Image of Rocio Perez speaking on zoom for data equity event

Advancing Data Equity for Latino Communities

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In a step towards advancing data equity for underserved communities in California, UCLA LPPI participated in the virtual policy forum early this month, “We Count!: Data Equity for Latinx and Indigenous Communities in California.” Organized by the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), a member of UCLA LPPI’s Ad-Hoc Latino Leaders coalition, the event shed light on the critical importance of data disaggregation and the acknowledgment of racial and ethnic diversity within national and state institutions.

A central part of the conversation was the campaign for California Senate Bill 435 – the Latino and Indigenous Disparities Reduction Act. If adopted, CA SB435 would bolster representation and health equity for Latinx and Indigenous communities. It will mandate the California Department of Public Health and the Department of Social Services to collect and release disaggregated data specifically for Indigenous and Latinx nations. The bill would also require the agency to publish annual reports analyzing health trends, including acute and chronic diseases, as well as accessibility and utilization of vital services.

Latina leaders like Dr. Seciah Aquino, Executive Director of LCHC, CA Senator Lena Gonzalez, and UCLA LPPI Fellow, Rocio Perez, are raising the urgency and visibility of this issue. Sen. Gonzalez, the sponsor of CA SB435, has emphasized the need to view Latinos from diverse perspectives to ensure improved health outcomes. At the forum, Perez recommitted UCLA LPPI’s support for the campaign. “UCLA LPPI is proud to be part of this statewide effort to ensure comprehensive data collection that encompasses all intersecting identities and communities within the Latino community,” shared Perez, one of the developers of the forthcoming Latino Data Hub. During the event, Perez also stressed the need to address the limitations posed by current data standards set by state agencies. The lack of quality and reliable information hampers efforts to include indigenous Mesoamerican nations in the database, limiting the ability to address their specific needs effectively.

The collection of this data is crucial for the Latino community in California and across the United States. It allows for a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the unique challenges and disparities of different subgroups within the larger Latino population. The information also allows researchers and policymakers to identify disparities that may not be apparent when examining data for the Latino community as a whole. This makes it invaluable for crafting targeted and effective policies to address the specific needs of our diverse communities.

Understanding the critical nature of the issue and in an effort to bridge the data gap, UCLA LPPI is developing the Latino Data Hub (LDH). Set to go live in Fall 2023, LDH will be an accessible, user-friendly, and bilingual online resource. This new initiative will provide comprehensive data on critical issues like education, healthcare, employment, and housing, to empower advocacy efforts and inform legislation.

The LCHC panel underscored the importance of creating tools like LDH. Fact-based insights from the new data hub will allow policymakers to be better equipped to make informed decisions that address the nuances and needs of their Latino constituencies.

You can watch the entire virtual policy forum above.

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Brenda Stevenson photo from interview

What Sorrows Labour in My Parent’s Breast – w author Brenda Stevenson (video)

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Author Dr. Brenda Stevenson discusses her new book “What Sorrows Labour in My Parent’s Breast: A History of the Enslaved Black Family.” Dr. Stevenson talks about her research on the lives of enslaved black families over time (17th century to end of the Civil War) and space (British, French, Dutch, Spanish colonies), following how families were torn apart, and eventually rebuilt. Using a multitude of available documents and artifacts (letters, diaries, pottery, family bibles, photographs, cloth), Dr. Stevenson brings the voices of these families to the reader and shines new light on the history of slavery and it’s direct and lingering impacts on family.

0:04 – Intro
0:43 – Genesis of the book?
2:08 – Main argument and contribution of the book?
3:10 – Importance of Loss, Recovery, and Resilience
4:10 – How do your sources bring insight into Black History, Family, and Identity?
6:03 – How does this book relate to current times?

UCLA History: https://history.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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ITZEL VASQUEZ-RODRIGUEZ photo

I Testified for Affirmative Action

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I Testified for Affirmative Action, I’m Not Giving Up

By Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez

 

ITZEL VASQUEZ-RODRIGUEZ photo

Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez

My experience as a Harvard undergrad was enriched by my interactions and relationships with students from backgrounds different from my own. That formative experience is why I firmly believe all students should have the opportunity to learn in a diverse environment.

As a Mexican-American of Cora descent and MPP candidate at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, I am disappointed but not surprised by the Court’s shameful decision on affirmative action. I am intimately aware of how race and racism shape numerous aspects of our lives, regardless of whether the majority in the Supreme Court acknowledges this reality. I know my racial identity plays a crucial role in understanding who I am, how I am seen in this country and how my lived experience plays out. It is why I testified in support of race-conscious admissions in the Harvard case and am proud to have worked alongside exceptional leaders in the movement to protect affirmative action policies.

