Participating in PPIA Junior Summer Institute

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Fellow Enriched by Participating in PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2023

Four of UCLA LPPI’s current and incoming fellows attended the Public Policy and International Affairs Program 2023 Junior Summer Institute (JSI).

Aimee Benitez Aguirre and Miriam Torres Sanchez participated in the institute at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. Karina Solano Rodriguez and Nicole Spradlin participated at Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Over seven weeks, fellows participate in a graduate-level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to a career in public service. The program addressed the lack of diversity across the public service sector, targeting government, nonprofits, public policy institutions, and international organizations. The fellowship aims to prepare students to obtain a Master’s or a joint degree in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or a related field.

For Aimee Benitez Aguirre, participating in the program allowed her to have a better understanding of how to navigate pursuing a post-undergraduate degree and built confidence in her abilities Still the biggest benefit was from the community she built across her cohort and staff: “You share the space with public service leaders from across the country willing to learn from you and your life experiences, as well as the opportunities you have as an individual to learn from theirs.”

PPIA has helped build a foundation for the leaders of UCLA LPPI, with many Institute staff counting themselves among the alumni, including Founding Executive Director Sonja Diaz, Director of Programs Juana Hernandez Sánchez, and Project Policy Analyst Belen Flores, as well as current LPPI fellow Itzel Vasquez Rodriguez. The PPIA fellows also heard from former LPPI fellow and staff member Kassandra Hernández, who was a guest speaker during the summer institute.

For so many, the PPIA fellowship changed their life. Belen Flores said, “PPIA offers students of color a glimpse into what graduate education can look like and the skills needed to succeed in both graduate school and a career in public service.”

“PPIA has taught me how to view policy through different academic disciplines like law and economics. This exposure provided me with a new toolset to address some of our society’s most pressing policy issues. It was also very empowering to share space with other passionate leaders who also want to make our world a better place,” said LPPI fellow Miriam Torres Sanchez.

The national network of PPIA fellows, comprised of over 4,000 leaders, remains connected long after the institute has concluded. They have helped support each other as they navigate prestigious graduate programs and competitive high-profile jobs, often being the first in the family to take this path. PPIA fellows support each other where family cannot and provide support outside of institutions that may not understand their lived experiences. In addition, PPIA also provides financial support for those pursuing graduate education within their graduate school consortium.

“PPIA was instrumental in shaping my view of policy for what it is and what it can become. I met one of my lifelong best friends at PPIA, and to this day, we have the same types of conversations we had in Ann Arbor about politics, power, and the future,” said Founding Director Sonja Diaz.

The JSI provides fellows with an enriching experience similar to the fellowship program LPPI has created. It offers students passionate about the Latino community training in research and policy skills, allowing them to pursue careers in fields they may have felt were inaccessible.

“The UCLA LPPI fellowship prepared me for PPIA in so many ways. The LPPI fellowship gives you confidence in your ability to contribute and bring forth curiosity and critical thinking into various conversations, something I was able to do during PPIA in my classes and group projects. In that same way, LPPI has exposed me to many critical issues impacting diverse Latino communities across the United States, allowing me to bring this distinct perspective to the conversation,” said Benitez Aguirre.

PPIA and UCLA LPPI provide the next generation of leaders with a clearer sense of all the career trajectories available to them and give them the tools they need to succeed.

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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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2023 LPPI Graduates

LPPI Graduation 2023

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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.”

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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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CSW’s 2022 Distinguished Leader in Feminism Award

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Join the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) for a special virtual event on Wednesday, May 18th to honor the center’s accomplishments, student award recipients, and this year’s Distinguished Leader in Feminism Award honoree.

FEATURING THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Trans Latina Resilience: Past, Present, and Future

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Bamby Salcedo

President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition

This year, CSW has selected Bamby Salcedo as the recipient of the Center for the Study of Women’s 2022 Distinguished Leader in Feminism Award. Bamby is the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, a national organization that focuses on addressing the issues of transgender Latin@s in the US. Bamby developed the Center for Violence Prevention & Transgender Wellness, a multipurpose, multiservice space for transgender people in Los Angeles.

Her talk will highlight historical and intergenerational institutional violence against Trans, Gender Nonconforming and Intersex (TGI) people. She will also address the current state of TGI people and how she envisions a better world for the TGI community.

 

To find out more about this award ceremony and the outstanding keynote speaker, click HERE.

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Dr. Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas and Dr. Natalie Masuoka are Making the Power of AAPI, Latino Voters Clear

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By Alise Brillault

April 26, 2022

Some of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative’s (UCLA LPPI) most sought-after research products are its analyses of Latino voters. As the nation’s second-largest ethnic group, Latinos are consequential in determining the outcome of elections. Thus, understanding the size and voting behavior of Latino communities across the country is critical to mobilizing this growing electorate.

Dr. Rodrigo Domínguez-Villegas, UCLA LPPI’s co-director of research, has spearheaded several reports that analyze the size of the Latino population that is eligible to vote, the number of Latinos who register to vote, and the actual candidates and ballot measures that Latinos support. With these studies, UCLA LPPI is debunking the myth of Latinos as a monolithic voting bloc and asking questions to understand the nuances of this diverse electorate.

