Hooriya Hussain’s Global Path to Advocacy with Human Rights Campaign
For Hooriya Hussain, volunteering has always been more than just a weekend activity—it’s a fundamental part of her identity. Hussain is a volunteer leader for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and sits on the organization’s National Board of Governors, but her journey is shaped by her upbringing in Qatar, her identity as a South Asian Muslim immigrant, and her passion for human rights. From her work advocating for equitable education in underserved communities to her involvement in grassroots activism for LGBTQ+ rights, Hussain’s story is one of resilience, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.Hussain was born and raised in Qatar, a country she describes as having “vast economic divides between the wealthy locals and the many migrant workers who support the booming economy.”“I grew up in the Middle East in a largely Indian private school,” she says, explaining that most private schools were typically Arab and wealthy. Her school, with over 10,000 students, was a great equalizer—a place where all wore uniforms, hiding any wealth or relative lack thereof, and focused on education regardless of their backgrounds. For Hussain, school represented stability and opportunity, two things not easily afforded to many in the migrant communities around her. Courtesy of Hooriya HussainHoori in the center wearing a white headband“All I wanted to do was go to school,” she recalls, emphasizing how education was a cherished privilege in her family. Though they struggled financially, with her family relying on aid to send all five children to the same school, Hussain’s experience instilled in her a belief in the transformative power of education and the fundamental right to receive a good one.Hussain explains that her family experience, one of hardship and resilience, undergirds her volunteer lifestyle. She says that as immigrants in a country where visas are controlled by work permits, they navigated life with the constant fear of deportation, as her father’s jobs in the military ebbed and flowed, and he was frequently unemployed. “We never threw away boxes,” Hussain remembers, explaining how her family always had to be ready to pack up and leave at a moment’s notice. Growing up in an environment with a fundamental lack of security stuck with her. She’s impassioned to fight for others to have access to the opportunities she had to fight so hard to secure. Education was the core of that vision, and it became a mission in her budding career.As she left school, Hussain started working for global nonprofits focused on education and humanitarian aid in South Asia and the Middle East. She built schools and implemented community programs in countries like Indonesia and Cambodia and says the work was deeply personal. “For me, it just felt like this is what I needed when I was a kid,” she says. The faces she saw were familiar—children wearing the same school uniforms she once wore and living in conditions that mirrored her experiences. It wasn’t just work for her; it became her mission.But as Hussain’s professional work took her around the world, her heart stayed close to the migrant worker communities in Qatar, where she grew up. Seeing firsthand the inequities faced by these communities—who lived in labor camps and were often stripped of their fundamental human rights—she got into underground activism, volunteering for Amnesty International and focusing on supporting migrant workers. “I saw myself as part of those people in those camps, and that’s why I felt this urge that something had to be done,” she says. Her efforts included organizing food drives and finding ways to offer support, even when it meant operating in the shadows due to the sensitive political climate in Qatar.This advocacy work came with risks. Whistleblowers within Hussain’s network started losing their work permits and faced legal repercussions for speaking out. Eventually, she felt she had to stop working underground and moved to San Diego in 2016 through a work transfer at a biotech company. She describes the culture shock of moving from what she describes as family—and community-oriented Middle Eastern cultures to fast-paced Southern California, remembering a sense that though people were friendly and well-meaning, people in the United States can be much more individualistic. She wasn’t catching the vibrant discussions about social issues and the sense of collective responsibility she had been used to in her communities back in Qatar.To add to the disillusionment, her work visa was rejected during a renewal process in 2018, which she notes happened during a particularly contentious time in immigration history during President Trump’s administration, a climate that persists today. Hussain was facing deportation—a situation she describes as familiar from childhood, so she knew what to do. However, she felt her life was unraveling while her work status was on hold and her future uncertain.Courtesy of Hooriya HussainHussain says that, during that time, a friend from the LGBTQ+ community encouraged her to volunteer for the Human Rights Campaign’s annual gala in San Diego. “All I wanted to do was just feel like I was doing something,” she says, recalling how volunteering became a lifeline. What started as one night of pro bono event crewing quickly evolved into a deeper involvement. “I got in immediately,” she says, taking on responsibilities within HRC’s steering committee and eventually becoming a digital communications leader. She says the work gave her a renewed sense of purpose and reconnected her to her activist and volunteer roots.Hussain’s roles at HRC are multifaceted. She leads digital communications for the San Diego chapter, serves on the National Board of Governors, and is a leader within the organization’s Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) affinity group. Her work involves everything from year-round organizing for volunteers and membership outreach to supporting grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations with funding and visibility. For Hussain, it’s about creating a more inclusive movement that centers the voices of those traditionally marginalized—especially within the LGBTQ+ advocacy space