Stop the Hate has become foundational to Fresno Immigrant and Refugee Ministries (FIRM), strengthening programs that advance belonging, safety and community leadership.
Early in the initiative, FIRM convened multilingual listening and healing sessions in Hmong, Lao and Khmer during the COVID-19 pandemic, when anti-Asian hate was deeply affecting Southeast Asian American communities. These gatherings created trusted spaces for stories that had often gone unreported.
The insights from those sessions informed a community report and recommendations that helped guide FIRM’s program development and advocacy. Through its weekly multilingual radio program on KBIF 900 AM, FIRM also raised awareness of Stop the Hate resources and created a shared platform for community dialogue in Hmong, Khmer and Lao.
FIRM expanded its regional role by supporting partners in Merced with interpretation, communications, media outreach and Know Your Rights training. Its Merced is for Everyone project, featuring original artwork by a local Hmong artist and resources shared through local businesses, helped reinforce a public message of belonging across the community.
FIRMinc.org (opens in a new tab)