A challenge to Texas’s strict voter ID law that prevented thousands of eligible voters from fully participating in the democratic process.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) held their Launch Event featuring keynote speaker Kevin de Léon, speaker of the California Senate.

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Through an analysis of US Latino labor force participation rates, household formation rates, median income, and other factors, researchers with contributions from LPPI find that the Latino homeownership rate has rebounded to within 3.5 percent of its pre-recession rate, a significantly faster recovery than the U.S. homeownership rate overall.

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In this study on Oakland, California’s Fruitvale Village, LPPI evaluates how community-driven economic development and culturally responsive Transit Oriented Development (TOD) can impact the socioeconomic outcomes of residents, including Latino residents. LPPI’s research suggests how TOD, in combination with positive community-based intervention, can improve the economic state of residents without resulting in displacements of Latinos.

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Analysis from LPPI on the vote choice of Orange County precincts in California’s Congressional DIstricts 39 and 48 in the June 2018 primary reveals an increase in Latino voter turnout compared to the June 2014 primary election as well as pronounced support from Latino-majority communities for Democratic candidates, especially those who are Latino.

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LPPI compares the number of ballots cast between the June 2014 and June 2018 primaries, and the vote preference differences between Latino and non-Latino voters in Los Angeles County in the June 2018 election to highlight Latino voting trends. This analysis provides an important frame for understanding voting Latino preferences in the state as a … Continued

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Comparing voter data between Ventura County’s June 2014 and 2018 primary elections, LPPI research highlights that Ventura’s June 2018 primary had both increased voter registration and higher turnout along with vote preference within Latino-majority districts trending towards Democratic and Latino candidates running for statewide offices.

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LPPI’s preliminary analysis comparing ballots cast on June 5, 2018 and June 3, 2014 for California Governor indicate a substantial increase in party preference for Democratic candidates in some counties that were previously Republican-majority.

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Research from LPPI analyzes Orange County precincts and demonstrates that the June 2018 California primary saw a 500 percent increase in the number of Latino major-party candidates with Orange County’s Latino-majority precincts voting in overwhelming support for Democratic Latinos running for statewide offices.

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LPPI and NALEO co-hosted a symposium where elected officials discussed effective policies for the Latino community.

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Anglo voters of Dallas Texas challenged the county’s 2011 redistricting plan in regards to electing county commissioners, claiming it is a violation of their rights.

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LPPI evaluated the Smithsonian Institution’s progress in increasing Latina/o representation within its workforce and exhibitions. Findings reveal a severe lack of representation in executive leadership and lack of funding for Latino initiatives.

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LPPI’s updated evaluation of the Smithsonian Institution’s workforce for the ten year period of 2007-2016 finds significant underrepresentation for Latinos in the Smithsonian’s workforce.

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Research from LPPI examines voting patterns across different regions within Los Angeles County to assess where Latino vote growth was strongest. LPPI also evaluates the non-partisan voter mobilization campaign conducted by AltaMed, highlighting the success of AltaMed’s program to increase Latino vote growth in Los Angeles county.

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Research from LPPI evaluates how well California’s physician workforce meets the linguistic needs of California’s limited English proficient (LEP) population and presents policy recommendations aimed at closing the language gap between California’s physicians and the patients they serve.

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LPPI examines the magnitude of California’s Latino physician shortage and based on current data and trends, researchers estimate that it will take five centuries for medical schools in California to fully address the Latino physician shortage and close the Latino physician gap.

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LPPI’s analysis of adult arrests by race and ethnicity in California between 2008 and 2017 reveals that while the number of total arrests have decreased over time, Latinos are the only racial or ethnic group to experience an increase in the share of arrests, in both misdemeanor or felony, during this time period.

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North Dakota’s discriminatory voter ID law required voters to include their current residential street address in order to vote, which disenfranchised many Native Americans.

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LPPI focuses on Latino vote choice and increases in ballots cast in six U.S. states, as evidenced by changes in the number of ballots cast between the 2014 and 2018 midterm elections. In this report, LPPI seeks to better understand the electoral participation of Latino populations and their preferred candidates of choice in hotly contested … Continued

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LPPI and the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program co-hosted an event highlighting the importance of the Latino electorate in 2018 and future elections.

