Regions Rise Together Working Session in the Inland Empire

The attendees at the Regions Rise Together Working Session in the Inland Empire spanned every aspect of local communities in the Inland Empire. Some of the many oganizations in attendance were:

• Colton Joint Unified School District
• Corona-Norco Unified School District
• New America
• City of Murrieta
• UC Riverside Center for Social Innovation
• CA Air Resources Board (CARB)
• 2020 Network
• KVCR Public Radio
• San Bernardino Community Colleges District
• Riverside Community Colleges District
• Workforce Development Board for both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
• Office of Senator Connie Leyva
• One Future Coachella Valley

The event was the first of four listening sessions in preparation for the  CA Economic Summit in Fresno  on Nov. 7-8th. The other three listening sessions will take place in Bakersfield, Merced, and Redding. These sessions are a beginning of a much larger process of economic development for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Three key pillars of work for Regions Rise Together are:

1. Promoting regions up planning and partnerships
2. Changing our "mental map" of California
3. Improving connections across regions to link California

• young families who want to raise their children here
• citrus and wine industries
• affordable housing
• logistics industry and freight airports
• strong cybersecurity program at CSUSB
• diversity/indigenous presence/bilingual populations

• too much traffic/long commutes
• working poor population concentrated in retail and logistics - very tied to business cycle (which could crash soon!) and very high potential to be automated
• homelessness
• undocumented populations
• poor air quality due to freight industry affecting health and absenteeism from school and work
• brain drain

IE Meets Air Quality Standards.

IE is a global leader for clean logistics.

IE has a world-class apprenticeship program in solar and other green energies.

IE has affordable, amenity-rich communities that attract talent.

Many  existing local initiatives  in our region fall within 6 themes:

1. Expanding Middle-Skill Jobs
2. High-Skill Jobs & Research Commercialization ( Esri's Startup Support Program  was an initiative that was highlighted under this theme)
3. Green Tech and Sustainability Cluster
4. Cradle to Career Programs
5. Innovations in Planning (Transportation, Environment, Housing)
6. Stronger Nonprofits & Collective Impact

Some high-level topics that came up at my tables:

• Broadband and internet access is a necessity for those trying to telecommute.
• The importance of including the visual and performing arts when we talk about innovation.
• How can we encourage "brain remain?" For talented workers who don't want the "white picket fence, two car, two dog lifestyle," why would they live here?
• Inequities between public funding for student housing for UCs and CSUs vs. housing for community college students.
• The importance of ensuring our community is accurately counted in the 2020 Census.

 Lenny Mendonca  (CA Go-Biz) and  Kate Gordon  (CA Governor's Office of Planning and Research) answered questions that were written down on posters throughout the day read by moderator Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures. In essence, the major question was:

What conversations have you heard today that have interested you as someone with a state perspective?

• "Greening" the warehouse and logistics industry with sustainable freight.
• Using the biproducts of many industries for good, and adding value here in the region.
• Getting ahead of automation, making sure we don't leave people behind. Engage in dialogue with labor and front-line workers. Make automation a workforce development initiative.
• Innovative strategies to decrease Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).
• Targeted housing policy - we know that "one-size-fits-all" housing policies will not work.

First, we were asked to take a few minutes to write out a personal commitment we will make to improve the Inland Empire as a region. My personal commitment was to fill out my Census form for my household in 2020, and to volunteer for the Inland Empire Complete Count Committee. Last, we were all asked to share one word that describes how we feel about the Inland Empire's future. A few of the words shared were:

 Esri Maps for Public Policy  provides free access to ready-to-use policy maps, apps, and resources that can help elevate conversations around these important topics including social equity and health, economic opportunity, transportation and infrastructure, resilience and sustainability, environment and natural resources, and public safety.