Our History

Our roots start in 2002 when community members throughout the San Joaquin Valley came together to develop a formal, intentional partnership around social and environmental justice with a new, game-changing institution in the region: the University of California, Merced.

Things began with the creation of the Community Partnership Alliance (CPA). CPA established the first-ever community benefit agreement with UC Merced, known as the Chancellor’s Community Pledge, to ensure that local people served by the new research university would be engaged as equal partners and benefactors with the new institution. 

Over the last 20 years, Community Initiatives for Collective Impact has grown and evolved into a non-profit, grassroots organization led by a partnership between community, academic, and business leaders with over 40 years of experience and service in the region.