In the Inland Empire, young people are stepping forward with clear ideas about the schools and communities they want to see. Through a year of hosting “Freedom Dreaming Sessions” and learning from students at our Education Equity Summit, we understand that youth are asking for classrooms where they feel seen, policies that reflect their lived experiences, and opportunities that allow them to thrive without leaving their neighborhoods behind.
The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) is backing that vision. In September 2025, IECF awarded nearly $1 million in grants to 12 grassroots organizations working to expand educational opportunity. These partners represent immigrant families, faith communities, LGBTQ+ youth, Latino parents, and others who are pushing for stronger schools and fairer opportunities.
“Our work affirms the power of our region’s youth and their communities to lead with vision and courage,” said Michelle Decker, IECF’s President and CEO. “What we’re building together is an education system that ensures every young person has a pathway to thrive and that their voices are heard and shape the future.”
Our 2025 grantees span the region and bring deep expertise. BLU Education Foundation is building coalitions to dismantle systemic barriers. COPE is mobilizing faith leaders and parents to advocate for education justice. TruEvolution and IE Prism are making sure LGBTQ+ youth have a say in shaping policy and schools that affirm who they are. The Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective and Alianza are walking alongside immigrant and Latino families as they organize for better access and academic support. Millionaire Mind Kids, Sigma Beta Xi, Game Changers, and MALO are raising up the next generation of youth leaders, while Codex Creation and IE United are building momentum through conferences, coalition-building, and advocacy.
Each of these groups carries the voice of young people into places where decisions are made: school boards, policy forums, community gatherings, and faith spaces. Young people are showing that they’re not waiting on decisions to be made for them. They are stepping up as leaders.
IECF’s Education Equity Program is designed to strengthen and expand this work. Its priorities reflect what families and students have asked for: school-community partnerships, youth leadership, identity-affirming education, timely responses to urgent needs, and developing civic power that lasts. Our commitment to the vital condition of Lifelong Learning guides the program, ensuring that every young person in the Inland Empire has access to knowledge, skills, and opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom.
“Here’s what the numbers don’t tell you: Every dollar represents a freedom dream being resourced,” said Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan, IECF’s Education Equity Program Officer. “Every grant is a young person’s vision being validated. And we’re just getting started.”
This funding is possible thanks to support from the Gates Foundation. We’re grateful for their commitment to advancing Education Equity in the Inland Empire. IECF believes that our youth are ready to lead and that their leadership will shape the region’s future.
For more information on IECF’s Education Equity Program and to learn about each 2025 grantee’s funded programming, visit iegives.org/funds/education-equity.
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