UCLA LPPI understands that while the Latino vote is consequential, when voters of color come together they can wield significant influence. That is why UCLA LPPI prioritizes working in multiracial coalition to understand the collective power of voters of color. As such, UCLA LPPI has affiliations with faculty experts like Dr. Natalie Masuoka, UCLA professor of political science and Asian American studies, to study the voting behavior of Asian Americans and Latinos in conjunction.

“Latino voters and Asian voters are the two demographic groups growing fastest in the country,” Dr. Domínguez-Villegas explained. “Their impact on deciding elections has grown in the past decade, and it will only keep growing.”

Dr. Masuoka emphasized that researchers also learn the most when thinking comparatively. “We cannot analyze a population in isolation,” she said. “We therefore can’t understand the impact of race on voting by only looking at one group – we need to look at how it’s constructed vis-a-vis other groups.”

Some of the projects that UCLA LPPI has worked on in collaboration with Dr. Masuoka and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center include an analysis of Latino and Asian voters in the 2020 primary elections and a study of racial differences in the support of California propositions that same year.

The innovative method of conducting this research was originally conceptualized by Dr. Matt Barreto and is unique to UCLA LPPI. Rather than relying on traditional exit polls, wherein surveyors only interview small numbers of voters, UCLA LPPI analyzes actual ballots cast in all precincts and matches that data to demographic information. This allows researchers to more accurately understand the choices of Latinos and other voters of color.

Furthermore, going beyond party choice to focus on ballot propositions allows researchers to gain a more granular understanding of the diversity of political views within communities.

Another distinctive facet of this work is the hands-on engagement of  policy fellows in the research. Graduate students use their quantitative skills to gather and present data to research analysts therbey by helping to draw substantive conclusions. These graduate fellows in turn train undergraduate students such as Bryanna Ruiz Fernández, which facilitates unique mentorship opportunities.

“As a first-generation college student, higher education has been a difficult space to navigate, and research even more difficult,” said Ruiz Fernández. “However, having the opportunity to be guided by individuals like Michael Herndon and Daisy Vazquez Vera who faced similar challenges as myself, I was able to receive individualized support and guidance in order to build the skills that will ensure I am successful in whichever research-focused role I find myself in.”

Policy fellows also bring to the table key insights from their lived experiences growing up and working in Latino communities.

“Many of these students have participated in voter mobilization efforts,” Dr. Domínguez-Villegas explained. “They can understand the needs of the Latino community and voters’ priorities through an organizer’s perspective.”

UCLA LPPI is now gearing up for the 2022 midterm elections, with research that will focus on key states like Arizona, Florida and Georgia where Latino and other voters of color will be consequential to election outcomes

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By All MEANS Necessary – New UCLA Report on Hollywood Diversity and Inclusion Practices

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Photo credit: bannosuke/Shutterstock

September 18, 2019

Diversity initiatives have become their own cottage industry in the entertainment industry.  But how much do we really know about what has been working and why?  This report considers some of the more significant past and present diversity initiatives in the industry in order to zero in on the essential practices that seem to differentiate the successful programs from those which are less successful.  Toward this end, we interviewed nearly two dozen industry leaders for this report who currently work on the frontline of efforts to make Hollywood a more diverse and inclusive creative space.  Their insights give rise to a M.E.A.N.S. model of essential practices already employed in isolated pockets of Hollywood that can be transferred throughout the entire industry.

Five key strategies comprise the M.E.A.N.S. model:  MODERNIZE your worldview to reflect changing U.S. demographics; EXPAND the net in routine talent searches; AMPLIFY the voices of women, especially women of color, within organizations; NORMALIZE compensation practices to reduce barriers to entry for marginalized groups; and STRUCTURE incentives for decision makers to prioritize diversity and inclusion.  Action items associated with each essential practice are outlined in this report.

Despite audience yearnings for change, the history of diversity efforts in Hollywood suggests that the industry’s diversity problem will not simply correct itself.  The path forward must be paved with intentions — by industry decision makers who actively embrace the means necessary for achieving the end of a more inclusive creative space.

M.E.A.N.S. Essential Practices

  1. MODERNIZE your worldview to reflect changing U.S. demographics
  2. EXPAND the net in routine talent searches
  3. AMPLIFY the voices of women, especially women of color, within organizations
  4. NORMALIZE compensation practices to reduce barriers to entry for marginalized groups
  5. STRUCTURE incentives for decision makers to prioritize diversity and inclusion.

DOWNLOAD “By All M.E.A.N.S. Necessary: Essential Practices for Transforming Hollywood Diversity and Inclusion” HERE.

For any media inquiries, please contact Jessica Wolf at jwolf@stratcomm.ucla.edu

For donor/sponsor inquiries, please contact Peter Evans at pevans@support.ucla.edu

To download our annual Hollywood Diversity Report series, click HERE.

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