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LPPI experts, Dr. Leisy Abrego and Dr. Cecilia Menjivar, authored an amicus brief in the consolidated DACA cases before the U.S. Supreme Court along with a dozen other prominent empirical scholars who study DACA and its effects. The brief draws upon amici’s original research to challenge the Trump Administration’s cancellation of DACA. This is a Writ of Certiorari … Continued

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This report analyzes the 45th President’s public speeches and tweets from 2015 to 2017 to demonstrate their racist intent in an effort to prevent the President’s administration from rescinding DACA.   View the report here.

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LPPI evaluates the issues impacting Latino households who experience or are at risk of experiencing homelessness and offers policy recommendations to alleviate the issues that exacerbate the Latino community’s share of Los Angeles County’s homeless population.

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On January 15, 2019, the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative (LPPI) partnered with the Greenlining Institute and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) to facilitate a public-facing policy briefing on the Latino Physician Crisis to discuss themes of Latino health access, outreach efforts and policy solutions.

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On January 15, 2019, the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative (LPPI) partnered with the Greenlining Institute and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) to facilitate a public-facing policy briefing on the Latino Physician Crisis to discuss themes of Latino health access, outreach efforts and policy solutions.

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Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross decided to issue a citizenship question for the 2020 Census and the State of New York challenged this decision.

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The UCLA Law Review held a symposium with leading scholars and practitioners of criminal justice to provide unique perspectives on how Latinos fare in the criminal justice system.

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LPPI analyzes the shortage of Latino resident physicians in the state of California and provides policy recommendations intended to increase California’s Latino healthcare workforce and improve overall health outcomes for Latinos.

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The Commerce Department decided to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, which the State of California challenged.

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UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs hosted a conference to discuss the importance of unity and organizing among the Latino community.

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A challenge to Secretary of State David Whitley on the implementation of a voter purged program that threatened thousands of Texan’s voting rights.

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LPPI welcomed prominent Latino leaders for a conversation on how to increase Latino representation at all levels of government amid the changing demographics of the US.

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LPPI and UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs co-hosted the symposium, “Demography, Redistricting and Power,” where leaders and scholars convened to discuss the growing electoral power of Latinos.

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In 2018, UCLA LPPI produced original and innovative research on a diverse range of topics, such as Latino homeownership, the 2018 midterm elections, Latinx representation across the nation’s preeminent museum, and criminal justice reform, and engaged with state and local elected officials from across the country to amplify Latino issues.

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Over 20,000 precincts in 8 states were analyzed to assess how the Latino voter turnout contributed to increases in ballots cast in 2018. The data compiled by LPPI reveals that the largest growth in ballots occurred in majority Latino precincts.

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From the provider’s perspective, LPPI’s research shows that the main barriers that contribute to the Latino physician shortage are financial/opportunity cost, academic disadvantages, navigation, underrepresentation and citizenship. LPPI offers policy recommendations to mitigate these barriers and address the shortage of Latino physicians in California.

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By examining the limited supply of language proficient physicians (LPP) compared to the large amount of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals in California, LPPI research finds that California holds a significant gap in language concordance, specifically among Spanish-speaking physicians and Spanish-speaking LEP populations.

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LPPI offers the patient perspective of the California physician crisis by highlighting how study participants expressed a strong preference to speak with providers directly and in their own language. Based on the findings, LPPI offers policy recommendations to improve the patient experience of the Latino LEP population.

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LPPI research reveals that as the overall US population ages with Latinos emerging as a younger and more populous segment, policy solutions will need to be implemented to foster the prosperity of an intergenerational and culturally diverse society.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Projects aims to provide the court with essential legal and academic information that has not already been brought up to the court.

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Florida restored voting rights to felons as long as certain conditions are met and one of those conditions requires legal financial obligations.

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Yakima City Councilmembers’ implementation of Charter changes causes voter dilution to its citizens in Yakima.

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We are CA, Somos CA convened local leaders and advocates of the Latino community to celebrate the 25 years since the removal of Proposition 187.

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LPPI hosted a symposium with Latina leaders from across the southwest to discuss the power of Latina leaders in politics.

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In 2019, UCLA LPPI focused on the emerging power of Latinos, the challenges they face and why the issues impacting Latino communities require unique policy solutions to build an equitable and thriving future for America.

