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.

Read the 2023-2024 Policy Agenda

​2024 Policy & Philanthropy Summit

August 1-2, 2024 | Riverside Convention Center

The Inland Empire Community Foundation invites you to a dynamic, 2-day event where a convening of policymakers, nonprofits, philanthropists, and changemakers will focus on Investing to Thrive.

Elevating conversations from previous gatherings, we’ll leverage the Vital Conditions Framework and Thriving Together initiative as our roadmap to developing key landmarks of a thriving region, like education, food access, and housing. We’ll explore collaborative, equitable policy and investment strategies to unlock the IE’s full potential and ensure all residents have the chance to prosper.

Your voice matters! Together, we can build power to secure the resources needed for a flourishing Inland Empire where every resident has a greater sense of belonging. Register today!

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

Inland Empire Delegation

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

Jacob Mejia

Chair

Nefertiti Long

Nefertiti Long

Board Chair

Jesse Melgar

Jesse Melgar

Vice Chair

Michelle Decker

Michelle Decker

Graciela Moran

Graciela Moran

Sarah Moffat

Sarah Moffat

ARKEN Strategies

Paulette Brown-Hinds

Paulette Brown-Hinds

Dora Barilla

Dora Barilla

Benjamin Nate

Benjamin Nate

Rob Field

Rob Field

Sean Varner

Sean Varner

Graciela Moran

Graciela Moran

Associate Director of Policy & Community Engagement

951.529.6269

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