And without intentional action to undo historic injustices, racial and ethnic identity will continue to be used as a tool of division. This decision leaves that unchanged.

What the Court’s ruling does, however, is undermine efforts to take that intentional action – to  create  diverse campuses that bring people together in a way this nation needs more than ever.

Colleges and universities have a responsibility to foster equal opportunities and provide students with the advantages of a diverse learning environment. And the work they do to make their campuses more diverse not only makes their campuses better but they also improve the world their students are entering. California has set the blueprint over the last thirty years, showing there are countless tools that can be used to promote diversity. These include considering socioeconomic status, recruiting from affinity groups, and other targeted outreach.

After the last two terms, it is clear that this highly partisan Supreme Court is increasingly disconnected from the history and realities of this country, as well as from realities I shared in my testimony. This decision represents yet another blatant attempt to retain white supremacy.

This ruling also presents an opportunity for us to unite in solidarity, with institutes like UCLA LPPI and faculty experts who support BIPOC students, push for accountability and representation in all institutions and influence decision makers to advance opportunities for underrepresented students, we can’t lose.

To all the current and future students out there I have one piece of advice: don’t let this decision deter you. Apply to your dream schools. Tell your story and how your racial identity shaped you. Join affinity groups. And never be afraid to push for what is right.

Que sigue la lucha!

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LPPI Presenters

Hispanics in Philanthropy Conference

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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.

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Image of Lola Smallwood-Cuevas from interview

Racial Equity at Work w CA Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (video)

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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

For more LA Social Science videos subscribe to our YouTube channel

A video by Paul Connor

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Dr. Natasha Quadlin

Who Should Pay? – w author Natasha Quadlin (video)

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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

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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.

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UCLA LPPI Fellows in Action ’22-’23

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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.

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Students with Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower

UCLA Labor Center Career Pathways for Students

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UCLA Labor Center partners with California Labor Commissioner’s Office to strengthen state career pathways for students

By Andrew Rock, Graduate Student Researcher; Jessica HyunJeong Lee, Graduate Student Researcher, and Janna Shadduck-Hernández, UCLA Labor Center, Project Director

Event attendees pose for a photo alongside California State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower

Event attendees pose for a photo alongside California State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower.

The UCLA Labor Center has launched an initiative to demystify the state of California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)’s application process, with the goal of providing undergraduate and graduate students with stronger pathways to a career in state labor agencies.

The DIR frequently offers job openings for positions that support the department’s mission of improving working conditions for California’s workers. At UCLA, many students share the agency’s mission but may not know about its work, or may be deterred by the state’s complex application process.

To kickstart this effort, on March 7, the UCLA Labor Studies Undergraduate Program and the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, with co-sponsorship from the UCLA Latin American Institute, hosted California State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower for an information session on career opportunities and pathways within the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO). Her talk introduced students to the mission, values, and approach of her office and Division of Apprenticeship Standards; the benefits provided to state employees; and the application process for state employment. After the talk, approximately 45 undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni had the opportunity to network with LCO and DIR staff members.

California State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower speaks to UCLA students.

California State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower speaks to UCLA students

“Overall I think the programming was fantastic,” said Sherrod Session, a current labor studies major. “I know there are a lot of Labor Studies Majors who are unsure about what kinds of jobs will be available after they graduate. That being said, I think that knowing that there are so many job opportunities within the public domain that have great benefits makes people more inclined to study labor relations. In addition to the benefits, the jobs showcased seemed highly rewarding on the social justice front and showed a strong correlation to improving the organized labor presence within California. As an aspiring labor lawyer, I hope to be involved in a space such as the LCO so that organized labor has a strong backing from the state.”

Jasmin Rivera, a recent UCLA graduate, also attended the talk. “It was so nice being back on UCLA’s campus to learn more about the jobs at the Labor Commissioner’s Office and the exciting initiatives and projects they are offering,” she said. “I left the conversation with so much information, and I plan to attend the spring workshops that the Labor Studies program will be hosting.”

This spring, the UCLA Labor Center will lead a series of workshops to provide students with resources for preparing DIR employment applications. The workshops will break down the application process, teach best practices for applications for state employment, and provide a venue for undergraduate and graduate students to ask questions about the process and start working on their applications.

Spring 2023 quarter workshops will be held at the Chicano Studies Research Library in Haines Hall 144 on:

Thursday, April 26 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., and

Thursday, May 25 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

To RSVP, click here.

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Josefina Flores Morales PhD

UCLA LPPI Centers Latinas in the Struggle for Reproductive Freedoms

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UCLA LPPI Centers Latinas in the Struggle for Reproductive Freedoms Following the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

By Alise Brillault

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) elevates research that applies a Latina lens on emerging political issues and aims to be nimble in responding to the evolving needs of the nation’s growing and diverse Latino community. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and recent attacks on reproductive freedoms, UCLA LPPI brought together its research, mobilization and leadership capacities to advocate for a Latina-centered response.