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A lawsuit against Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s “motor voter” program ultimately ended in a voluntary dismissal without prejudice from Plaintiffs.

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A growing physician shortage in California has negative health impacts on marginalized communities, specifically Latinos. LPPI research highlights the severity of this physician crisis and puts forth recommendations for California to provide primary care physicians in its medically and linguistically underserved communities.

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This white paper highlights how addressing existing barriers in medical school admissions, residencies, and supply of language-capable physicians is key to address the health care needs of increasing numbers of medically- and linguistically-underserved residents in California. We use evidence-based solutions to advocate for additional funding policies and slots for URM medical students to current deficit … Continued

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UCLA LPPI conducted a comprehensive analysis of all caucus voting locations across the state of Iowa to examine the voting patterns in high-density Latino cities and neighborhoods. The patterns reveal how the Latino electorate is growing and will continue to shape electoral outcomes.   Overview: Latinos remain the largest and youngest population in the United … Continued

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Florida’s constitutional Amendment 4 allows for ex-felons to restore their right to vote and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit affirmed the previous preliminary injunction.

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This report assesses the power of voters of color by analyzing 2008, 2012, and 2016 voting trends to predict the total number of eligible voters, registered voters, and turnout for 2020 by state. Focusing on the 10 most Latino populous states, this report finds that voters of color are shaping the 2020 presidential election in … Continued

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This memo examines the three main areas for improvement that should be addressed in any COVID-19 election response bill, primarily the March 23, 2020 House Bill on expanded vote-by-mail.

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With the ongoing concern that the novel coronavirus will affect turnout in upcoming elections, the UCLA Voting Rights Project explores effective and accessible voting practices for future elections in light of COVID-19.

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With support from LPPI, this memo from the UCLA Voting Rights Project addresses the concerns of COVID-19 that cause the disease to spread through in-person voting and vote-by-mail. From a medical expert’s perspective, this memo reviews the best practices for voting.

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Service workers in hospitality and sales workers in retail are highly impacted by COVID-19 related closures. Amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, Asian-majority and Latino-majority neighborhoods in Los Angeles County are most vulnerable to negative economic consequences due to workforce concentration in these service and sales sectors.

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A letter from LPPI expert Matt Barreto and UCLA Voting Rights Project expert Chad Dunn urges Governor Lamont of Connecticut to reform absentee voting in Connecticut due to COVID-19 and improve accessibility to the voting polls.

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This memo examines the main areas for improvement that should be addressed in any COVID-19 election response bill and compares H.R. 1, the landmark voting rights bill from the 116th Congress, on expanded vote-by-mail.

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LPPI and UCLA VRP hosted a webinar to discuss the importance of vote-by-mail programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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Amid the pandemic, Los Angeles County is facing disruption to its economy. LPPI estimates the proportion of Los Angeles County’s population that is least likely to receive a CARES Act individual rebate, to identify the communities that require targeted assistance in the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project found that voter fraud in vote-by-mail ballots was virtually nonexistent, eliminating the concern as advocates push for universal vote by mail amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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For decades, California has been grappling with a severe physician crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the detrimental impacts it has on the lives of low-income residents and communities of color. The report offers policy recommendations to increase access to healthcare in preparation for a second wave and to build a lasting healthcare infrastructure for the state’s ongoing needs.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (UCLA LPPI) hosted a webinar to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on California’s most vulnerable communities.

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Summary: Representatives from the Voting Rights Project and the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative at UCLA Luskin will talk about the importance of vote-by-mail programs during the November general election amid the coronavirus pandemic. As the ongoing public health crisis raises concerns about voter turnout, particularly in underserved communities and for voters of color, how … Continued

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This report offers a comprehensive review of different states’ voter registration practices, with a particular focus on the implementation and impact of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR).

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Plaintiffs seeking access to vote-by-mail face legal uncertainty as to the claims that might enable their access to mail voting during this pandemic.

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LPPI assesses the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) applicant pool to identify the direction and magnitude of Latino underrepresentation. Other disparities relating to geographic distribution also limit the Commission’s ability to reflect the state’s diversity in redistricting.

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By examining public support for the release of migrant children and for the types of necessities child detainees should be allocated, LPPI expert Chris Zepeda Millán finds that 82% of the public supports releasing child detainees (to family members or sponsors) and over 90% support providing detained children with medical care and other basic necessities.

