California Jobs First, formerly known as the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) was created by the California Legislature to promote a sustainable and equitable recovery from the economic distress from the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting new plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create high-quality, broadly accessible jobs for all Californians. CA Jobs First includes approximately $600M in rolling, competitive grants to be split between the state’s 13 regions from 2022 to 2026. It is a massive investment in regional inclusive economic development with the potential to drastically transform communities that have been historically disadvantaged and underprivileged.
As the Inland Empire prepares for a more technological, sustainable, carbon neutral future, it is imperative that we center the most important asset in the region: The People. The Inland Empire High Road Transition Collaborative (IE-HRTC) - now known as Thrive Inland SoCal - was created with CA Jobs First planning funds and is building the partnerships and capacity to make that future a reality.
Thrive Inland SoCal consists of five Committees, six Sub-regional Tables, and an Equity Council, and any resident of the region is welcome to join any (or many!) of these groups.
Catalyst Fund
In 2021, Governor Newsom launched the $600 million Regional Investment Initiative to create quality jobs and bolster California's resilience to climate and global challenges.
​
Thrive Inland SoCal received $14 million in Catalyst Funding, $9 million of which goes to our region, learn the process to access the funding here.
COMMITTEES
GOVERNANCE
PROJECTS & SECTORS
DATA
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OUTREACH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ARTS AND CULTURE
EQUITY COUNCIL
The Equity Council will focus on a range of topics as they relate to the above responsibilities, including but not limited to youth, Native American tribes or tribal organizations, workers, women, racial and social justice, environmental justice, and justice reform.
​
The Equity Council meets every other Friday 12-1pm, sometimes on Zoom and sometimes in person (with a hybrid option).See calendar for schedule.
SUB-REGIONAL TABLES
1
Greater San Bernardino
Fontana, Rialto, Colton,
San Bernardino, Redlands, Highland, Loma Linda, Big Bear and Yucaipa
2
High Desert and Mountain Communities
Adelanto, Victorville, Hesperia, Barstow, Apple Valley and Needles
3
Western San Bernardino County
Chino Hills, Chino, Ontario, Upland, Montclair, and
Rancho Cucamonga
4
Greater Riverside
Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco, Corona, Riverside, Perris,
Moreno Valley, Beaumont, Banning, San Jacinto, and Hemet
5
Coachella Valley and
Morongo Basin
Yucca Valley, 29 Palms,
Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indio, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Blythe, and Coachella
6
Southwest Riverside County
Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Menifee, Wildomar, Murrieta, and Temecula
The Sub-Regional Tables will each consist of a table chair and a “backbone” organization responsible for engaging with potential stakeholders and convening inclusive meetings.
​
The chair of each Sub-Regional Table will be a voting member of the Inclusive Planning Council and tasked with reporting and advocacy for their sub-region to the IE High Road Transition Collaborative (IE HRTC) as a whole.
​
The Sub-Regional Tables will each consist of a table chair and a “backbone” organization responsible for engaging with potential stakeholders and convening inclusive meetings.
​
The sub-regional backbone organizations chosen through a public application process are:
​
-
Greater San Bernardino: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
-
High Desert and Mountain Communities: Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice
-
Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 440
-
Southwest Riverside County: The Economic Development Coalition
The chair of each Sub-Regional Table will be a voting member of the Inclusive Planning Council and tasked with reporting and advocacy for their sub-region to Thrive Inland SoCal as a whole.
INCLUSIVE PLANNING COUNCIL
The Inclusive Planning Council (IPC) is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the region and Thrive Inland SoCal. This includes voting on important issues, such as adopting new policies or allocating resources. The IPC provides leadership for the collaborative and is responsible for resolving conflicts that arise within Thrive Inland SoCal.
​
The IPC consists of the Equity Council, Committee, and Sub-regional Chairs as well as three Thrive Inland SoCal Co-Chairs. The total size of the IPC is 21 members, and a 2/3 majority vote (14 members) is required to pass any measure brought before it.
Inclusive Planning Council Members
Stephanie Davis, Governance Chair Projects & Sectors Chair, Affinity Group: Employers, businesses, and business associations
Debra Mustain, Chair, Affinity Group: Education and training providers
​
Gatwiri Mwiti, Data Chair, Affinity Group: Education and training providers
Vacant Chair, Business & Community Leaders Outreach Chair, Affinity Group: Employers, businesses, and business associations
Noraly Sainz, Community Engagement, Arts & Culture Chair, Affinity Group: Disinvested communities
Silvia Paz, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Environmental justice organizations
Dina Walker, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Grassroots and community-based organizations, and community organizers
Ricardo Cisneros, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Workforce Entities
Carolina Sanchez, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Grassroots and community-based organizations, and community organizers
Sheheryar Kaoosji, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Worker centers
Renay Mehta, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Employers, businesses, and business associations
Mary Valdemar, Equity Council Lead, Affinity Group: Education and training providers
Karen May, Subregional Table Chair, Affinity Group: Labor organizations
Susan Gomez, Subregional Table Chair, Affinity Group: Philanthropic organization
Aicheria Bell, Subregional Table Chair, Affinity Group: Employers, businesses, and business associations
Maria Okpara, Subregional Table Chair, Affinity Group: Education and training providers
Gabrielle McClanahan, Subregional Table Chair, Affinity Group: Grassroots and community-based organizations, and community organizers
Bryan Barrera, Subregional Table Chair, Affinity Group: Employers, businesses, and business associations
Jessica Mosher, At-Large Member, Affinity Group: California Native American Tribes
Amanda Hernandez, At-Large Member, Affinity Group: Government agencies
Karina Camacho, At-Large Member, Affinity Group: Government agencies
CONTACT
The Inland Empire Labor Institute and Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity are the Regional Co-conveners, and the Inland Empire Community Foundation serves as the Fiscal Agent, carrying out necessary responsibilities as required by the State.
​
Founded in 2020, the Inland Empire Labor Institute (IELI) is the 501(c)(3) wing of the Inland Empire Labor Council, a regional AFL-CIO affiliate with 290,000 members across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. We partner with economic, social, and environmental organizations to prioritize the needs of workers in uplifting communities and families. We see labor unions as a key force for promoting workers' rights, economic justice, and democratic participation, and support regional development that is socially equitable, ecologically sustainable, and culturally diverse.
​
Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) is a regional network of leaders from businesses, nonprofits, higher education, and state and local government working to grow sectors that can create promising jobs for Inland Empire workers and students. IEGO is currently housed within the Inland Empire Community Foundation. Where they work to build strategies for sector-based economic development; in addition to finding targeted industrial sectors of sustainable logistics, green technology, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
​
The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) is the oldest and largest community foundation serving the Inland region. Since 1941, IECF has dispensed more than $127 million in grants and scholarships. IECF scholarships have been given to every college and university within the San Bernardino County and Riverside County area, as well as to other institutions of higher learning across the country. IECF’s donor-directed grantmaking funds arts and culture groups, youth and family agencies, environmental, animal, senior, vets and a variety of other causes and needs.
Our Team
Hillary Jenks
Matthew Mena
Esmeralda Vazquez
Chris Castorena