Giving ordinary people the tools to become compelling leaders
Our Mission
Inland Congregations United for Change is a faith-based 501(c) (3) non-profit community organization serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. ICUC empowers people of faith to transform and revitalize the Inland Empire by working in the civic arena for the common good.
The mission of ICUC is to assist communities of faith who desire to initiate or deepen social ministry within their congregation. Professional community organizers train congregation members in the principles of faith-based civic engagement and coach leaders through self-selected, relevant and practical community organization efforts. Through these efforts, individual participants develop public leadership skills and become catalysts of positive change within their congregations, neighborhoods and cities.
Family
Families are the reason we exists and the driving force behind our organizing. In a world where family, whether biological or chosen, is seldom treated as a priority, ICUC becomes a voice for them.
Justice
Within all our traditions, there is commitment to justice. We seek equitable and just opportunities for those most in need. ICUC is a way of putting this belief into action.
Diversity
The strength of a community comes from embracing diversity. The wealth of different backgrounds and experiences leads us in creative new directions. We are intentionally building an organization that is diverse in our ethnic, denominational, and economic backgrounds.
Action
We have a commitment to the belief that decision-making should be by and for the people. We believe in taking responsibility and participating in community life. Our members listen to concerns in their communities and then research, discuss, and plan how issues can be resolved.
WHO WE ARE
Our Story
Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) was founded by a coalition of multi-faith clergy and faith-leaders in the city of San Bernardino in 1991. Since its roots, it has been an interfaith non-profit that has used its influence to organize around education. Over the years, the organizing has expanded to other regions of San Bernardino and Riverside counties and to other issues such as youth involvement, immigration, voter engagement, criminal justice reform and policing.
At its core, ICUC believes that “the first revolution is internal.” Because of this, the organization has historically given ordinary people the tools to create their own critical analysis of the ways in which societal power structures create injustice. ICUC also provides our communities with the tools to push back against this oppression and demand that the people have a seat at the decision-making table.
Throughout the years, this has led to many wins for disenfranchised folk who primarily experience the pangs of systematic oppression. At the front-line of ICUC’s organizing are youth, immigrants, parents, people of color, and formerly incarcerated leaders. Collectively, their leadership creates a counter-narrative that pushes back on the negative portrayals of their identities and, instead, empowers them to come together to create a world that respects the basic human needs of everyone.