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Experts from LPPI report that the ability for some residents and neighborhoods in Los Angeles County to shelter in place reflects entrenched inequalities in resources, health, environment, and access to care. Extractions of empirical evidence in this report support policy recommendations that address inequities facing residents and neighborhoods unable to shelter in place, especially communities of color.

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The UCLA Luskin Summit held a session focusing on mobilizing, engaging, and serving the immigrant and Latino community in LA.

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UC faculty presented evidence on addressing California’s Latino physician workforce shortage. Cal-IHEA and LPPI aim to facilitate productive discussion about policies and solutions to address the Latino physician shortage and support Latino physicians currently in medical practice.

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Researchers examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to care for vulnerable populations and offer policy recommendations to ensure continued access to high-quality care for all patients through telehealth, especially for patients in linguistically and medically underserved communities.

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LPPI and the California Latino Legislative Caucus co-hosted a briefing where key leaders and scholars shared solutions to address the issues facing the Latino community.

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In 2019, LPPI and the California Latino Legislative Caucus co-hosted a briefing where key leaders and scholars shared solutions to address the issues facing the Latino community.

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Advocates of criminal justice reform came together to discuss solutions to the overrepresentation of Latinos within the criminal system during the LatinoJustice and LPPI’s Criminal Justice Reform: National Latinx Strategy Workshop.

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Advocates, academics and community members gathered in Los Angeles and Bakersfield for the 4th Annual national convening of Latinxs for criminal justice reform.

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On May 31, 2018 LatinoJustice and the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative (LPPI) convened the first national Latinx conversation on Criminal Justice Reform at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz and LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto, in partnership with Latino Justice, discuss the need for criminal justice reform to serve the interests of the Latino community in this panel presentation. This panel discussion took place at the LatinoJustice and the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative (LPPI) first national Latinx conversation … Continued

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Latino Policy & Politics Initiative brings together scholars, policymakers and nationally known advocates for the Latino community for a day of presentations, discussions and workshops

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On February 8, 2019, the UCLA Law Review hosted an important symposium on Latinx Communities, Race, and the Criminal Justice System at the UCLA School of Law.

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Daylong event focuses on impact of bias and stereotyping within the legal system on outcomes for Latinos

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“immigration control and mass incarceration emerged as the systems of social control that frame alienated citizens and criminalized immigrants as a racialized caste of outsiders in the United States today,” says LPPI expert Kelly Lytle Hernandez about the prison system in the US.

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The following press release summarizes the key findings found in a recent report by LPPI, “The Power of the New Majority: A 10 State Analysis of Voters of Color in the 2020 Election,” and the impact that voters of color will have in the upcoming 2020 elections. 10 State Analysis Press Release

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project released a report urging elected officials to implement a universal vote-by-mail program for voters planning to participate in the upcoming elections, this press release summarizes the recommendations made in the report. UCLA VRP Vote by Mail

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This press release summarizes the key findings in the recent report released by UCLA Voting Rights Poject, “Debunking the Myth of Voter Fraud in Mail Ballots,” a report addressing the myths surrounding vote-by-mail programs. Voter Fraud Press Release

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Former state Sen. Kevin de León will begin to teach public policy courses at UCLA and will also work with LPPI as part of his advisory position that will allow him to conduct research regarding how domestic policy challenges affect Latinos.

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LPPI expert Laura E. Gomez writes an opinion piece on judge Brett Kavanaugh’s denials about sexual misbehavior and his duty to protect women’s rights.

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LPPI released a report titled, “The Power of the New Majority a 10 State Analysis of Voters of Color in the 2020 Election,” which analyzes the growing power and influence of the Latino electorate according to this press release. 10 State Analysis Press Release (1)

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This is a press release on the UCLA Voting Rights Project letter to Governor Lamont of Connecticut. The letter provides recommendations that the governor can take to expand vote-by-mail programs in the state for the upcoming primary and general elections. Conn Gov Letter Press Release MLA (1)

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LPPI expert Chad Dunn calls for the urgent need of a universal vote-by-mail program to protect public health during COVID-19.

