Welcome to the Inland Empire Legal Literacy Project
Who We Are
The IELLP is a nonprofit organization that empowers the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside counties by analyzing legal systems, policies, and local issues. It was created to inform people about current problems in criminal justice, immigration, and policies that affect the Inland Empire. We are here to bridge the gap for our community by advocating for policies that benefit the residents of the Inland Empire.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside County by writing articles that analyze policy, criminal justice issues, and immigration rights, while equipping people with the tools necessary to assert their rights, influence change, and protect themselves & their families.
Through local storytelling, analysis of real-time issues, and education rooted in our community’s lived experiences, we bring you a unique intersectional analysis that is needed in the Inland Empire. Our approach includes data collection, investigative research, narrative storytelling, interviews from local residents, and education centered on constitutional rights.
Our focus areas include immigration rights, criminal justice, and policy analysis. Though these aspects often overlap they carry unique challenges which have a distinct effect on the Inland Empire.
Immigration Justice
The IELLP Immigration Justice team has a mission to inform, empower, and protect undocumented immigrants in the Inland Empire by delivering legal education, narrative storytelling, and community-centered research. Informing undocumented individuals of their rights will protect them in circumstances in which their freedom and legal rights are challenged. The Immigration Justice team is designed to bridge the critical gaps that are affecting the diverse immigrant community and inspire change. These gaps include: immigrant healthcare, language barriers, lack of DACA information and resources, labor exploitation, housing insecurity, and political underrepresentation.
Flag representing “The Geo Group.” A privately owned and operated ICE detention facility in Adelanto, CA (San Bernardino County).
Our team will approach these gaps with investigative journalism to reveal the true needs of the immigrant communities in the Inland Empire. With policy advocacy and your support, we will address these needs and keep our you informed. We strive to ensure our diverse immigrant communities have a voice and feel empowered for real change despite the challenges they face every day.
Criminal Justice
The IELLP Criminal Justice team has a mission to inform and provide the community with knowledge of the law and the key principles that uphold due process and impartiality. By directing accountability to symbols of justice that violate the constitution, our team will reveal flaws in the system so people understand why it’s so important to know their rights.
Historic San Bernardino Courthouse, built in 1926.
The IELLP Research team analyzes data so people know which rights are more pertinent to them, depending on where they are in the I.E. For example, the Rialto Police Department has a tendency to set up DUI checkpoints around the city. As a resident of the city, not only should you be informed about this, but you should also know what rights you have and how they apply at a checkpoint. This is the work the Criminal Justice team does, all while informing, engaging, and inspiring action within our communities and empowering residents to stand up and speak out against the flawed system.
Policy Analysis
The IELLP Policy Analysis team will analyze federal, state, and local policies and explain how they affect the people of the Inland Empire. Our Policy focus includes: housing & zoning issues, employment & labor rights, local city and county legislation, and education policies within our school districts. The Policy Analysis Team will ensure the people of the Inland Empire are equipped with the knowledge to express their preferences on matters of policy so we can do our part when we need to vote on these policies.
California State Capitol: The home of California Legislature.
Meet the Team
View the page with our team members here: https://www.iellp.org/our-team
We Need YOU
The people of the I.E. are the pillars of our work. Without the integration of local voices and experiences, we will continue to be overlooked. We need you to submit your stories, attend workshops, and share our articles to ensure the community is informed. We can only influence change if we come together as a community.
Written By: Jaz Williams, Jaylene Zuno & Jocelyn Robles