OUR STORY

Immigrating Youth Texas (IYT) was born from a spontaneous protest and from two women who refused to stay silent.
Gigi and Stephy met not as colleagues, but as strangers standing shoulder to shoulder, watching a system fail the very children it was meant to protect. In that moment, what began as outrage became a calling.

What started as a reaction became a movement.
What started with two voices became a promise.

We exist for the children who are displaced, overlooked, and forgotten whether they crossed a border or were born into broken systems here in the U.S. We fight for those who are caught in policies that label them as problems instead of people. These are the children who deserve more than survival, they deserve safety, care, and the chance to rebuild.

IYT was built by women who believe in action rooted in love, healing, and truth. Gigi and Stephy have turned pain into purpose from protests to classrooms, from community vigils to cultural celebrations always centered around one truth: 

we protect them all, at all costs.

Through advocacy, education, healing-centered action, and collective power, IYT works to transform how communities respond to displaced youth.
Our mission is clear: to build the first self-sustaining sanctuary in Texas for displaced children. a place where they are not just housed, but held, empowered, and equipped to rebuild their lives.

This is more than a shelter.
It’s a sanctuary built by the people, for the people, a living, breathing community where justice meets joy and where every child is seen, heard, and loved.

OUR VISION

We envision a future where every displaced child whether by border, circumstance, or system is given more than temporary safety. They are given the space, support, and tools to heal and thrive with dignity.

By 2026, we will open the first self-sustaining sanctuary in Texas - a model rooted in community care, sustainability, and justice.
This sanctuary will:

• Partner with community health professionals to provide mental and medical care.
• Grow its own food through a community garden.
• Operate with renewable energy to reflect our commitment to a sustainable future.
• Offer education, art, and healing programs designed to help youth rediscover joy and self-worth.
   

This is not just a vision - it’s a blueprint for change.

From Houston to every city that carries stories of resilience, our goal is to create a national network of youth sanctuaries led by the very communities they serve.

We are not here to fit into broken systems.
We are here to build something better.

A home.
A future.
A movement that will not be silenced.

Because every child deserves more than safety
they deserve to belong.