Back in June of this year, it was with great pleasure that ICLS attended the Annual National Innovative Communities Conference (NICC). The NICC is a “premiere event that brings together cross-sectoral leaders, strategists, influencers, businesses, and organizations who are passionate about building and sustaining a quality of life for the Inland Empire,” according to Reach Out. At the event were our gracious volunteers, Jaime Cartagena (pictured above), Jennifer Schinke, and Mahum Shere Asef (pictured below).
This multi-day event was host to trailblazing organizations and their leaders across the Inland Empire (IE) devoted to serving the region’s needs, including ICLS! “It was an honor for me to be there,” claimed Jaime Cartagena when we spoke about their experience at NICC. Jaime is ICLS’s esteemed Deputy Director of Operations and stand-in for Executive Director, Tessie Solorzano, who was due to lead a session on The Justice Gap: Unmet Civil Legal Needs in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Fortunately, though by unfortunate circumstances, Jaime kindly stepped in, representing ICLS gallantly and gracefully. “I usually try to prepare as much as I can,” Jaime admits, though with a day’s notice, we admire the effort exceedingly.
Reflecting on the event, Jaime recalled the immediacy of it like a gravitational pull – undeniable. “I wish I could have stayed longer to see what [more] was going on with [the event],” said Jaime remembering a presentation on youth and mental health they found most prudent. Among the range of topics relevant to the systemic issues afflicting the IE was ours, met by an engaged and thoughtful audience. “I think it went pretty well… People were mostly engaged,” Jaime smiled. Though, above all, they hope folks “learned who we are and what we [do].” We are sure they did, Jaime!
Special thanks to our volunteers for sharing their time and knowledge!
Photo credits: Reach Out; Mahum Shere Asef
