Categories
Accompaniment Sanctuary Updates

Caminos de Esperanza: Voces de Migrante / Pathways of Hope: Migrant Voices

Spanish community focused project: extension of Love Over Fear ( Launch July 20, 2025)

In these times of persecution against immigrants, we seek to create empathy, sensitivity, and understanding by uplifting courageous immigrant journeys. In the darkness, they find the light of hope in their journeys—through love over fear.

At IM4HI we believe that immigrants, especially those who have experienced the challenges of our immigration system firsthand, know best how we can collectively serve those in their same immigration journeys. 

Join us as we uplift the work of Caminos de Esperanza: Voces de Migrante / Pathways of Hope: Migrant Voices led by Pablo Guerrero.


About Pablo’s Work

We’re honored to highlight the leadership and talents of Pablo Guerrero, an asylum-seeker from Nicaragua who has become an invaluable member of the IM4HI community. Pablo offers pro-se legal clinics and consultations to families in our Accompaniment Programs, helping empower them to stand in love over fear.Beyond his legal work, Pablo created and leads Caminos de Esperanza, a powerful storytelling initiative that centers the lived experiences of immigrants and asylum seekers. Through visual narratives, his work raises awareness and fosters empathy for those who have migrated—individuals who continue to face immense challenges with unwavering resilience and hope.

Caminos De Esperanza’s First Conversation 

A Message from Pablo

At the heart of this project is a deep desire to create space for connection, compassion, and truth-telling. Inspired by the courageous journeys of those who migrate in search of safety and dignity, this work is rooted in love, community, and the power of story.

Before we invite you to explore the highlights from our launch event, we are honored to share a few words from the project’s leader—words that beautifully capture the spirit and purpose behind Paths of Hope. Read original statement in Spanish here

“This program seeks to raise awareness and empathy for the stories of those who have migrated, facing obstacles similar to those of turtles that travel long journeys with hope and perseverance.

The reasons for migration are diverse: political persecution, violence, poverty, discrimination, among others. Each story reflects their struggle and desire to live. Those who decide to migrate face a journey full of obstacles and dangers, but also dreams, hope, and a great willingness to move forward for a better future.

Each story we will share in this space reflects that same willingness to fight and to trust in a more positive destiny. I invite you to open your hearts, to listen with empathy, and to understand that behind each testimony there is a story of struggle, dreams, and hope.

Thank you for being part of this dream, of this initiative that seeks to bring us closer together and help us get to know each other more deeply. On our journey, your love has been our hope.

Now, let’s start walking.” 

– Pablo Guerrero

Categories
Accompaniment

Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Teams (NEAT)

Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Team Program celebrating immigrant families thriving, in February 2020 and May 2023.

Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Team (NEAT) program trains San Francisco Bay Area congregations to form a team to walk alongside recently arrived immigrants for six months. The teams support the immigrants’ self-sufficiency by introducing them to local resources. By working toward families’ goals together, we create sanctuary, safety, and friendship in the community. 

We are creating beloved community. Since 2015, we have accompanied nearly 300 people from all over the world. We accompany recently arrived immigrants of all immigration statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We have accompanied people from Cuba, Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Eritrea, Egypt, Mongolia, Philippines, Afghanistan, Brazil, Laos, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Fiji, Vietnam. All are welcome here.

  • To learn more about families and congregations who have accompanied them, read our NEAT Stories or watch our video: “From Root Causes to Sanctuary”.
  • If you are interested in participating in NEAT, you can form a team through your congregation! Please review our introductory materials to get started.  
  • Individuals, congregations, and organizations can also partner with us by offering:
    • Hosted Housing – Offer temporary respite housing by hosting a newcomer family in your home, in-law unit, or apartment building for free or reduced cost for 1-3 months . Click HERE to learn more.
    • Welcome Navigator: Be a welcoming presence for families facing immigration court at the new Concord Courthouse.  See our upcoming webinar and training. Click HERE to learn more.
  • Meet our 2024 student interns!

Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Teams (NEAT) 2019-2020 appreciation video

Questions? Comments? Ready to start? Contact our NEAT Coordinator, Nadia Tavera: ntavera@im4humanintegrity.org

NEAT baby blessing, June 2022
NEAT gathering
Categories
Accompaniment

Welcome Navigators

*Calling bilingual Spanish-English speakers ONLY*

Have You Ever Stepped Foot in a Courtroom?

Imagine defending your case in a foreign language and unfamiliar environment, with the outcome determining whether you return to danger or find safety. This is the reality for asylum seekers at the new Immigration Courthouse in Contra Costa County.

Join the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) and the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA) as a Welcome Navigator at the new Concord Immigration Courthouse!

Help provide comfort and clarity to families arriving at immigration court. As a Welcome Navigator, you can:

  • Give basic directions within the courthouse
  • Connect migrants to the attorney of the Day -on site-
  • Be a friendly face in a time of fear

Interested?
To become a Welcome Navigator, please follow these steps:

Step 1) Watch our updated online info session with general information about the Concord Immigration Court (50 mins)

Step 2:  Watch our video training on Important Principles of Accompaniment, since being a Welcome Navigator is a form of Accompaniment (36 mins)

Step 3: Contact Sergio Jaime at sergio@cocoira.org to schedule an in-person training.