Inaugural Latino Policy Day 2025

Description: UCLA LPPI will host its inaugural Latino Policy Day to introduce the UCLA community (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) to groundbreaking work that LPPI has supported in the areas of housing and homeownership, education, and immigration and health. Panels will feature our faculty experts and issue-specific leaders.

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Location: UCLA Hershey Hall, 801 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Room: Hershey Salon

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Program Agenda:

12:00 PM Lunch and Alumni Panel

Moderator: Estrella Torres, policy fellow, UCLA LPPI
Panelist: Jose Alvarez, senior associate, Estolano Advisors
Panelist: Heidy Melchor, district office liaison, LA City Council Office of Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez
Panelist: Lupe Renteria Salome, data analyst, USC Equity Research Institute

1:00 PM Welcome Remarks

Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, faculty director of research, UCLA LPPI

1:15 PM Latinos in California’s Community College Bachelor’s Degree Programs: What We Know So Far (45 min.)

Presentation by Dr. Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, professor and associate dean of equity, diversity, and Inclusion, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies

Panel Discussion:

Moderator: Dr. Silvia González, director of research, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Panelist: Dr. Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, professor and associate dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies
Panelist: Dr. Patricia Ramos, dean of academic affairs, Santa Monica College
Panelist: Dr. Elizabeth Gonzalez, chief program & strategy officer, College Futures Foundation

2:00 PM Break (15 min.)

2:15 PM House Rich, Access Poor: Refinancing Challenges for Latino and Black Homeowners in Los Angeles County (45 min.)

Presentation by Dr. Jose Loya, assistant professor, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, featuring Gabriella Carmona, senior research analyst, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

Panel Discussion:

Moderator/Panelist: Gabriella Carmona, senior research analyst, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Panelist: Dr. Jose Loya, assistant professor, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Panelist: Jonathan Sanabria, program officer, Conrad Hilton Foundation & Council Member, City of Huntington Park
Panelist: Noerena Limon, chief executive officer, Casita Coalition

3:00 PM Break (15 min.)

3:15 PM Expanding Insurance to all Immigrants: Lessons from Illinois’ HBIA/HBIS (45 min.)

Presentation by Dr. Aresha Martinez, assistant professor, University of Chicago Department of Public Health Sciences

Panel Discussion:

Moderator: Dr. Arturo Bustamante, faculty director of research, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Panelist: Dr. Aresha Martinez, assistant professor, University of Chicago Department of Public Health Sciences
Panelist: Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), assemblymember, California State Legislature
Panelist: Mar Velez, director of policy, Latino Coalition for Healthy California