Pronounced “see me!” to acknowledge communities’ desire to be seen and considered, the Community Economic Mobilization Initiative (CEMI) partners with a growing list of grantees (funded partners) who aim to put communities first. Managed by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, CEMI is a trailblazing nonprofit capacity-building effort that was developed to strengthen the ability of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led and serving organizations, especially those rooted in communities that have been excluded or discriminated against in California, to secure and influence the use of public funds for economic and environmental benefit. CEMI is funded by a collaborative of philanthropic partners (funding partners), including Sierra Health Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The California Endowment, and The California Wellness Foundation.

Informing Change was brought on to serve as CEMI’s partner for a three-year developmental evaluation intended to inform improvements and adaptations to CEMI’s ongoing work. This report offers findings for CEMI’s second year (January 2024 – January 2025). While this report documents substantive progress in efforts to secure public resources for inclusive economic development, it also acknowledges the challenges these communities now face. As of May 2025, the current federal administration has introduced barriers and rollbacks threatening the work of building a more inclusive economy in California. Some CEMI-funded partners have had previously-awarded federal funding rescinded. The increased threats to the safety and dignity of immigrants are likely to further harm California’s economy, which depends on immigrants as workers, producers, consumers, and taxpayers.

Year 2 progress highlights include:

• With CEMI support, 77% of funded partners have pursued public funding (65% independently and 26% as part of a collaborative proposal). This has resulted in over $66 million in public grants awarded. However, the political climate in which they work became more hostile, and the economic outlook more uncertain, with the change in federal administration in January 2025.
• 79% of funded partners (n=34) surveyed report that CEMI funds enable them to implement community economic development efforts.
• Nearly all funded partners (97%) surveyed say they are using a power building approach in their work.

The following materials are available to be viewed in English on the CEMI website:

• CEMI Year 2 Evaluation Report
• CEMI Year 2 Evaluation Report Executive Summary

The report and executive summary were prepared by the following Informing Change team members:

• Michael P. Arnold, PhD, MSW, MPH, Partner & Co-Executive Director
• Caitlin Stanton, Associate Director
• Rebekah Blume, Associate
• Ayenna Cagaanan, Associate