Our Mission

At NINS, our mission is to illuminate the profound and positive impact immigrants have on our country and collective culture. We champion narratives that celebrate diversity, build community, and foster understanding. We believe that coming together over food and creating shared experiences can bridge divides.

From Vision to Community: The NINS Journey

NINS was founded by Dr. Vibha Gupta, an emergency room physician whose work—day and night—places her at the intersection of humanity’s resilience and its deepest challenges. Witnessing these moments firsthand inspired a desire to create meaningful, positive change beyond the hospital walls.

A second-generation daughter of Indian immigrants, Vibha’s personal journey, combined with her professional experiences, led her to create NINS as a way to channel frustration into purpose and to bring together her passions for food, culture, and community.

What began as a response to negative portrayals of immigrants in America has grown into a vibrant, evolving organization. NINS was created to be fun, transcendent, educational, and—above all—impactful. At its core, NINS is dedicated to fostering positive cultural exchange and providing tangible support within our communities.

Today, NINS continues to expand its reach while staying rooted in its founding mission: to create spaces where people can come together over shared experiences, build understanding, and bridge divides.

photo credit: scott hoag, rockwell creative

woman in red shirt reading "no immigrants no spice" speaking into a microphone with a blue sky and tree in the background

photo credit: scott hoag, rockwell creative

Bringing People to the Table: Our Approach

We believe in the power of food to unite. NINS creates community gatherings and impactful campaigns centered on shared culinary experiences that bring people together for meaningful conversations about immigration.

By partnering with local immigrant chefs, entrepreneurs and creatives we celebrate their stories and traditions while fostering deeper cultural understanding. Through these initiatives, we build community and raise vital funds for organizations that directly support immigrant communities.

Together, we are…

  
  Convening Communities
  
    We bring people together, fostering connection and celebration.
  
  2,000+ attendees have joined us at our vibrant live events, building bridges
  and sharing experiences.

    
  Fostering Belonging
  We create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and included.
  Through our initiatives, we actively cultivate a profound sense of safety,
  belonging, and inclusivity amongst our diverse attendees and followers.

    
  Amplifying Voices & Raising Awareness
  Our digital platforms spark conversations and engagement. 
  We reach a broad audience, raising awareness and engagement over social media, with 6,000+ Instagram users and 8,000+ website visitors experiencing our content and mission.

    
  Mobilizing Action
  Our community is built on collective effort.
We empower individuals to contribute, activating 100+ dedicated volunteers who are essential to our success.

    
  Investing in Immigrant Entrepreneurs
  We champion economic empowerment and connection.
 We actively invest in and connect our growing network of hundreds of immigrant entrepreneurs, providing platforms and opportunities for their stories and businesses to thrive.

Funding Critical Causes

We've raised significant funds for organizations dedicated to immigrant rights and community well-being.

2019

$12,000 for Pangea Legal and The National Immigrant Justice Center (from BBQ Without Borders)

2021

Provided $2000 of financial relief for Oakland restaurant workers during COVID-19.
Raised $4400 for the California Family Farmer Emergency fund
$4000 for CALMA in conjunction with Xingones
$1804 to Al Otro Lado
$1400 to Mothers to Mothers Postpartum Justice Campaign