Inland Empire Community Collaborative

Jessica Flores treasures every moment with her 9-month-old son, Jaziel. Whether she’s on the floor for playtime or in the kitchen preparing meals, Flores is determined to give her son the best start possible, including financially providing for him. But returning to work has proved nearly impossible for the Upland resident, due to a lack of consistent, affordable childcare. She is now facing the prospect of returning to work in May without a plan for Jaziel’s care. In our latest Vibrant Health Column, published in Southern California News Group papers, including the Daily Bulletin, San Bernardino Sun, and Press-Enterprise, she shed light on the growing crisis that thousands of families across the Inland Empire are facing: affordable, accessible childcare. Local nonprofit organizations like Child Care Resource Center and Inland Empire Community Collaborative are working with families, childcare providers and policymakers to fill gaps in childcare and address this growing crisis. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gQYqyXGN  

THANK YOU for attending #Thrive2026! 📣✨💙🎉 Nearly 200 attendees from 125 organizations joined us last week to engage, learn and be part of this space together. We are grateful for the positive energy and sense of community everyone brought. The Inland Empire gets stronger when we speak openly and navigate a changing landscape together. Our 6th Annual Thrive Nonprofit Conference was centered on strengthening the IE nonprofit workforce, supporting both small and large organizations with skills and tools that can be used in daily work. This year we focused on the following themes; fundraising, advocacy, data and technology, and organizational infrastructure. We want to thank our plenary speakers, Vu Le (Nonprofit AF), Geoff Green (CalNonprofits), and Fernando Chang-Muy (University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School) for grounding the day in perspective and honest reflection on the work ahead. And as well grateful for the 24 guest speakers who shared practical ideas and real experience that nonprofit teams can take back into their systems, and all our sponsors who helped make this event possible! We appreciate each one of you for joining and for the work you do 🤝 Susan Gomez, Vu Le, Geoff Green, Fernando Chang-Muy, R. Michelle Decker, Scott McGrath, Greg Bradbard, Julian Y. Cuevas, Andrea Mitchel, Jennifer O'Farrell, Justine Ross, Odalys Zapata, Eddie Torres, Sabrina Gonzalez, Malek Bendelhoum, Maribel Nunez, Rachael A Dzikonski, Lisa Watson, Brian Thomas Romo, MPP, Mindy Silva. #ThriveConference #InlandEmpire #IE #Nonprofits #Community #California #SanBernardinoCounty #RiversideCounty #IECC

Last week, we were grateful to attend the Thrive Conference hosted by Inland Empire Community Collaborative. It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about the current state of philanthropy, advocacy, and the resources shaping strong nonprofit leadership. We appreciate the chance to grow, connect, and bring new ideas back to better serve our community.

Thank you for the shout-out, IEHP Foundation! The child care desert crisis in the Inland Empire demands creactivity, bold action, and sustained investment wherever we can get it. When child care is inaccessible or unaffordable, families are forced to make impossible choices, and our regional economy is weaker as a result. Women, especially women of color, are most impacted by the lack of child care, as they are more likely to put their careers on hold, reduce working hours, or forgo economic opportunities entirely in order to meet child care needs. Expanding access to quality child care is a powerful equity strategy that strengthens families, supports workforce participation, and creates real opportunity for communities across the Inland Empire. This is the moment to act, invest, and treat child care as the essential infrastructure it truly is. Alongside nearly 150 organizational partners, the IE Children’s Cabinet is engaged in sustained advocacy to strengthen child care across our county and state. Our partners are working with elected officials to expand child care infrastructure, invest in a skilled and supported child care workforce, and advance equitable pay that reflects the true cost of child care. At the core of this work is a shared commitment to ensuring every child can access high‑quality care regardless of income, background, or ability. This is collective action rooted in equity, accountability, and the belief that child care is essential to thriving families and communities. We are proud to work with organizations like the Child Care Resource Center (James Moses & Jennifer P.), the CONSORTIUM FOR EARLY LEARNING SERVICES (Pamela Robinson, Yvonne Choyce, Andrea Del Valle), Rosa Bobadilla of La Red Network of Family Child Care Providers, Inland Empire Community Collaborative (Susan Gomez, CEO; Joseph Parsons; Jill Walker Kowalski), our local First 5 San Bernardino and First 5 Riverside County agencies, and so many more, to address the child care need in the region. Child care is essential for economic mobility, gender equity, and regional growth. When we invest in child care, we invest in women, families, and the future of the Inland Empire. This is a modern‑day moonshot, but the solutions are within reach, and together we must continue pushing for the systems our communities deserve. LET’S GO! https://lnkd.in/gB8QBnQy