State of Women Report
CSI UCR
History of the Region
Women in Native Tribes & First Nations
The Inland Empire is home to diverse groups of Native American people and tribes including the Alliklik, Chumash, Cahuilla, Gabrielino, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Luise-o, Chemehuevi, Kumeyaay, and Mojave. These groups lived across the region’s deserts, valleys, and mountains dating back to over 10,000 years ago.
From Spanish Colony to Statehood
- The Spanish claimed possession of the entire Pacific coast of North America in the 1540s, including present day California.
- In 1821, the Mexican War of Independence gave Mexico (including present-day California) independence from Spain.
- By 1850, California had enough inhabitants to qualify for statehood.
- By 1890 this population disparity between men and women decreased, and more women began to participate in the local economy.
- During World War I, groups of women saved the Inland Empire agricultural industry from destruction.
- During World War II many women in the region filled the gap left by men in agriculture and other industries.
- Post-war reconversion efforts lead to first firing Latina and African American women followed by intense social pressures for all women to leave the workforce and return to domestic lives.
Women’s Movement & Political Activism
- Beginning in the 1960s, southern California and the Inland Empire saw an increase in women’s social movement activities in the areas of women’s health, women in higher education, feminist arts movements, and women’s labor.
- In recent years, both locally and on a more macro scale, women have been increasingly politically engaged.
- After the 2016 election, women and male allies turned out in droves to participate in the ‘Women’s March’ , the largest single-day protest event in U.S. history.
- In 2018, often referred to as the “Year of the Woman’, a record number of women ran for office aided by a higher percentage of women in the donor pool than any other congressional cycle.
Community Profiles
Ana Lee
Women in Tandem
Ana Lee is the owner and CEO of Women in Tandem (WIT), an organization that provides a workspace for women to connect and work in downtown Riverside. Ana notes that market research indicates a primary issue for women entrepreneurs is loneliness and a lack of community. In addition, balancing a successful professional career and healthy family life can be difficult for some women. Women in Tandem attempts to address these issues by providing a tailored space for women to interact and connect.
Janet Bernabe
Mi Familia Vota
Janet Bernabe is the Riverside Regional Coordinator for Mi Familia Vota, an organization focused on the civic engagement of the local Latinx community. Janet has been working with Mi Familia Vota for a year and half and primarily is involved in voter registration, worker rights, environmental issues, immigration, education, and healthcare. Janet believes that these issues especially affect women of color in the region.
Acquanetta Warren
City of Fontana
Acqanetta Warren is the Mayor of Fontana California and champion of the Inland Empire Women in Manufacturing movement. Born in Los Angeles, Mayor Warren was one of the first African Americans to be integrated into LA Unified School District. She began her career in banking, but has always been involved in politics. Mayor Warrens’ past service includes various council subcommittees, boards, and commissions.
Carole Beswick
Inland Action
Carole Beswick was the first woman mayor of Redlands, has served on various commissions and boards, is currently a Trustee for the University of Redlands and is the CEO of Inland Action. Inland Action is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that encourages and promotes the economic well-being of the Inland Empire.
Jacqueline Casillas
Planned Parenthood
Jacque Casillas is the Donor Relations Manager for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. The mission of Planned Parenthood is to ensure broad public access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, through education, advocacy, and direct service. The organization looks at what issues impact women locally. For this region that includes: transportation in Coachella Valley, mobile service for women near the border, and translation services across western Riverside County. All of these issues are directly related to health outcomes.
Anais Franco
IGNITE
Anais Franco currently has a fellowship with IGNITE, an organization that encourages young women to become the next generation of political leaders. As a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, IGNITE focuses on building political ambition in highschool and college aged women. Anais believes the prominent issue facing women in the Inland Empire is a lack of political representation.