UCLA LPPI recognizes that America’s future is Latina. By 2050, Latinas will represent 13% of the U.S. population, 11% of the labor force and have a median age 11 years younger than non-Hispanic white women. Yet too often, Latinas are left out of policy conversations, and they experience significant inequity that places them among our nation’s most vulnerable.

Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, UCLA LPPI has conducted rigorous research to put a spotlight on the challenges Latinas have faced – including exiting the workforce at higher rates than any other group and struggling to keep their businesses afloat as entrepreneurs in sectors like hospitality.

These challenges have now been compounded by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. By ending federal protections for abortion rights, Latinas have not only been deprived of their bodily autonomy – their economic security and ability to make choices about their lives is also undermined.

In response, UCLA LPPI has supported emerging Latina scholars through its policy fellowship program to pursue new research to help quantify the impacts of the Dobbs decision on Latinas. That investigation was recently published in UCLA LPPI’s newest report, “Differential Rights: How Abortion Bans Impact Latinas in Their Childbearing Years.”

Josefina Flores Morales PhD

Josefina Flores Morales, PhD

The policy fellows leading this important research initiative included Josefina Flores Morales, who recently completed her PhD in sociology from UCLA, and Julia Hernandez Nierenberg, a master of social work and master of public policy candidate at UCLA.

“UCLA LPPI is committed to creating pathways for rising scholars to publish applied research and inform policy,” explained the organization’s research director, Silvia González. “It was an incredible opportunity to support Josefina and Julia as they led this project and defined the analytical approach, conducted the research and proposed thoughtful policy recommendations.”

The report was also an opportunity for Flores Morales and Hernandez Nierenberg to receive guidance from UCLA LPPI’s partners at Arizona State University’s Center for Latinas/os and American Politics Research (ASU CLAPR). In addition to obtaining data insights and research support from ASU CLAPR’s Dr. Francisco Pedraza, the report was reviewed by Dr. Rocío R. García and Dr. Kenicia Wright, two women of color faculty members at ASU.

“We were able to work with external reviewers at ASU to get an expert perspective outside of UCLA LPPI that gave us insights from people who have been doing gender, policy and reproductive rights work for many years,” Flores Morales said.

“This was my first time working on a report with external reviewers, and collaborating with Dr. Rocio Garcia and Dr. Kenicia Wright was an honor and privilege,” Hernandez Nierenberg added. “They were both excited and supportive of this project and provided thoughtful feedback for Josefina and me.”

UCLA LPPI has also mobilized community members through expert convenings featuring perspectives from Latina leaders in the reproductive justice space. On August 31st, UCLA LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz led a national webinar alongside moderator Astrid Galván of Axios and panelists Olivia Julianna from Gen-Z for Change; Lupe Rodríguez from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice; América Ramírez of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity Reproductive Rights; and Cathy Torres of Frontera Fund.

This webinar event brought together Latina leaders at the forefront of the reproductive justice movement to discuss the impacts of the Dobbs decision on Latinas’ bodily autonomy, economic wellbeing and political inclusion in American democracy. During this event, participants discussed a meaningful path forward that centers Latinas, from state level protections and abortion fund networks, to comprehensive federal legislation that secures abortion care and reproductive freedoms.

Image: UCLA LPPI Webinar: Latinas in the Fight for Reproductive Rights

UCLA LPPI Webinar: Latinas in the Fight for Reproductive Rights. From top left, Olivia Julianna, Astrid Galván, Lupe Rodríguez, Cathay Torres, and América Ramírez

“The webinar helped to ground our research in some of the tangible, urgent issues facing Latina access to abortion,” said Hernandez Nierenberg.  “Listening to community groups and on-the-ground partners allowed us to formulate a comprehensive list of policy implications based on our research and these conversations, such as enshrining the right to abortion in state constitutions, increasing funding for community-based clinics and hospitals, and protecting transgender and non-binary persons’ reproductive rights.”

Collaborating on this response to the Dobbs decision was a powerful experience for Flores Morales and Hernandez Nierenberg, who will bring this with them in their future academic and professional endeavors.

Flores Morales, who will be pursuing her postdoc at Stanford’s School of Medicine focusing on epidemiology and population health, said, “Julia was a thought partner through and through, and I’m so glad that we were able to work together to create this report. The team at UCLA LPPI was both cheering us on and also providing really important and critical feedback at each step of the way. So it was really a team effort, and I hope that the report reaches a wide audience and continues these critical conversations.”

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