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A report by the UCLA Voting Rights Project finds vote-by-mail programs do not increase voter fraud.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz writes an Op-Ed on the lack of diversity and representation Latinos face in the redistrcting commission.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto emphasizes the need for the presidential candidates to mobilize and engage the Latino community.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz emphasizes the need for vote-by-mail programsm,especially for young Latinos and Asian Americans.

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Chad Dunn, LPPI expert and the Texas Democratic Party’s attorney, sues the state of Texas in an effort to expand access to vote-by-mail amid COVID-19.

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LPPI exert and the Texas Democratic Party’s general counsel, Chad Dunn, emphasizes the need for Texas to implement a vote-by-mail program to the Texas Supreme Court.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the importance of Joe Biden’s first Latina hire on his campaign.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto participated in a polling survey that finds Latinos less willing to vote for Trump.

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Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder, emphasizes the need for both parties to increase outreach efforts towards Latinos, a large electorate likely to be influential in the 2020 presidential election, in order to secure their vote.

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Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder, emphasizes the need for both parties to increase outreach efforts towards Latinos, a large electorate likely to be influential in the 2020 presidential election, in order to secure their vote.

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Gary Segura, LPPI Faculty Co-Director and Dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs, discusses the predicted high turnout in the 2018 midterm elections likely to shift power over to the Democratic party.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto credits the strong support from minority communities who voted Democrat to the recent successes of the Democratic Party, citing a LPPI study that shows Harris County had one of the highest vote increases in the county’s majority Latinos precincts.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the increased voter tunrout that Latinos experienced from 2014 to 2018, a potentially influential electorate in the upcoming 2020 presidential elections.

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UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Initiative and the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society program will co-produce a special event, “2018 Midterm Elections & the Latino Vote,” featuring Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Daniel Garza, President of the Libre Initiative, Dr. Matt Barreto, Faculty Director of LPPI, Tatiana Matta, Candidate for CA-32, and … Continued

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the strong mobilizing impact that Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric had among the Latino community.

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A LPPI study highlights the increased Latino vote growth in the 2018 midterm elections as compared to the 2014 elections, demonstrating the increased electoral power of Latino voters.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz explains that the Latino vote growth from 2014 to 2018, based on an LPPI report, proved to be influential in the midterm elections.

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An analysis by LPPI which includes the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York and Texas found that the Latino vote experienced significant growth from 2014 to 2018.

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A report by LPPI on the 2018 midterms found that the Latino vote growth increased and proved to be highly influential.

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A LPPI study documenting the growth of the Latino vote from 2014 to 2018 found Latino concentrated areas had the largest growth in voter turnout of anywhere in the country.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz discusses the influential role that California will play in the 2020 Democratic midterm elections as it join other states in participating in Super Tuesday.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto explains Kamala Harris’ increased attention towards the Latino community in her run to become the Democratic presidential nominee, as a direct result of the increasing electoral power Latinos are gaining as the population grows.

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A LPPI report analyzing the 2014 and 2018 midterms shows how the Latino population and voting power continues to increase, representation for Latinos is becoming increasingly more necessary.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz speaks about a potential ballot measure to lower the voting age, specifically the many young voters that would be coming from historically disenfranchised communities like the Latino and Asian communties.

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An LPPI analysis of the 2014 and 2018 midterm elections emphasizes the increase power that the Latino electorate will have in future elections as they are predicted to become the largest non-white population in the US.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz explains how to best interpret the election polls during the 2020 presidential elections, especially how Democratic nominee Joe Biden is depicted.

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November 4, 2019 THE UCLA VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT COMES TO THE DEFENSE OF THE CALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN POWAY LAWSUIT The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) filed an important amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on the side of the State of California, in defense of the … Continued

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Matt Barreto, the faculty director for the UCLA Voting Rights Project, explains the carefully consideration of Yakima’s historical and current conditions that were taken and the concern that the charter changes would violate state and federal law during their lawsuit against the city of Yakima.

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December 10, 2019 UCLA CONTINUES LAUNCH OF NEW VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT WITH A LAWSUIT IN YAKIMA CITY The lawsuit was filed today to challenge a city ballot initiative that is viewed as an attempt to weaken the electoral power of the area’s growing Latino electorate. UCLA-CONTINUES-LAUNCH-OF-NEW-VOTING-RIGHTS-PROJECT-WITH-A-LAWSUIT-IN-YAKIMA-CITY-

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project represents the Yakima voters in the Yakima County Superior Court challenging the proposed change to switch to a new form of government before voters in a February 11 special election.

