VIP Kick-Off
Join the public launch of the 2027 Arrival Awards campaign at Art of the World Gallery and experience the debut of Journey of Becoming.
2027Arrival AwardsCelebrating 27 Years of Impact
2027 Arrival Awards
Celebrating 27 Years of Impact
Presented by the University of Houston Law FoundationBenefiting the University of Houston Law Center
Honor the Immigration Clinic’s legacy of service, celebrate immigrant achievement and help build the next generation of immigration lawyers serving Houston and beyond.
Arrival Awards campaign highlights
Arrival Awards Gala
Celebrate immigrant achievement, leadership and community impact at the 2027 Arrival Awards Gala at Daikin Park.
Share Your Story
A digital storytelling initiative will invite people to celebrate immigrant success, share their stories and support the Immigration Clinic.
Campaign Launch
VIP Kick-Off & Exhibition Unveiling
The 2027 Arrival Awards campaign will formally launch on October 13, 2026, at Art of the World Gallery with a public announcement and the unveiling of two exhibitions created in honor of the Arrival Awards.
Tuesday
October 13
6–8 p.m. · 2026
VIP Kick-Off & Public Announcement
The evening at Art of the World Gallery will introduce the people and initiatives shaping the 2027 Arrival Awards campaign and serve as the campaign’s public launch.
Exhibitions on View
Oct. 13 – Jan. 27
2026–2027
Art in Honor of the Arrival Awards
Two exhibitions by internationally recognized artists will run from October 13, 2026, through January 27, 2027, at Art of the World Gallery. A portion of proceeds from both exhibitions will benefit the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic.
Official Fine Arts Partner
Art of the World Gallery
Art of the World Gallery is the first confirmed partner of the 2027 Arrival Awards campaign and host of the October 13 VIP Kick-Off. The Houston gallery focuses on modern and contemporary art and represents internationally established living artists and masters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Exhibition dates: Both Arrival Awards exhibitions are scheduled to remain on view from October 13, 2026, through January 27, 2027.
Second Floor · Full-Floor Exhibition
The Journey of Becoming
Occupying the gallery’s entire second floor, The Journey of Becoming is a monumental exhibition by Spanish realist master Cristóbal Toral. Presented in honor of the 2027 Arrival Awards of the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic and the Arrival Awards, the exhibition honors the extraordinary paths, resilience and contributions of those whose personal journeys shape our shared community.
Toral’s paintings, sculptures and installations use recurring images of luggage, solitary figures, transit spaces and wrapped packages to transform everyday objects of travel into symbols of memory, ambition, belonging and the human experience.
Through realistic detail and poetic surrealism, The Journey of Becoming explores the idea that people are defined not only by where they begin or where they arrive, but by the transformation that takes place along the way.
About Cristóbal Toral
Born in 1940 in Torre Alháquime, Cádiz, Spain, Toral is recognized for a highly personal artistic language combining realistic representation with dreamlike and symbolic imagery. Travel and journeys—real and imagined—are recurring themes throughout his career, with baggage becoming one of the most recognizable elements of his work.
His career has included solo exhibitions in Madrid, New York and Paris and work across oil painting, drawing, watercolor and sculpture. His autobiography, Life in a Suitcase, reflects the central role that movement, memory and travel have played in his artistic life.
Arrival Awards Artist of Distinction
Inner Landscape
Inner Landscape will feature a collection of works by Aníbal Vallejo, designated Arrival Awards Artist of Distinction, in honor of the Arrival Awards. A full exhibition description is forthcoming.
About Aníbal Vallejo
Aníbal Vallejo (b. 1975) is a contemporary Colombian artist from Medellín. Raised in a family of artists, musicians and writers, he studied fine arts at the University of Antioquia and fashion design at the Colombian College of Design.
His practice explores identity, memory and perception while combining painting with materials and techniques such as embroidery and textiles. Vallejo has participated in international group exhibitions and art fairs in cities including Paris, New York and Lima, while maintaining strong ties to his Colombian heritage.
The Journey of Becoming — Exhibition Highlights
Full-Floor Takeover
An immersive narrative experience encompassing the gallery’s entire second floor.
Signature Works
Paintings, sculptures and installations centered on Toral’s recurring imagery of luggage and human movement.
In Partnership with the Arrival Awards
A shared tribute to education, culture, perseverance and the transformative power of new beginnings.
27 Years of Service & Impact
A next chapter of advocacy, education and leadership
27x27 Digital Storytelling Campaign
Give. Share. Inspire.
The 27x27 campaign will connect philanthropic support for the Immigration Clinic with immigrant stories of success, service and impact.
