Current Programs

This program is dedicated to supporting immigrant communities, with a focus on women and low-income families, primarily in San Diego’s City Heights and Southeast neighborhoods, as well as in parts of Los Angeles and New York City. The program aims to strengthen community resilience, foster safety, and ensure that immigrant families, particularly women, have the resources, information, access and advocacy needed to thrive. Key activities include Community Conversations, which provide a platform for residents to discuss their concerns and solutions; Trainings that build capacity around immigrant rights, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, self-advocacy, and community safety; Protection Measures and Rapid Response to incidents of hate, violence, and discrimination; and Advocacy on behalf of new arrivals, migrants asylum seekers, and victims of violence. Through these activities, the program creates a space for collective action, empowers individuals to stand up for their rights, and works to ensure that all immigrants have access to the support they need to navigate their new lives in the U.S.

This program is dedicated to supporting immigrant communities, with a focus on women and low-income families, primarily in San Diego’s City Heights and Southeast neighborhoods, as well as in parts of Los Angeles and New York City. The program aims to strengthen community resilience, foster safety, and ensure that immigrant families, particularly women, have the resources, information, access and advocacy needed to thrive. Key activities include Community Conversations, which provide a platform for residents to discuss their concerns and solutions; Trainings that build capacity around immigrant rights, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, self-advocacy, and community safety; Protection Measures and Rapid Response to incidents of hate, violence, and discrimination; and Advocacy on behalf of new arrivals, migrants asylum seekers, and victims of violence. Through these activities, the program creates a space for collective action, empowers individuals to stand up for their rights, and works to ensure that all immigrants have access to the support they need to navigate their new lives in the U.S.

United Women of the Horn (UWH) is responding to the rising hate, ICE raids, and its horrifying impacts, particularly in San Diego and Los Angeles. They aim to support marginalized communities, including immigrants and refugees, by providing essential educational workshops on legal rights, mental health, and community safety. The initiative also focuses on gender justice, addressing the unique challenges faced by women. Through community conversations, security training, and a private emergency communication line, the organizations aim to build solidarity, resilience, and safety, while organizing long-term civic engagement and empowerment movements.  

• Build/strengthen coalitions of solidarity, safety, power, and protection 

• Promote/teach community fire response efforts 

• Provide migrants and impacted communities with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the ongoing crisis 

• Safeguard women’s rights 

• Create spaces for open discussion and exchange of experiences
  Promote civic engagement and empowerment 
  
  Activity 1: Educational Workshops - Provide training on navigating legal rights, resources, and responses to hate speech, unlawful raids and discrimination 
  
  Activity 2: Community Dialogue Sessions - Facilitate open discussions to build solidarity and share strategies for coping with the ongoing crises 
  
  Activity 3: Community Wellbeing Hotline (Safe Space) - Allow community members to connect with us, report hate, request crisis support, etc 

This series is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women from underrepresented communities, particularly those from the Black immigrant community, by connecting them directly with women leaders across various sectors. These workshops, so far, held at universities and educational institutions such as Emory University, Charles R. Drew University, and Georgetown’s Women, Peace and Security program, bring together women elected officials, business leaders, advocates, and other influential women to engage in meaningful, candid conversations with students and community members. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, hold leaders accountable, and build connections for opportunities such as jobs, internships, and mentorship. These workshops not only provide a platform for community members to interact with women in leadership but also foster a sense of empowerment by showing that women can aspire to – and succeed in – leadership roles themselves.

In addition to the educational and career-building opportunities, these workshops serve as a bridge for reconciliation and healing, particularly for women from diverse backgrounds who may have been divided by generational trauma or preconceived misconceptions. Through facilitated discussions and a healing activity at the end of each session, participants leave the workshops feeling inspired, supported, and equipped to advocate for women's empowerment in their own communities. These safe spaces encourage intergenerational dialogue, coalition-building, and personal growth, creating lasting connections among women who often do not engage with one another. The series thus blends education, bridge-building, and mental health support, offering women the tools and confidence to take on leadership roles and collectively work towards empowerment and social change.

Item Trainings are designed to equip organizers and community members, particularly women from marginalized communities, with the skills and knowledge to actively engage in civic life and leadership roles. The program consists of a 25-hour training over five weeks, offering a comprehensive curriculum that covers essential topics such as civic participation, democracy, advocacy, leadership development, policy analysis, and community organizing. Participants will learn how to navigate the political system, engage with local and national government structures, and effectively advocate for the issues that impact their communities. The training is interactive and action-oriented, combining theoretical frameworks with practical tools to help women understand their rights, develop public speaking and negotiation skills, and engage in grassroots activism.

In addition to strengthening leadership skills, the training builds a deep understanding of the intersectionality of race, gender, and socioeconomic status in civic engagement. Through case studies, role-playing, and group discussions, participants explore real-world challenges and develop strategies to address them in their own communities. Each week’s session includes opportunities for students to collaborate, share experiences, and receive mentorship from local leaders and activists. By the end of the program, participants will not only be empowered with the knowledge to lead effectively but also equipped with a network of like-minded women who can support each other’s advocacy efforts. As well, trainees are given certifications upon completing the course. These trainings are integral in preparing community members to take on leadership roles in their communities, whether through formal political office, grassroots organizing, or advocacy work.description

This Initiative is dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and addressing the root causes of gender-based violence (GBV) within immigrant communities. The initiative focuses on a range of activities, including community conversations that engage both women and men in dialogue about women’s rights, GBV, and prevention strategies. These discussions aim to break the silence around violence, educate communities on how to recognize and prevent abuse, and empower individuals to take action against it. The initiative also provides a safe space for survivors and vulnerable community members, where they can seek emotional support, access resources, and engage in healing activities. Through these spaces, women are given the opportunity to share their stories, find solidarity, and begin their journey toward recovery.

Along with direct support, training community leaders – including educators, local organization leaders, and other influencers – is a core component of this initiative. These trainings focus on building cultural competency around gender-based violence, equipping leaders with the tools to address GBV in immigrant communities and ensuring that interventions are both effective and culturally sensitive. The project is implemented primarily in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York City, with virtual outreach extending to other areas across the United States, including Minneapolis, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Furthermore, the initiative extends its impact internationally, reaching communities in the Horn of Africa through virtual platforms, ensuring that the conversation on GBV transcends borders and builds global solidarity for women’s rights and safety. This comprehensive approach is helping to create a more just and safe environment for immigrant women and their families, wherever they may be.