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.
2024 Policy & Philanthropy Summit
Thanks so much to everyone who joined us for the 2024 Policy & Philanthropy Summit! Together, we’re building a tremendous sense of community and possibility for the Inland Empire. With nearly double last year’s attendance, we were thrilled to witness your enthusiasm and energy for creating a thriving region.
Conversations with local electeds, community leaders and state partners led to a clearer vision for strategies and implementation around Housing, Education and Belonging. There’s a lot of work to do, but the path ahead is coming into focus. We’re committed to using the Vital Conditions Framework to inform our work going forward, and we invite you to join the movement.
Learn how our region is contributing to community well-being using the Vital Conditions framework. Become a part of the newly formed Inland Empire Vital Conditions Network (IEVCN) and hear firsthand how our colleagues and neighbors are incorporating its objectives to enhance their work, while also gaining insights on how you can apply these innovative strategies to your own efforts.
We’d be thrilled to have your voice in the conversation as we demonstrate the Inland Empire’s commitment to creating a thriving community for all—no exceptions!
Inland Empire Delegation
Inland Empire State Assembly Members
34th District – Tom Lackey
36th District – Eduardo Garcia
39th District – Juan Carrillo
41st District – Chris R. Holden
45th District – James Ramos
47th District – Greg Wallis
50th District – Eloise Gómez Reyes
53rd District – Freddie Rodriguez
58th District – Sabrina Cervantes
59th District – Phillip Chen
60th District – Dr. Corey Jackson
63rd District – Bill Essayli
71st District – Kate A. Sanchez
Inland Empire Congressional Representatives
San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors
1st District – Paul Cook
2nd District – Jesse Armendarez
3rd District – Dawn Rowe
4th District – Curt Hagman
5th District – Joe Baca Jr.
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
1st District – Kevin Jeffries
2nd District – Karen Spiegel
3rd District – Chuck Washington
4th District – V. Manuel Perez
5th District – Yxstian Gutierrez
San Bernardino Board of Education
Trustee Area A – Ryan McEachron
Trustee Area B – Rita M. Fernandez-Loof
Trustee Area C – Laura Abernathy Mancha
Trustee Area D – Gwen Dowdy Rodgers
Trustee Area E – Andrea De Leon
Riverside County Board of Education
Trustee Area 1 – Kim Joseph Cousins
Trustee Area 2 – Ben Johnson II
Trustee Area 3 – Jamie Azpeitia-Sachs
Trustee Area 4 – Bruce N. Dennis
Trustee Area 5 – Ray “Coach” Curtis
Trustee Area 6 – Elizabeth F. Romero
Trustee Area 7 – Barbara Hale
Policy Committee
Jacob Mejia
Chair
Nefertiti Long
Board Chair
Jesse Melgar
Vice Chair
Michelle Decker
Graciela Moran
Sarah Moffat
ARKEN Strategies
Paulette Brown-Hinds
Dora Barilla
Benjamin Nate
Rob Field
Sean Varner
Graciela Moran
Associate Director of Policy & Community Engagement
951.529.6269