itself, which she contends can often be “very white spaces.” “It takes one to know one,” she emphasizes, underscoring the importance of having diverse leaders who understand the nuances of intersectional identities.Navigating the complexities of being a queer, South Asian, Muslim immigrant has given Hussain a unique perspective on advocacy, she thinks. She recognizes the challenges faced by those who straddle multiple marginalized identities, particularly in cultures where being queer is not widely accepted or even safe.For Hussain, San Diego’s diversity—often hidden by geographic and social divides—offers challenges and opportunities for activism and impact. She dedicates herself to bridging these divides by elevating underrepresented voices and driving change at the local level through organizing campaigns for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth or supporting pro-equality candidates in political office. “Advocacy is more than just speaking up—it’s about systemic change and building communities that uplift one another,” she says.Hussain’s humanist spirit has taken her from underground activism in Qatar to her leadership role at HRC San Diego, a journey that taught her the reality of intersectionality, the necessity of community support, and the enduring belief that change is possible even in the most materially and politically tense conditions. For now, San Diego has become where she continues to fight for that change, helping to bring the voices of all marginalized people out from the shadows.The post Hooriya Hussain’s Global Path to Advocacy with Human Rights Campaign appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
Promises2Kids Creates Hope for San Diego’s Foster Youth
Promises2Kids is having a transformative 2024. The flagship local nonprofit is doubling down on its commitment to San Diego’s foster youth by launching several innovative, multi-faceted programs that are the first of their kind in town. Founded by philanthropist Joan Waitt to address the critical needs of over 3,000 foster kids annually, Promises2Kids has evolved into a full-scale support network spanning education, mentorship, and mental health services. At its heart is CEO Tonya Torosian, who operates with the philosophy of putting the needs of the children that they serve at the center of all efforts. “Youth voice is critical in everything we do,” she says, underscoring the organization’s efforts to gather direct feedback from program participants through open-mic-style dinners with kids and organization leadership, surveys, and a program implementing foster youth as peer mentors. Promises2Kids ensures its work isn’t just about helping from the outside but creating transformative, community-based change.In January 2024, the org took over the county’s mentorship program, which encompasses kids in foster care between the ages of 5 and 18. The subsumed program offers one-on-one support similar to a “Big Brothers Big Sisters” program, pairing children with adult mentors who provide guidance and companionship. Unlike Promises2Kid’s already successful Guardian Scholars program, which focuses on career and educational mentorship for those 18 and older, this newer program, which is growing and continuing to take shape, aims for early intervention. Torosian says that after transferring existing mentor matches from the county, Promises2Kids has already enrolled around 30 children, with plans to match 20 more by the end of the year—almost doubling the program in its first year. The goal is to supplement however much or little support foster children receive in their home environments by providing additional long-term relationships and network-building.These relational supports are crucial to addressing the unique challenges facing children raised in foster care, especially concerning mental health. Torosian explains that mental health treatment is a “significant focus” for Promises2Kids. Previously, the organization worked with agencies and MediCal to access mental health practitioners, but found that because of the specialized care foster youth often require, the children in their care weren’t receiving the nuanced treatment they needed. “We didn’t want wait lists,” Torosian says, adding that immediate, comprehensive care is crucial to addressing at-risk adolescent health needs. So this year, the organization brought its therapy program in-house and currently has one full-time doctor on staff treating youth, eliminating the need to deal with MediCal or other payment and treatment hiccups. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Promises2Kids (@promises2kids)Presently serving people over 18, Promises2Kids has plans for the program to expand, eventually offering individual therapy and group sessions to tackle topics like social anxiety, substance abuse, and navigating safe relationships. In the near future, the hope is to expand this program to include multi-faceted support addressing the cycle of child abuse by helping young parents who have aged out of the foster care system. Torosian explains that many Promises2Kids’ recent program graduates are now parents themselves, so the organization is developing a comprehensive family resource center to support them. She paints a picture of a resource center where young families can congregate for meals, get developmental assessments for children, receive parent education, and even access respite care so that young parents can find relief while building community as they navigate the challenges of raising their children.In late 2024, Promises2Kids will announce a new initiative with the Lucky Duck Foundation and San Diego County’s Regional Task Force on Homelessness. The trio will launch a two-year pilot program to prevent homelessness among youth aging out of the foster system—one-third of whom will become homeless within two years, Torosian says.Promises2Kids designed the pilot program to blend career and financial literacy support with direct monthly cash assistance—$1,000 per participant. “At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to money,” Torosian says bluntly, acknowledging the practical challenge of securing housing and keeping adult responsibilities afloat without a stable income. “You can provide all the support in the