Who We Are

Our Story

The Inland Empire Labor Institute (IELI) was established in 2019 by the Inland Empire Labor Council (IELC), affiliated with the AFL-CIO and formerly known as the Central Labor Council of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. While the IELC has long been an advocate for workers’ rights, it recognized the need for new, community-driven strategies to advance worker-centered economic development. In response, IELI was founded as a 501(c)(3) partner organization. Our mission is to build pathways for sustainable economic development in the Inland Empire—development that uplifts local workers, strengthens communities, and prioritizes long-term wellbeing over short-term profit. Too often, we see development projects that exclude local labor, overlook sustainable practices, and fail to deliver jobs that pay enough for workers to support their families. IELI exists to change that. We focus on aligning economic development with community values—supporting workforce development, worker owned cooperative business models, and industries that offer good-paying, union-track jobs. Our work is especially urgent in a region that faces some of the nation’s worst air quality and is on the frontlines of the climate crisis. IELI exists to change that. We focus on aligning economic development with community values—supporting workforce development, cooperative business models, and industries that offer good-paying, union-track jobs. Our work is especially urgent in a region that faces some of the nation’s worst air quality and is on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

We want to honor and recognize our founders of the IELI: Ricardo Cisneros and Dr. Michael Chavez.