2023 LPPI Graduates

UCLA Celebrates Another Year of Emerging Leaders

By: Heidy Melchor & Arianah Rizzo

UCLA LPPI Graduating Class of 2023:

2023 LPPI Graduates

UCLA LPPI Graduating Class of 2023:
Back Row (Left to Right): Julia Hernandez Nierenberg (M.S.W. & M.P.P. 2023 – Research), Lana Zimmerman (M.P.P 2023 – Research), Jose Garcia (M.P.P. 2023 – Communications), Hector De Leon (B.A. 2023 – Research), Denise Ramos Vega (B.A. 2023 – Research), Alan Rivera (M.P.P. 2023 – Research), Alberto Murillo (M.P.P. 2023 – Research)
Middle Row (Left to Right): Yaritza Gonzalez Rodriguez (M.P.P. 2023 – Voting Rights Project), Celeste Figueroa (B.A. 2023 – Leadership Programs), Lupe Renteria Salome (M.U.R.P. 2023 – Research), Mirian Palacios Cruz (B.A. 2023 – Communications), Mariah Bonilla (B.A. 2023 – Research), Paulina Torres (B.A. 2023 – Research)
Front Row (Left to Right): Heidy Melchor (B.A. 2023 – Leadership Programs), Selena Melgoza (M.P.P. 2023 – Research), Rocio Perez (M.P.P. 2023 – Research), Nangha Cuadros (M.P.P. 2023 – Research), Tyler Rivera (J.D. 2023 – Mobilization)

The atmosphere was electric as the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) celebrated the accomplishments of graduates from the fifth year of its policy fellowship on June 9, 2023. This year marked a milestone for UCLA LPPI, as it boasted its largest-ever cohort of policy fellows, with 26 students completing the program and 18 graduating from UCLA.

The celebratory evening began with a captivating performance by Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, a Latino LGBTQ+ mariachi band. Their melodies not only captivated the audience but also centered on the intersectional identities the vibrant and diverse Latino community embodies. At one point, Hector de Leon, a graduating senior and member of Grupo Folklórico de UCLA, joined the group to sing a rousing rendition of El Rey by Vicente Fernández. Hector’s achievements extend far beyond his singing skills, though. This year, he won the Dean’s Prize for Undergraduate Research for his McNair Scholars project titled “Investigating Southern California’s Emerging School to Warehouse Pipeline.” With a fellowship secured in the California State Capital Fellows Program this upcoming fall, Hector exemplifies the transformative potential of the UCLA LPPI Fellowship.

Photo of Mariachi band performing

Graduating Fellow Hector De Leon singing with Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles.

Following the performance, Silvia R. González, UCLA LPPI’s co-director of research, gave a keynote to congratulate the graduates. During her remarks, she reflected on her journey as a student and noted the uniqueness of the UCLA LPPI fellowship. She emphasized the program’s explicit commitment to providing resources for the academic and professional development of students who want to create meaningful change for Latinos and other people of color.

Photo of Mariachi band playing

Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles performing at UCLA LPPI Graduation Ceremony on June 9, 2023.

The creation of the policy fellowship was a direct response to the scarcity of resources and opportunities for marginalized communities. The initiative was spearheaded by Founding Executive Director Sonja Diaz and has proven its power over the past five and a half years. Over 50 students from diverse backgrounds have participated in the program, assuming key policy roles, civic leadership positions, influential roles in the business world and advocacy roles that will shape the representation communities need in places of power.

As the evening continued, two graduates shed light on the invaluable opportunities provided by the policy fellowship. Rocio Perez (M.P.P. 2023) and Denise Ramos Vega (B.A. 2023) recounted their academic journeys, overcoming systemic challenges, their unwavering commitment to critical policy change and the profound impact of the UCLA LPPI network and guidance. Rocio captured the essence of what makes UCLA LPPI so unique by highlighting its purposeful investment in policy fellows, paving the way for future leaders who will shape the halls of power. As the first in her family to earn a master’s degree, Rocio will join the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality to help eradicate economic insecurity. Denise then shared how she found her voice and embraced her power after struggling with food insecurity and xenophobic rhetoric in her upbringing. Through her involvement with UCLA LPPI, she was offered a supportive community that allowed her to forge her path with determination. Denise aspires to run for a United States Senate seat one day and will be a Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow in the coming year.

