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About Us

Publications
Published and launched three books in partnership with Heyday:

• Dream Street by author/photographer by Douglas McCulloh.
• No Place for a Puritan:The Literature of California’s Deserts edit by Ruth Nolan.
• Backyard Birds of the Inland Empire by Sheila Kee.

Dream Street by Doug McCulloh received the 2010 California American Planning Association award for Excellence in Media.

We published three volumes of Slouching Towards Mt. Rubidoux Manor, an annual creative writing anthology of works emanating from the Inlandia Creative Writing Workshops in Riverside.

We launched an online literary journal, Inlandia: a Literary Journey, edited by Cati Porter.

We also launched a monthly newsletter, News From Inlandia, available in online and print versions.

Public Literary Events
Each year, the Institute provides an average of 26 free public literary and cultural programs and exhibitions featuring nationally acclaimed Inland Southern California-based authors and artists.

We also presented the first Inlandia Literary Laureate award to Riverside author Susan Straight at the 23rd Annual Tomás Rivera Conference on April 23, 2010.

Creative Literacy Programs
The Inlandia Institute initiated its Creative Literacy Programs for children and families with a performance of Conversation with Alana by author Carlos Cortez at La Sierra High School.

We co-published a chapbook of short stories based on Riverside’s history by talented 4th and 5th grade students from Victoria Elementary School and hosted a “readers’ salon” with them at the Riverside Public Library.

We also provided two six-week “Teen Creative Writing Workshops” at Riverside Public Library (RPL), one funded by Poets & Writers and one provided through the UCR Gluck Fellows Program.

Literary Professional Development
We encouraged literary professional development by presenting talented emerging authors and filmmakers from area colleges and universities at “Arts Walk” every First Thursday at RPL.

We expanded the Inlandia Creative Writers Workshops to include not only Riverside but also Idyllwild and Palm Springs.

In addition we co-sponsored a seminar with Heyday publisher Malcolm Margolin on the “Life of the Book – From First Draft To Distribution” at La Sierra University.

INSTITUTIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Became incorporated in June 2009
• Completed a five-year Strategic Plan
• Initiated a Fund Development Management Process
• Launched Inlandia Laughs as an Annual Signature Fundraiser
• Established the Regional Affiliates Program

Funding (2008-2010)

• Alliance for California Traditional Arts ($10,000)
• Riverside Arts and Culture Grant ($8,000)
• E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation ($75,000)
• Friends of the Riverside Public Library ($10,000)
• National Endowment for the Humanities ($15,000)
• Riverside City Sponsorship ($1,500)
• Poets and Writers ($2,000)
• Corporate, Individual and In-kind Donations ($200,000)