Mobility & Opportunity

Eric Avila is a Professor and Core Faculty of Chicana/o Studies at UCLA. He has taught Chicana/o Studies and History at U.C.L.A. since 1997 and was promoted to associate professor in 2004. He is the author of Popular Culture in the Age of White Flight: Fear and Fantasy in Suburban Los Angeles, published by the University…

Charlita: Alberto Vargas Shares Reflections on Latino Workers in California

The Latino workforce is central to California’s economy, yet faces steep disparities in wages, job security, health coverage, and housing. To better understand these findings, we asked Alberto Vargas, a graduate fellow and co-author of LPPI’s workforce briefs, to share his reflections. In this conversation, Vargas highlights the growth of Latino workers across regions, the barriers…

How Tariffs Threaten Economic Mobility for Latino Communities

While much of the current public conversation has focused on how tariffs are rattling the stock market, we must look beyond Wall Street and examine the real and lasting consequences for working-class communities and small business owners. These tariffs act as regressive taxes—raising the cost of everyday goods while offering no corresponding relief to families…

Latina and Black Women Entrepreneurs Policy Forum Highlights Barriers and Solutions

On February 4, over 40 women policymakers, researchers, and business leaders convened at UC Center Sacramento for the Latina and Black Women Entrepreneurs Policy Forum, hosted by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI). The event examined structural inequities facing Latina and Black women entrepreneurs in California and explored data-driven policy solutions to foster…

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