Graduating Fellow Rocio Perez standing at podium

Graduating Fellow Rocio Perez giving her culmination speech at the UCLA LPPI Graduation Ceremony.

The remarkable achievements of the 2023 graduating class would not have been possible without the support of the many directors, supervisors, and mentors who generously share their time and guidance each year with fellows. UCLA LPPI staff, along with the extensive network they introduced students, offered invaluable advice and support. However, the learning was in more than just a single direction. Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, co-Director of Research, humbly expressed how privileged he felt to learn from the fellows, emphasizing the program’s ability to shape not just the future network of leaders but to impact the present as well.

Perez eloquently summed up the gathering and the significance of the UCLA LPPI fellowship with powerful words that reminded her classmates, “You are resilient, smart, and worthy. As we consider our next steps, we must remember those who came before us, how far we’ve come, and our responsibility to pay it forward for the next generation of leaders.”

LPPI Presenters

UCLA LPPI Puts a Spotlight on Latino Representation at Hispanics in Philanthropy Conference

Raúl Macías, Sonja Diaz, Helen Torres, Clarissa Martinez De Castro, Thomas Saenz at table

Raúl Macías, Sonja Diaz, Helen Torres, Clarissa Martinez De Castro, Thomas Saenz

Earlier this month, the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) led two thought-provoking panels at the Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) 40th Anniversary Annual Leadership Conference. The panels specifically addressed Latino representation, showcasing the institute’s broader efforts to ensure substantive Latino presence in influential roles in media, government, and society writ large.

The first panel underscored the critical role of democratic institutions and the significance of government appointments in enhancing the quality of life for Latinos and all Americans. The discussion highlighted UCLA LPPI’s long-term commitment, including advocacy and targeted research, to promote increased consideration and selection of Latinos for executive appointments. Featuring UCLA LPPI Founding Director Sonja Diaz, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality CEO Helen Torres, UnidosUS Vice President Clarissa Martinez De Castro, and MALDEF President Thomas Saenz, the program provided an opportunity to discuss how appointed positions contribute to community empowerment and pave the road toward a democracy and economy that works for everyone.

“By focusing on the role of appointed positions, UCLA LPPI shed light on the untapped potential of communities of color to exert political power and hold our democracy accountable. Through cross-sectoral collaboration and philanthropic support, we can fortify a democracy that works for everyone, and foster a more inclusive and representative democracy where every voice is heard.” said Diaz.

The second panel, led by UCLA LPPI Deputy Director Lila Burgos delved into the issue of underrepresentation faced by Latinas and other women of color in positions of power, aiming to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing these women. Panelists highlighted that Latinas often encounter hurdles not due to competency, but because of systemic issues, such as pay disparities and relegation to positions with limited power and influence that hinder their ability to lead and succeed.

photo of Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, Sonja Diaz, Lila Burgos, Ricardo Quintero

Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, Sonja Diaz, Lila Burgos, Ricardo Quintero

Burgos emphasized this point, saying, “The struggle Latinas face is a delicate balancing act between self-care, familial obligations, and the unwavering determination required to defy the odds and persist in the fight for success.”

The panel served as a milestone for the Latina Futures 2050 Lab as it begins its mission to ensure Latinas have the resources needed to succeed. In 2022, the California Legislature appropriated $15 million for a partnership between UCLA LPPI and the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center to support policy research, leadership programs and civic engagement focused on Latinas.

The HIP Conference serves as an annual reminder that progress requires Latinos to be at every decision-making table. UCLA LPPI is carrying the work beyond the conference doors to build a country where no one is left behind.

