Our Policy & Engagement Work
Through support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IECF launched The Office of Policy & Engagement in 2021. The Office’s objective is to address inequities in the Inland Empire by creating greater policy capacity in the region. To accomplish this, we collaborate with community-based organizations and uplift their ideas, amplifying a greater voice and influence on policymakers and the region’s major institutions.
Since its inception, the Office of Policy & Engagement has hosted virtual and in-person gatherings, including annual Forums and multiple workshops that give our collaborators the tools they need to build policy capacity and ensure policymakers hear the needs of the Inland Empire region at the local, state, and federal levels. Regional partners come together with agreed-upon priorities to better our communities and create a shared language and understanding of how the legislative budget process works. Working with an equity lens, our focus is on five policy priorities: education equity, inclusive economic development, housing, health and climate and the environment.
2023 Policy & Engagement Forum
Our 3rd Annual Policy & Engagement Forum, held on August 9th and 10th at the Riverside Convention Center, was a resounding success!
The insightful discussions, thought-provoking conversations, and collaborative spirit that filled the sold-out forum were genuinely inspiring.
The forum provided an exceptional platform to connect with the region’s leaders, innovators, and change-makers around five policy priority areas: Education Equity; Inclusive Economic Development; Housing; Health; and Climate and Environment. Attendees tell us that the opportunities for one-on-one conversations added an important layer to the discussions and enriched the overall experience for all. We are confident that the ideas and solutions generated during the event will continue to advance and influence positive actions in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you again to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as our Presenting Sponsor and all our sponsors, partners and facilitators, Board and Policy committee members, and staff who have worked tirelessly to make this event possible. We sincerely thank our distinguished speakers and panelists for their invaluable contributions to the forum. Their expertise and dedication were stimulating and led us toward actionable solutions.
As we move forward, we encourage you to stay engaged with IECF and continue contributing your expertise and passion to our shared mission. Together, we can continue to create a lasting impact in the Inland Empire region and beyond.
We want to hear from you! If you attended the Forum, please fill out our survey to share your feedback and what we can do to enhance your experience with us.
2022 Policy & Engagement Series:
In September 2022, IECF, along with the Inland Empire Community Collaborative, hosted regional Policy Capacity Building Workshops to help our community advocate and engage in the state legislative and budget processes. View the recorded sessions below.
Read more about the workshops in the blog here.
Inland Empire Public Affairs Table:
The Inland Empire Public Affairs Table is made up of regional “policy wonks”. This collective body identifies and amplifies the regional voice as a means of encouraging policymakers at all levels – local, state, and federal – to act in the interests of the Inland Empire. The goal is for this cross-sectoral body of policy experts in the region to help establish and build a strong relationship with policymakers in order help shape policy, influence the region’s policy priorities, and serve as a policy vetting source for the IE Caucus.
Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity Table:
The Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity Table focuses on inclusive economic development through collaboration on medium and long-term paths toward a resilient economy. It mobilizes a diverse set of community leaders from Riverside and San Bernardino counties and focuses on advancing inclusive economic growth and expanding middle class opportunity in the region. The goal is to take bold steps that generate more quality middle-skill jobs that earn family-sustaining wages, and make them accessible to all workers in the region, particularly those without a four-year degree.
Inland Empire Children’s Cabinet:
The Inland Empire Children’s Cabinet is a table bringing together service providers and policy experts to address the regional challenges around equitable access to quality early childhood education, child care, and youth support. The goal is to craft an attainable policy agenda and act on identified policy priorities.
Dual Enrollment Table:
The Inland Empire Community Foundation is partnering with Growing Inland Achievement in convening state and regional dual enrollment experts to identify implementation challenges and barriers – particularly for our students of color. The goal is to develop near-term attainable policy solutions that can successfully be implemented in the region and across California.
Legislation & Budget Priorities
Regional:
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Our nonprofits are delivering critical services and supplies to the region of nearly 5 million residents. Unfortunately, the second round of CARES Act funding limited the breadth and capacity of these services. A letter was submitted to the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino advocating for the inclusion of nonprofits in the relief package as partners in the dissemination of funds and services.
NPO Support Letter to the County of Riverside
NPO Support Letter to the County of San Bernardino
Children’s Cabinet Support Letter to the County of Riverside
Children’s Cabinet Support Letter to the County of San Bernardino
State:
Budget
Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF): The Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity (IEGO) Executive Committee and its Members wrote a letter of support of fully appropriating the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) at $750 million as proposed in the Governor’s May Budget Revision.
Support Letter
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Our nonprofits are delivering critical services and supplies to the region of nearly 5 million residents. Unfortunately, the second round of CARES Act funding limited the breadth and capacity of these services. A letter was submitted to the California State Legislature advocating for the inclusion of nonprofits in the relief package as partners in the dissemination of funds and services.
Support Letter
Legislation
Assembly Bill 14 (Aguiar-Curry)/Senate Bill 4 (Gonzalez): These bills will help close the digital divide and meet the connectivity needs of Californians.
Support Letter
Assembly Bill 106 (Salas): This bill requests an investment that will help support the creation or advancement of comprehensive strategies for the rebuilding of regional economies in a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable manner. The program seeks to ensure that disadvantaged communities and communities of color are fully included in decision-making processes around key issues impacting regional economic prosperity.
Support Letter
Assembly Bill 288 (Bonta): This bill would prohibit the displacement of student aid awards due to receipt of private scholarships for students who are eligible for the Pell Grant at institutions of higher education.
Support Letter (Link)
Assembly Bill 928 (Berman): This bill would to transform the transfer process for California’s community college students by simplifying the transfer maze and strengthening the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway in order to improve racially equitable access to transfer attainment and ensuring that California establishes statewide coordination and goals to improve transfer rates.
Support Letter
Federal:
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Our nonprofits are delivering critical services and supplies to the region of nearly 5 million residents. Unfortunately, the second round of CARES Act funding limited the breadth and capacity of these services. A letter was submitted to the United States Congress advocating for the inclusion of nonprofits in the relief package as partners in the dissemination of funds and services.
Support Letter
Build Back Better Regional Challenge: The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is designed to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks. The Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity table is competing for a portion of the $1 Billion available in order to grow new regional industry clusters and scale existing ones through planning, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, workforce development, access to capital, and more.
Inland Empire Delegation
County Board of Supervisors
County of Riverside
Coming soon
County of San Bernardino
Coming soon
Inland Empire Caucus
Coming soon
Inland Empire Congressional Delegation
Coming soon
Julian Y. Cuevas
Director of Policy & Governmental Affairs
951-990-9877