By Carl M. Dameron | City News Group, Inc.
June 24, 2026
In a moment when civil rights are being debated in courtrooms, classrooms, and the halls of Congress, one question keeps surfacing in the Inland region: Does The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California still matter? According to Inland Empire residents, community leaders, and the Institute’s own packed calendar, the answer is a resounding YES.
Founded on a vision conceived in 2006 by co-founders Rose Mayes and the late Lalit Acharya, the Institute was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2013. The Civil Rights Institute opened its doors to the public in January 2023.