world, but if they don’t have money, none of it is going to matter,” she says.The new program also includes a housing and career navigator to help participants find sustainable housing and employment opportunities. Torosian hopes that participants’ increased earning potential by the end of two years of training and other support will make $1,000 a month unnecessary, building long-term stability and providing a graduation from the program of sorts.Torosian’s strategy is to be proactive in creating pathways to success. Alongside these programs, Promises2Kids is also looking to address another significant need: breaking the cycle of child abuse by supporting young parents who have aged out of the foster care system. Many Promises2Kids program participants are now parents themselves, and the organization is developing a comprehensive family resource center to support them. Torosian describes her dream of a center where young families congregate for meals, get developmental assessments for children, receive parent education, and even have access to on-demand care so young parents can find relief and community as they navigate the challenges of raising their own children.Near the end of our conversation, Torosian makes an important point. “We are completely philanthropy-funded,” clarifying that they don’t get government grants or stipends, as is sometimes assumed of nonprofits working with agencies tasked with managing foster youth. They rely on community support, the independence from which allows them to be agile and responsive to the ever-changing and specific needs of San Diego’s foster community in a way that government agencies can struggle to achieve.For those looking to help, Torosian says they are always accepting volunteers, whether as mentors, event planners, or for other boards and program direction. Fundraising is also crucial to sustaining these programs—upcoming events benefiting Promises2Kids include a Holiday Gift Drive for foster youth and an annual spring whiskey-tasting fundraiser called Distilled.“We are laser-focused on only things that work… We are much more effective when we are able to respond directly to what youth need,” Torosian says of Promises2Kids.“We’re not just trying to provide a service,” she says, “we’re trying to give foster youth an entire community and a sense of belonging. It’s about meeting their needs, elevating their futures, and ensuring that every foster child has the support to succeed.”Promises2Kids held its annual gala on September 9, 2024. To volunteer or donate head to promises2kids.org. On Friday, October 4, Del Mar Wine & Food Festival will host the Cowboy Coastal dinner with Experience Scottsdale at a private La Jolla home, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Promise2Kids. Get tickets here. The post Promises2Kids Creates Hope for San Diego’s Foster Youth appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
10 San Diego Nonprofit Events to Attend This October
Del Mar Wine + Food Festival Grand Tasting & Coastal Cowboy DinnerOctober 4From October 2-7, the second annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival kicks off, with all Grand Tasting ticket proceeds benefiting Feeding San Diego. On October 4, as part of the culinary dinner series, a Coastal Cowboy dinner with Experience Scottsdale will be held to support Promises2Kids.San Diego Civic Dance Arts Fundraising Nights of Theater (FNOT)October 4On October 4, the Casa Del Prado Theater will host this fundraising event to support San Diego’s theater arts programs and other community initiatives.San Diego Humane Society’s 38th Annual “Fur Ball” GalaOctober 5The 38th annual Fur Ball gala will take place on October 5. It will offer a night of cocktails, silent and live auctions, and a vegetarian meal by chef Jeffrey Strauss. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Humane Society’s animal welfare programs.Ronald McDonald House Dinner With FriendsOctober 5On October 5, enjoy a Kentucky Derby-themed dinner to support Ronald McDonald House‘s mission of providing care for families with children undergoing medical treatments.Kitchens for Good: WastedOct 9 & 13The first part of this two-part event, the Dinner Party, occurs on October 9 at Building 177 in Liberty Station. The follow-up Food Festival happens on October 13 at South Promenade, Liberty Station, where chefs craft small plates from food items typically wasted. Proceeds benefit Kitchens for Good’s sustainability programs.Feeding San Diego: Pairings with a Purpose Dinner PartyOctober 10Join an intimate dinner at a newly renovated Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. The evening will highlight Feeding San Diego’s hunger relief programs, particularly the School Pantry Program. It will feature dishes by chefs like Jason McLeod, Nic Webber, and Yara Lamers, with a dessert by chef Claudia Sandoval. Proceeds will aid over 100,000 local children experiencing hunger.Raise Up for MonarchOctober 10Also, on October 10, the Monarch School Project’s fundraiser will take place at its Barrio Logan campus. The event features campus tours, student performances, and food and drink to support unhoused youth through Monarch School programs.The New Children’s Museum’s “The Magical Treehouse” GalaOctober 14The downtown museum will host its annual gala, featuring a storybook-inspired theme, live entertainment, food, art installations, and a live auction. Proceeds benefit access and impact programs for children, including free field trips for Title I schools.DIGNI-TEA Event by Alliance San DiegoOctober 24Hosted at San Diego Made, this charity tea time supports Alliance San Diego’s mission to foster community connections and increase civic engagement.Voice of Our City Choir Gala and Benefit ConcertOctober 26This gala, set for October 26, will take place at San Diego’s waterfront venue EVE. The soirée will include live jazz, cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a performance by the choir to support its mission of empowering the homeless community through music. Ticket sales will benefit housing, health, and community programs.The post 10 San Diego Nonprofit Events to Attend This October appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
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