Support 27x27
Make a gift through the dedicated 27x27 Campaign giving page. After your gift is complete, use the story-submission link shown on the confirmation screen to share your story.
Share your story after giving
After completing a 27x27 gift, donors will see the story-submission link on the donation confirmation screen. Stories or inspirational quotes may be considered for publication on the Arrival Awards website; selected entries may also be shared through UH channels.
2027 Arrival Awards Gala
January 27, 2027 · Daikin Park
The 2027 Arrival Awards Gala, presented by the University of Houston Law Foundation and benefiting the University of Houston Law Center, will celebrate immigrant achievement, community leadership and the work of the UH Law Center Immigration Clinic.
Save the Date
Wednesday, January 27, 2027
Daikin Park
501 Crawford Street
Houston, Texas
Ticket registration and sponsorship opportunities are now available through the official Arrival Awards event page.
What the celebration will recognize
- Immigrant achievement and success stories
- Community leaders and Beacons of Light
- Artists and creative partners connected to the milestone campaign
- The Immigration Clinic’s legacy and future impact
Event Leadership
Arrival Awards Leadership
Meet the leaders helping guide the 2027 Arrival Awards, including the Arrival Awards Chair, Beacons of Light Chair and Event Chairs.
Gordon J. Quan
Arrival Awards Chair · Senior Partner, Quan Law Group
Nationally recognized immigration attorney and longtime Houston civic and community leader.
Charles C. Foster
Event Chair · Chairman, Foster LLP
Immigration attorney, civic leader and longtime chairman of Asia Society Texas.
Lynden B. Rose
Event Chair · Regent, University of Houston System Board of Regents
Attorney, entrepreneur and University of Houston alumnus with decades of civic and business leadership.
Michael Trevino
Arrival Awards Event Chair
Serving as an Event Chair for the 2027 Arrival Awards.
Ruby L. Powers
Beacons of Light Chair · Founder & Managing Attorney, Powers Law Group
Leading the Beacons of Light recognition program for the 2027 Arrival Awards.
Beacons of Light
Meet the 27 Beacons of Light supporting the 2027 Arrival Awards.
Meet the Beacons of Light, learn about the recognition program and watch the video on YouTube
Executive Committee
The Arrival Awards is supported by an Executive Committee of immigration law, business and community leaders.
A Legacy of Recognition
Former Arrival Award Honorees
For more than two decades, the Arrival Awards have recognized immigrants whose leadership, service, professional achievement and community contributions have strengthened Houston and beyond.
29 Former Honorees
Explore the confirmed Arrival Award recipients from 2003 through 2019, organized by award year.
27 Years of Impact
See how the Arrival Awards and the Immigration Clinic have grown across a next chapter of advocacy, education, service and community leadership.
Support the Clinic
A $1 million investment in the Clinic’s future
The Immigration Clinic’s current fundraising case for support identifies a $1 million need to build capacity for a changing immigration law landscape, preserve essential legal services, support clients facing new costs and expand the pipeline of highly trained immigration lawyers.
$1 Million
Campaign goal identified in the Clinic’s current case for support.
Build Legal Capacity
Support additional staffing, including a clinical fellow, staff attorney and paralegal, so the Clinic can manage more complex federal, detention and removal matters.
Protect Access to Representation
Create resources for filing fees, expert witnesses and other client costs that cannot always be covered by restricted grants or university funds.
Expand Student Training
Develop advanced federal-court training, strengthen mentorship and create additional opportunities for students to gain direct experience in immigration practice.
Increase Pro Bono Service
Move toward quarterly pro se clinics and expand detention assistance that combines public service with supervised student learning.
Preserve Complex Case Work
Maintain the Clinic’s ability to represent people in removal proceedings, asylum matters and other cases requiring significant time and specialized expertise.
Prepare for Emerging Needs
Build flexible resources that allow the Clinic to respond to unanticipated changes in immigration law, funding and community need.
What can a gift make possible?
The Clinic’s funding overview connects philanthropic support to concrete legal-service and training needs. Examples include:
$500
Can support the fee for an Employment Authorization Document.
$1,000
Can support an asylum appeal filing fee or an expert witness in an asylum matter.
$5,000
Can support student representation in matters such as Special Immigrant Juvenile, affirmative asylum or bond proceedings, or help support the Immigration Law Workshop.
$10,000
Can support intensive representation in removal or federal habeas matters, a pro se clinic, or approximately one month of salary and benefits for a Clinic supervisor.
$80,000
Can support a year-long clerkship or fellowship opportunity for a recent graduate.
