The Inland Empire Policy & Philanthropy Summit 2025, hosted by the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), brought together policymakers, philanthropic leaders, community organizers, and residents at the Riverside Convention Center under the theme “Common Ground for the Common Good.” Over two days of keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions, participants leaned into imagination, urgency, and collaboration to write a new chapter for the region.
Angela Glover Blackwell: Reimagining What’s Possible
The summit’s opening keynote, delivered by Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder in Residence at PolicyLink, set a powerful tone. In conversation with Paulette Brown-Hinds of Black Voice Media, Blackwell urged participants to embrace a bold reimagining of the future—one where equity is not an aspiration but the foundation of every system and decision. Her call underscored that, at a time when communities are facing converging crises, the Inland Empire has an opportunity to lead with creativity, courage, and collective resolve.
“We must not only ask what’s broken,” she reminded the audience, “but imagine what thriving could look like for every person and place.”
Shaping Our Shared Story
Building on this invitation, the session Rewriting the Inland Empire Story: A Collective Narrative for 2030 invited participants to “write a book together.” Groups explored four chapters—the past, present, future, and journalism as a storytelling force—recognizing that stories of place must be authored by those who live them. One speaker reminded the room, “We don’t always choose where we live, and many of us didn’t ask for the responsibilities on our shoulders, but we carry them anyway.”
The exercise underscored a powerful truth: narrative is a form of power. By telling stories collectively—rooted in memory, truth, and possibility—communities in the Inland Empire are reclaiming authorship of their future. As one participant noted, history has too often been told by the victors; the Inland Empire Journalism Hub and Fund is working to ensure that the voices of everyday residents are not only heard, but shape the region’s future.
Breakouts: Advancing Vital Conditions
The heart of the summit was found in breakout groups, where participants rolled up their sleeves to co-create solutions. Conversations spanned key Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being—including humane housing, lifelong learning, meaningful work, basic needs, and the natural environment. Panels and working groups tackled questions like: How can we build a pro-housing Inland Empire where everyone belongs? What does it take to reimagine healthcare access amid systemic strain? How do we grow civic muscle and interfaith connections to strengthen community bonds?
These sessions highlighted both the urgency and creativity in the room—leaders and residents envisioning a future where access, equity, and belonging are the norm rather than the exception.
Closing Panel: Philanthropy Meeting the Moment
The summit concluded with a frank and forward-looking conversation among philanthropic leaders, including Isa Ellis (Gates Foundation), Don Howard (James Irvine Foundation), Chet Hewitt (Sierra Health Foundation), and Veronica Carrizales (California Wellness Foundation). Moderated by IECF’s Michelle Decker, the panel tackled tough questions: Is philanthropy rising to meet the urgency of this moment? Where can giving innovate to sustain and accelerate progress? Panelists called for deeper partnerships with community-based organizations, more flexible funding, and investments aligned with long-term systemic change.
Writing the Next Chapter Together
As part of the summit, participants were invited to contribute their hopes to a symbolic “leaf wall,” writing two words that unite the Inland Empire. This act of collective authorship reflected the summit’s essence: that belonging, civic muscle, and shared narrative are built when communities write their own story together.
Through courageous imagination, grounded collaboration, and a new narrative authored by its people, the Inland Empire is charting a path toward a more abundant and equitable future.