Image of Lola Smallwood-Cuevas from interview

CA State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas takes us through some of the history, present, and future of UCLA Labor Center’s CARE at Work program and the LA Black Worker Center. Senator (and founder of the first Black Worker Center) Smallwood-Cuevas highlights the importance and urgency of the work being done by these centers to address the black worker job crisis and how they help to create a more equitable work place.

Chapters:
0:04 – Lola Smallwood-Cuevas – Work to do!
0:22 – Intro Celia Lacayo
0:52 – Lola early history with UCLA Labor Center
2:25 – Robin D.G. Kelley on working with Lola and the Black Worker Center
3:32 – Lola on importance of the root system
4:04 – Kenneth-Alan Callahan LABWC Freedom Fellow
4:39 – Lola on growing impact of the work

For more information visit the UCLA Center for the Advancement of Racial Equity (CARE) at Work

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A video by Paul Connor

Dr. Natasha Quadlin

Book cover - Who Should Pay Higher Education, Responsibility, and the Public by author Natasha QuadlinIn “Who Should Pay? Higher Education, Responsibility, and the Public” author Natasha Quadlin takes the reader through the changing opinions on student debt over the past couple of decades.
In this interview Dr. Quadlin discusses how opinions (drawn through surveys and prior research) have changed, and possible implications for the future of how college is paid for in the United States. She discusses how and when opinion has changed and how the views on whether students, parents, state, local, or federal government should pay for college has shifted over time.

0:51 – How did you choose this topic?
1:55 – What is the main argument of this book?
4:15 – Key findings in who pays for higher education
5:36 – What is the future of paying for higher education?
7:10 – Why is this book critical to read?

UCLA Sociology: https://soc.ucla.edu

Interviewer: Dr. Celia Lacayo, Associate Director of Community Engagement, UCLA Social Sciences & Professor Chicana/o & Central American Studies and African American Studies Department

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Dr. Veronica Terriquez UCLA CSRC

UCLA LPPI Hosts 4th Annual Policy Briefing
By Cesar Montoya

Since the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute launched, it has worked to ensure that Latino voices are front and center in policy discussions and that our state leaders know that every issue is a Latino issue. Last month, as the state legislature and governor debated budget priorities, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) brought policy experts, advocates, and legislative staff together for its 4th Annual Policy Briefing in Sacramento. To a packed room with over 20 legislative offices and community partners represented, UCLA LPPI experts presented research and critical insights on some of the most pressing issues affecting the Latino community in California. Through a series of presentations, legislative and advocacy partners delved into housing insecurity, COVID’s impact on youth transitioning into adulthood and the implementation of Medi-Cal expansion to undocumented residents.

Dr. Veronica Terriquez

Dr. Veronica Terriquez UCLA CSRC

UCLA LPPI Advisory Board Member, and Altamed Health Service Vice President of Government Relations, Berenice Nuñez Constant moderated the briefing, which featured UCLA LPPI Experts Dr. Veronica Terriquez, Dr. Melissa Chinchilla and Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante. Nuñez Constant expertly led the convening, drawing on her extensive experience supporting health needs for Latino communities, from engagement to healthcare access.

Dr. Terriquez, director of the UCLA Chicano/a Studies Research Center, kicked off the expert research presentations with a focus on youth transitions to adulthood during the COVID-19 recovery. Dr. Terriquez has centered her research on various topics, including youth transitions, civic engagement, social inequality and immigrant integration. During her presentation, she shared sobering statistics about how the pandemic impacted Latinx youth’s economic stability, education rates and voting trends. She shared that based on her recent surveys, “one in three community college student Latinas is caring for senior citizens or young children” and that these young Latina college students often serve as the new safety net for their families. She further noted that families’ reliance on these young women results in more significant difficulties for Latinas seeking to transfer to a four-year college program and complete their degrees. Dr. Terriquez also shared that Latinx youth voter participation dipped during the pandemic. During the most recent midterm election in 2022, for voters between 18-34, only 22% of Latinx voters participated, compared to 39% of their non-Latinx counterparts. Dr. Terriquez concluded by emphasizing how these sobering statistics speak to the need to create targeted support systems for Latino youth, such as investing in nonpartisan engagement efforts that dispel myths, educate new voters, and strengthen the connection between youth and their local communities.

