Houston City Beat · Media partner
Arrival
Awards
The journeys that shape Houston.
Stories of achievement, belonging and service from the University of Houston Law Center’s Arrival Awards.
The campaign begins at Art of the World Gallery.
Photo by Mike Acosta / Houston City Beat.
Next: January 27, 2027 · Daikin Park
Presented by the University of Houston Law Foundation · Supporting the UH Law Center Immigration Clinic
Join the 27×27 campaign
Give. Share. Inspire.
Support the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic and help bring immigrant stories to a wider audience. The 27×27 campaign connects charitable giving with stories of success, service and resilience.
Gifts help sustain free legal representation and hands-on training for future immigration lawyers. Sharing a personal story or words of encouragement celebrates the people and journeys behind that work.
A gift. A story. A lasting impact.
Choose $27, $270, $2,700 or another amount on the official campaign giving page.
After giving: Keep the confirmation screen open and follow its story-submission link. That link is not included in the emailed receipt.
Submit an immigrant success story or inspirational quote for consideration. Selected entries may appear on the Arrival Awards website or UH social channels; publication is not guaranteed.
01 / The kickoff
One evening.
A bigger story ahead.
October 13, 2026 · Art of the World Gallery
Houston City Beat joined the Arrival Awards as a media partner for the campaign’s VIP kickoff and exhibition unveiling. The evening brought the campaign’s people and purpose together in a space devoted to art from around the world.
Our coverage begins here, with photographs and conversations from the kickoff, and continues through the gala and the stories of the award recipients.
Explore the official Arrival Awards campaign.
The kickoff photo journal
Photos by Mike Acosta / Houston City Beat.
01 · Mike Acosta, Art of the World Gallery co-owner Liliana Molina, and Lisbet Newton.
02 · Saula Centa Valente during an Arrival Awards interview.
03 · Guests gather for the Arrival Awards kickoff at Art of the World Gallery.
04 · Mike Acosta, Mauricio Vallejo and Lisbet Newton at the kickoff.
05 · Nina Magon speaking during the kickoff program.
06 · Mike Acosta, advocate Ronaldo Salgado, and Lisbet Newton.
07 · Ronaldo Salgado in conversation with Lisbet Newton.
08 · Mike Acosta, Dori Contreras and Veronica Rivas Molloy at the kickoff.
02 / The video collection
Meet the people.
Hear their stories.
A growing collection of Houston City Beat conversations, recipient films, and videos from the Immigration Clinic and Beacons of Light, bringing the people and purpose behind the Arrival Awards into focus.
Recipient films · Coming soon
The honorees, in their own words.
Individual award-recipient videos will appear here as the series is released.
Clinic videos · Coming soon
Inside the Immigration Clinic
Videos from the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic will join this collection as they become available.
Beacon videos · Coming soon
Voices of the Beacons of Light
Hear directly from the Beacons of Light in videos that will be added here as they are released.
Conversations from the kickoff
Our first interviews have been recorded. The videos below are in production and will be added as they are ready.
Interview in production
Anna Cabot
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Katwing Comby
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Leticia Leal
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Liliana Molina
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Ruby Powers
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Mauricio Vallejo
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Veronica Rivas-Molloy
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Dori Contreras
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Roberto Blum
Video coming soon
Interview in production
Ronaldo Salgado
Video coming soon
Additional conversations and recipient stories will join the collection throughout the campaign.
03 / Why it matters
A story of opportunity.
A commitment to service.
The Arrival Awards celebrate immigrant achievement while building support for the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic.
The Clinic provides pro bono legal representation and gives law students supervised, hands-on experience. Support for the campaign helps strengthen that work for the Houston community and beyond.
04 / Coming next
The Arrival Awards Gala
Wednesday, January 27, 2027
Daikin Park
501 Crawford Street · Houston, Texas
The campaign’s next gathering celebrates immigrant achievement, community leadership and the work of the Immigration Clinic.
The story continues.
Return here for the next chapter of HCB’s Arrival Awards coverage, including gala photographs, interviews and highlights as they become available.
For the latest event details, visit the official Arrival Awards website.
Houston City Beat · Arrival Awards
Houston is a city of stories.
This is one worth following.
As a media partner, HCB is helping share the voices, moments and community impact of the Arrival Awards. This page will grow from the kickoff to the gala and beyond.