Imoyase Community
Support Services
WHO WE ARE:
Imoyase Community Support Services (ICSS) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization with over 30 years of experience advancing equity through research, evaluation, and capacity building. Through applied, action-oriented research and community-centered evaluation, ICSS helps organizations strengthen their impact, improve systems of care, and drive meaningful social change.
In partnership with its sister organization, the Psychology Applied Research Center at Loyola Marymount University (PARC@LMU), ICSS has collaborated with more than 100 community-based organizations, social service providers, foundations, government agencies, and advocacy groups across California and nationwide.
Our work is rooted in participatory, culturally responsive, and collaborative approaches that center the voices and lived experiences of the communities most impacted. We specialize in multi-site, multi-year evaluations and provide strategic guidance, technical assistance, and research support to organizations serving African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Native American, and other historically underserved communities.
ICSS’s work spans a range of focus areas, including positive youth development, mental health, community safety, leadership development, community organizing, and systems change. Our multi-ethnic, multi-disciplinary team utilizes mixed research methodologies to help organizations grow, adapt, and create lasting impact.
OUR APPROACH:
Imoyase uses community based participatory practice (CBPP) to engage communities, partners, and key stakeholders in all research and evaluation projects. CBPP is particularly useful in working with communities whose voices have historically been excluded and/or undervalued. The operative principles that guide our work include a commitment to: Shared Vision, Inclusiveness, Collaboration, Flexibility, Empowerment, and Cultural Responsiveness.
OUR FOCUS AREAS
Our work spans a range of critical community and social justice areas, including:
Health & mental health
Substance use prevention & treatment
Reentry & workforce support
Education & youth development
Child welfare & juvenile justice
Homelessness & housing stability
Community organizing & civic engagement
Organizational capacity building
Public policy & systems change
Dr. Cheryl Grills
As the visionary founder of Imoyase Community Support Services, Dr. Cheryl Grills has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between research and community action. With a background rooted in technical assistance and evaluation, she champions a participatory approach that ensures every voice is heard and every community is empowered. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to equity and a deep understanding of the social dynamics that shape our world.
The Philosophy
Research Activism
We believe that research should not be a distant academic exercise, but a powerful tool for community empowerment. Our methodology is rooted in participatory action research, ensuring that every evaluation and technical assistance project we undertake is co-created with the very people it aims to serve.
By integrating cultural responsiveness into our technical assistance, we bridge the gap between policy and practice. We don't just measure impact; we actively engage in the systems change that leads to lasting equity and sustainable development across California.