Inaugural Latino Policy Day 2025

Description: UCLA LPPI will host its inaugural Latino Policy Day to introduce the UCLA community (students, faculty, staff, and alums) 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

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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 LPPI
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

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

Panel Discussion:

Moderator/Panelist: Gabriella Carmona, senior research analyst, UCLA LPPI
Panelist: Dr. Jose Loya, assistant professor, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Panelist: Jonathan Sanabria, program officer, Conrad Hilton Foundation
Panelist: Noerena Limon , CEO, 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 LPPI
Panelist: Dr. Aresha Martinez, assistant professor, University of Chicago Department of Public Health Sciences
Panelist: Eduardo Garcia, senior advisor for policy and public affairs, UCLA LPPI
Panelist: Mar Velez, director, Latino Coalition for Healthy CA