Gift examples reflect the Clinic’s current planning estimates and should be reviewed as campaign budgets and program costs are finalized.
What success could make possible
- Three additional full-time positions: a clinical fellow, staff attorney and paralegal.
- An advanced clinic course focused on federal court representation.
- Quarterly pro se clinics and expanded detention assistance.
- Continued representation in removal proceedings and asylum matters.
- Up to 12 student travel scholarships for intensive detention-center pro se assistance.
- A dedicated fund for client filing fees and expert-witness costs.
- Greater capacity to accept complex matters requiring additional time and expertise.
Ways to support the Arrival Awards
Choose the giving pathway that matches how you would like to participate: attend or sponsor the Arrival Awards, make a gift if you cannot attend, or support the 27x27 Digital Storytelling Campaign.
Attend or Sponsor the Arrival Awards
Purchase tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities for the January 27, 2027 gala.
Can’t Attend?
You can still support the Arrival Awards and the Immigration Clinic through the dedicated Arrival Awards giving page.
Join the 27x27 Campaign
Make a gift to the 27x27 Campaign and share your story or words of inspiration and encouragement. After donating, you'll find a link on your donation confirmation screen where you can submit your personal story, an inspirational message, or encouraging words to celebrate 27 years of impact through the Arrival Awards.
Selected stories and messages may be featured on the Arrival Awards website. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Day-of Event Giving
During the Arrival Awards gala, supporters can use the event giving page for day-of donations and campaign progress.
Get Involved
Volunteer With the Arrival Awards
Help create an exceptional guest experience at the October 13 VIP Kick-Off and Art Exhibition Opening or the January 27 Arrival Awards Gala.
Volunteer opportunities may include registration, greeting and wayfinding, hospitality, program support, event setup, fundraising activity support and other guest-experience assignments.
Media & History
A tradition of celebrating impact
Explore the history of the Arrival Awards through the event program, photography, honoree videos, news coverage and retrospective video. For the Immigration Clinic’s full 27-year story, visit the History & Impact page.
2019 Press Release
Read the September 4, 2019 announcement of the 20th Milestone Arrival Awards and its recognition of immigrant achievement, unity, respect, justice and hope.
University of Houston Law Center to honor outstanding immigrants for service to the community
20th Milestone Retrospective Gallery
Browse photography from the 2019 Arrival Awards Gala in the University of Houston Law Center Flickr album.
20th Milestone Honoree Videos
Watch videos featuring Arrival Award honorees from the 20th Milestone celebration.
20th Milestone VIP Kick-Off
The 20th Milestone campaign launched with a VIP reception that introduced honorees, event leadership, Beacons of Light and community partners while building early visibility and fundraising momentum.
More from the Immigration Clinic
Learn about the Clinic’s programs, students, community impact and ongoing work.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the campaign and Clinic
What does the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic do?
The Immigration Clinic provides 100% pro bono legal services while giving law students intensive, supervised, hands-on training. It represents approximately 120–130 clients annually through its regular representation process and serves about 30 additional people through annual pro se clinics.
Why does the Immigration Clinic need philanthropic support now?
The Clinic’s case for support identifies rising demand for complex immigration representation, restrictions affecting traditional funding, increased client filing and expert costs, and a need for greater expertise in detention, removal and federal court matters. Unrestricted philanthropy can help the Clinic adapt as those needs change.
What difference could a $1 million campaign make?
The Clinic’s current plan would use philanthropic support to increase staffing, expand federal-court and pro se training, preserve removal and asylum representation, create student detention-service opportunities, establish resources for filing fees and expert witnesses, and increase the Clinic’s capacity for complex cases.
What is the 2027 Arrival Awards campaign?
The campaign celebrates the Immigration Clinic’s legacy and impact, honors immigrant achievement, amplifies immigrant stories and builds support for the Clinic’s future.
What exhibitions are being presented in honor of the Arrival Awards?
Two exhibitions will be on view at Art of the World Gallery from October 13, 2026, through January 27, 2027. Cristóbal Toral’s The Journey of Becoming will occupy the second floor, and Arrival Awards Artist of Distinction Aníbal Vallejo will present Inner Landscape on the first floor. A portion of proceeds from both exhibitions will benefit the UH Law Center Immigration Clinic.
When is the 2027 Arrival Awards Gala?
The gala is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, 2027 at Daikin Park in Houston. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available through the official Arrival Awards event page.
Stay Connected
Follow the next chapter
Arrival Awards & Sponsorship
Event, sponsorship and campaign contact information will be added once the primary public contact is confirmed.
University of Houston Law Center
4170 Martin Luther King Blvd
Houston, TX 77204-6060