UCLA LPPI faculty expert Dr. Melissa Chinchilla then presented on Latino homelessness: a growing crisis for California municipalities. Her presentation focused on the rise in Latino homelessness and offered policy recommendations to address some of the underlying housing services issues. Given the large undercount of homelessness amongst the Latino community, briefing attendees considering affordable housing solutions in their respective communities across the state found Dr. Chinchilla’s presentation particularly engaging. After the briefing, Dr. Chinchilla shared, “As a researcher, I strive to inform the development of evidence-based practices that will lead to tangible improvements in our communities. This year I was able to share our work on Latino homelessness and uplift central policy solutions to ensure that government serves our communities equitably.” She added, “Research should not exist in a vacuum, and UCLA LPPI’s Annual Policy Briefing is a critical forum for us to ensure that our research is translated into policy impact.”

Arturo Vargas Bustamante

Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante

Finally, UCLA LPPI Faculty Director of Research Dr. Vargas Bustamante closed out the day with a discussion on implementation issues related to Medi-Cal expansion to undocumented adults aged 50 and up. In his presentation, Dr. Vargas shared why the expansion of coverage is so vital to the state and how delays in implementation will impact the health of the state’s older Latinos.  In reflecting on the importance of these conversations, Dr. Vargas Bustamante said, “This policy briefing enabled us to highlight the significance of looking at the wellbeing of older immigrants as an integral part of California’s economy and society. Expanding Medi-Cal to older undocumented immigrants balances health equity and economic opportunity, ensuring that age and legal status are not barriers to care.”

After an engaging day of dialogue, Briefing participants walked away with robust policy recommendations and action items that can bring about transformative change for the Latinx community and other communities of color throughout California.

Click here to view video highlights from the day and here to view a photo gallery.

Authors: Heidy Melchor (LPPI Policy Fellow, B.A. 2023) & Arianah Rizzo (LPPI Policy Fellows, B.A. 2024)

One key goal of UCLA’s Latino Politics and Policy Institute is to encourage and provide opportunities for Policy Fellows to participate in paid professional development activities to develop the next generation of policy leaders. UCLA LPPI exposes student leaders to policy experts and academic and career resources to build skills that accelerate their trajectories.

During the 2022-2023 Fellowship year, UCLA LPPI sent undergraduate and graduate fellows to multiple conferences and events, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Policy Summit, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Latina Action Day and the Mexican American Bar Association (MABA) gala, among others. Through these experiences, fellows engaged with policymakers and other key stakeholders, developing the skills to become powerful advocates in their own right. Additionally, fellows heard from subject area experts and learned new skills through UCLA LPPI programming, like Policy Diálogos and skills workshops, to continue to empower them to advocate around the most critical issues in Latino communities. With these experiences and the network gained through UCLA LPPI, fellows become equipped with the tools they need to take action on issues in new spaces and roles as they continue their careers.

Our Fellows in Action programming demonstrates the power of coupling skill-building and hands-on research with advocacy and mobilization experiences.

Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez

Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez (second from right)

A prime example is Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez, a graduate policy fellow in UCLA LPPI’s Mobilization Department and a current public policy masters student in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Itzel became involved in the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard Supreme Court Case. She was one of a handful of students selected to join an amicus brief submitted to the Court. Reflecting on what drew her to participate in this action, Itzel shared, “I became involved in this case back because I believe banning the consideration of race for colleges and universities in the United States limits quality educational opportunities and training for the next generation of leaders, and creates further systemic barriers for BIPOC students.” Itzel also noted the case’s significance and impact, saying, “Affirmative action has opened up many doors for highly talented BIPOC students who, unfortunately, may otherwise be overlooked for admission.”

