, reflections from international students, and a vision and goal-setting session to shape the future of the forum.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the many supporting organizations that attended and helped bring this forum to life, as well as to UCR for generously providing the space and for its ongoing commitment to refugee programs in our region.

This forum is just the beginning. Together with Lifting Humanity and our community partners, HMI looks forward to building the future of the Inland Empire Refugee Forum—ensuring that newcomer voices are heard, challenges are met, and collaboration continues to grow.