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Investing in Civic Infrastructure: The Rise of a New Foundation in a Rural, Disinvested Community

Views from the Field
Posted March 14, 2025
vff_mar25_barros
Morgan-Hynd

Roque Barros, Jr., Executive Director, Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation

Building a New Foundation

When people hear about our work in Imperial Valley, they often exclaim, “How exciting to build a new foundation!” But I gently redirect them: We’re not building another institution— the last thing our communities need is another organization competing for resources. Instead, we’re building civic infrastructure to create the framework for lasting, community-led change.

This is about so much more than handing out grants. At the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF), we embrace a fundamentally different approach to community development, rooted in the belief that lasting change can only come from within the communities themselves. Our mission is not to impose solutions but to empower communities with the tools, resources, and connections needed to drive their own transformation.

Rather than creating a traditional philanthropic model that might prioritize short-term fixes, IVWF focuses on fostering civic infrastructure. This approach equips communities to attract, invest, and manage the resources they need to thrive. By prioritizing collaboration over competition, we’re building a foundation for sustainable progress.

The Core of Civic Infrastructure

Civic infrastructure is about investing in essential elements that empower communities to take the reins of their own futures. These elements include:

  • Building Voice and Visibility: Amplifying the voices of residents and ensuring their priorities are heard.
  • Fostering Confidence and Empowerment: Helping community members recognize their own strength and capacity.
  • Developing Communication Skills: Teaching residents how and when to engage with funders, businesses, county agencies, and governments.
  • Organizing for Collective Action: Encouraging collaboration to achieve shared goals.

The most impactful community work happens when stakeholders experience self-determination, strength, and sustainability. As a newly formed organization, IVWF has been supported in its development and growth as a grantmaker and community intermediary.

Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has played a pivotal role in helping us lay a solid foundation for growth and prosperity in Imperial County since 2017. With their support, we are shaping a new era for our region.

At IVWF, we’ve implemented various strategies to support civic life in the region, including learning exchanges, capacity-building programs, mentorship support, and incubating community-led organizations. By operating as a Rural Development Hub, we convene and connect communities and sectors, facilitating resource sharing and alignment of initiatives across the Imperial Valley region. This work transcends urban, rural, and even national borders, uniting diverse stakeholders under a shared vision.

A Historic Contribution

In support of building the capacity and sustainability of the organization, in February 2025, IVWF announced that it had received a $7.5 million contribution from San Diego-based Alliance Healthcare Foundation. This historic investment will allow us to operate in perpetuity, providing greater autonomy for directing resources where they are needed most. This shift of resources, with the explicit goal of empowering broad community control, is one of the first of its kind in the United States. It represents a bold and inspiring step toward equity and self-determination for rural communities.

Operating as a Rural Development Hub

IVWF’s role as a Rural Development Hub is central to our mission of improving prosperity and well-being across Imperial County. Rural Development Hubs are trusted intermediaries that unite people from different communities and sectors, fostering collaboration and creating solutions that reflect local priorities.

As both a grantmaker and a hub for civic engagement, we prioritize addressing the needs and goals identified by the communities we serve. This means engaging directly with residents, listening to their concerns, and building relationships rooted in trust and mutual respect.

Throughout my career in rural community development, I’ve observed that nonprofits and residents often wear many hats to fill essential roles. At IVWF, we embrace this flexibility, serving as funders, mentors, facilitators, and advocates. Our approach is rooted in the belief that real change comes from strong relationships and locally driven initiatives.

This commitment to showing up where we’re needed and staying engaged for as long as it takes guides our work. By nurturing connections and fostering collaboration, we help create the conditions for community transformation driven by the aspirations of residents.

Defining Civic Engagement

In a 2015 article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, titled “Building an Intentional and Inclusive Civic Infrastructure,” by Stephen Patrick & Sheri Brady, civic infrastructure is “the foundation on which ordinary people participate in ordinary civic life.”  Inspired by the research on civic infrastructure, IVWF defines civic infrastructure as investing in the essential elements that enable communities to lead their own transformation. These include:

  • Spaces for Gathering and Organizing: Physical and virtual spaces that bring people together.
  • Policies Supporting Community Priorities: Advocacy for legislation and programs that align with local needs.
  • Programs for Capacity Building: Training and resources that empower community leaders.
  • Practices Strengthening Leadership: Mentorship and guidance to nurture local leaders.

Most importantly, civic infrastructure ensures that resources and power flow directly to communities. Our approach focuses on empowering community groups to lead, rather than hiring external staff to dictate priorities. We serve as coaches and facilitators, helping communities identify their goals, develop strategies, and attract the resources needed to bring their visions to life.

This approach is rooted in listening. Every community has unique assets and aspirations, and our role is to support their journey toward self-determination. Through learning exchanges, we create bridges between community groups and larger institutions, fostering partnerships that prioritize community needs. This model shifts resources and decision-making power to where it belongs: in the hands of community members.

The Long-Term Vision

Building civic infrastructure is a long-term endeavor. It takes time to create the capacity for communities to attract, invest, and manage resources effectively. But the results are worth the effort. When communities have the tools and infrastructure to lead their own change, the solutions they build are sustainable and impactful.

Real-World Impact: The NorthEnd Alliance 111

One shining example of civic engagement in action is the NorthEnd Alliance 111 (NEA). Founded in 2022 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, NEA is dedicated to improving life in the underserved communities of Calipatria, Niland, and Bombay Beach of Imperial County. These areas face significant challenges, including very low median incomes and some of the highest rates of asthma and diabetes in the U.S.

With guidance and support from IVWF, NEA has achieved remarkable progress:

  1. Community Advocacy and Coordination: NEA united with local organizations during IVWF’s 2023 Vision Learning Exchange, forming a stronger regional voice. This collaboration enhanced advocacy efforts, enabling the group to engage effectively with institutions and government bodies.
  2. Emergency Relief for Niland Floods: NEA and IVWF partnered to secure and distribute emergency relief funds for flood victims. By leveraging their respective strengths, they addressed immediate community needs and demonstrated the power of equitable partnerships.
  3. Capacity Building: NEA has evolved from an informal group to a formal nonprofit, increasing its ability to lead initiatives based on community priorities. This transformation has empowered NEA to secure a “seat at the table” with larger agencies, ensuring local voices are heard.

NEA’s success illustrates the potential of community-led initiatives supported by strong civic infrastructure. Together, NEA and IVWF are improving the quality of life across Imperial Valley, fostering resilience and self-determination.

A Call to Action

Addressing inequities in health and philanthropy requires an approach that builds on the strengths and realities of rural communities. This means bringing together community members, organizations, and institutions in collaborative efforts that elevate historically underrepresented voices.

We are seeking partners who share our vision for equity and are ready to take bold action. Alliance Healthcare Foundation’s historic contribution is a powerful example of what’s possible when funders prioritize community control and self-determination. We invite others to join us in disrupting traditional approaches to resource distribution and fostering positive connections that combat societal polarization.

Together, we can build a future where all communities have the tools and support they need to thrive. Let’s invest in civic infrastructure, empower local leaders, and create lasting change – from the ground up.

Focus Area(s): Community Engagement and Empowerment

Related Topic(s): Civic Engagement, Rural health
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