Itzel sees LPPI as giving her even more opportunities to strengthen her network by introducing her to other students and staff “who care about equity and justice for BIPOC communities at UCLA and beyond.”

Rocio Perez presenting

Rocio Perez presenting

Another of our returning research fellows, Rocio Perez, a Master of Public Policy student at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, has also felt the impact of the firsthand experience UCLA LPPI provides. Rocio is involved with Health Illinois, where she analyzes enrollment data and conducts stakeholder interviews to determine the health impact of two Medicaid expansion programs. Through this experience, Rocio secured sponsorship to attend a national conference as a participant and panelist, where she spoke on the importance of humanizing data and her previous work on hunger and poverty.

Her fellowship at UCLA LPPI provided the skills to further her advocacy and work on novel research projects like the Latino Data Hub (LDH). Working on the LDH project has provided critical exposure to working with data sets and strengthened her quantitative and writing skills. In reflecting on her experience, Rocio credits her current success to the mentorship she received from UCLA LPPI, “I would not be where I am today without Dr. Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas [Director of Research] and Sonja Diaz [Founding Executive Director of UCLA LPPI] who believed in and offered me the fellowship, or without the mentorship I received from Jie Zong [Senior Research Analyst] and Misael Galdámez [Research Analyst] to work towards my career goals.”

Heidy Melchor w Grupo Estudianti Oaxaqueño (GEO) de UCLA

Heidy Melchor w Grupo Estudianti Oaxaqueño (GEO) de UCLA

Heidy Melchor, an undergraduate policy fellow in the Programs Department, is also putting her fellowship to work. While at UCLA LPPI, she founded Grupo Estudiantil Oaxaqueño (GEO) de UCLA, a student-led organization on campus created to bring together the growing community of Oaxaqueños on UCLA’s campus. The student group provides a safe space to share and discuss cultures with one another while offering academic support. Utilizing UCLA LPPI’s network of faculty experts, Heidy connected with Elizabeth Gonzalez, the inaugural Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) director in the Chancellor’s Office at UCLA. Building on GEO’s work to connect Oaxacan students with faculty who share similar identities, Heidy organized a community event for students to personally meet with Dr. Gonzalez and learn about her trajectory in higher education.

Heidy expressed her gratitude for having a space like UCLA LPPI and the phenomenal mentors it has connected her too. She noted how their care for her and her passions have pushed her even further and given her the building blocks to grow into the future leader she hopes to become. Heidy said, “LPPI has allowed me to learn and gain confidence in professional spaces. I am eternally grateful for this experience that has built my confidence in professional settings.”

Mirian A. Palacios Cruz is another undergraduate fellow in the UCLA LPPI’s Communications Department, who recently published her political science departmental honors thesis, “Tu Luchá es Mi Luchá” (Your Fight is My Fight): Transgender Visibility and Latinx Solidarity.” This remarkable research centers the lives of transgender Latinx immigrants, setting it apart from many traditional research spaces. Mirian shared why her work is so critical, “Investigating the political attitudes of the Latinx community through a gender-responsive framework will not only allow us to raise awareness about the issues impacting cisgender women and LGBTQ Latinxs but also improve our understanding of the factors that influence the political mobilization of this community to inform political engagement campaigns.” Mirian expressed gratitude for the mentorship and support of her faculty mentor and UCLA LPPI expert, Dr. Efrén Pérez.

UCLA LPPI believes in investing in Latine scholars to develop the leaders of tomorrow. The policy fellows at UCLA LPPI continue to overachieve and show passion in every project they are involved with. As graduating policy fellows move on to the next step in their careers, we’re excited to highlight the next steps in their journeys.

Rocio Perez accepted a summer position with the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, focusing on economic security issues. Heidy Melchor will be taking her next steps in her career in Washington, D.C. as a public policy fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. And Mirian Palacios Cruz will continue working with Women’s March Action. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in history or political science.

We applaud the Class of 2023, and thank them for their efforts and contribution to the success of UCLA LPPI.  With leaders like these four young women, the future of Latine policy and leadership looks bright.