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UCLA LPPI fellow Bryanna Ruiz spoke about the importance of UCLA becoming a voter center for the 2020 primary elections.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the outreach among Latinos that Warren’s campaign begins to prioritize.

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LPPI expert and Co-founder Matt Barreto explains the effect that the Bernie Sanders campaign rhetoric had on voters of color, specifically Latino voters.

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A study by LPPI confirms the increased mobilization among Latinos that the Bernie Sanders campaign was able to garner as a result of their continued focus to win over the Latino vote.

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A LPPI precinct-level analysis of the Democratic primaries in Iowa demonstrates Bernie Sanders popularity among Latino voters, giving him an advantage over Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren.

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According to an analysis by LPPI, Sanders won 52 percent of the votes at high-density Latino caucus sites in Iowa; Biden was a distant second behind him with 15 percent.

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During a voting rights challenge as part of the UCLA Voting Rights Project, LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto testified in court that the elections conducted in East Ramapo effectively limit the participation of black and Latino voters.

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A LPPI precinct-level analysis of the Democratic primaries in Iowa emphasizes Bernie Sanders popularity among Latino voters.

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Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder, explains Bernie Sanders success with the Latino community as an LPPI analysis of Latino-majority precincts shows Bernie Sanders winning the majority of the votes.

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Since 2018 Latino voters have signaled their electoral power in determing election outcomes, according to Executive Director Sonja Diaz the 2020 elections will be no different and presidential candidates must shift their focus from immigration policy to the economy and healthcare.

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Sonja Diaz, the Executive Director of LPPI, explains the success of the Bernie Sanders campaign as a direct result to the focused intention and ongoing support for Latinos and other voters of color.

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According to an analysis by LPPI, Bernie Sanders won the Nevada Democratic primaries in large part to the Latino vote, rivals are expected to try to halt his momentum during the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina.

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LPPI’s Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the importance that Latinos are playing in the Democratic primaries as the candidates take steps to gain their vote.

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Seven states with large Latino populations will elect almost half of the Democratic delegates, giving the Latino electorate the opportunity to largely influence the 2020 Democratic primaries explains LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto.

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LPPI experts Leisy Abrego and Cecilia Menjívar discuss the Central American migration conference at UCLA, whose purpose was to show that Central Americans are not newcomers to the U.S. or to Mexico.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the importance of the Bernie Sanders campaign to spend time and resources on the Latino community to understand their perspective if he hopes to maintain their support throughout the election.

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LPPI’s report shows Bernie Sanders gained a large advantage during the Democratic primaries as a result of his investment in communities often disregarded during the election process, namely Latinos.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz credits the success of Bernie Sanders campaign in the Democratic primaries to grassroots outreach to Latino and immigrant populations.

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As the Latino vote proves to be a critical factor in the Democratic primaries, Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg increases his campaign’s spending towards the Latino community in attempts to offset Bernie Sanders’ lead within the community.

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Bernie Sanders aims to mobilize the Latino electorate to win over key states like Texas and California on Super Tuesday like he did in Nevada, according to an early analysis of Latino precincts in Nevada by LPPI, Sanders won about 70 percent of the Hispanic vote in Nevada.

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A LPPI precinct-level analysis of the Democratic primary in Florida examines Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s favorability among Latinos.

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LPPI studies conducted about the Democratic primaries confirm that in places where Sanders has won a majority of the vote has been as a direct result of his campaign’s focus on gaining the Latino vote.

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Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder, emphasizes the need for the Democratic nominee to focus on increasing turnout among minority voters, namely Latinos and Blacks, to ensure their success.

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LPPI Executive Founder Sonja Diaz discusses the importance of the Latino vote in the Democratic primaries and the importance of the Democratic nominee to focus on this electorate.

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Sonja Diaz, LPPI’s Founding Director, wrote a piece on the importance of the census and redistricting to ensure Latino voter participation beyond the 2020 election cycle.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz speaks about the importance of Latinos in the 2020 presidential campaign, what they seek for in a candidate, and their growing political impact.

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Amid the Democratic primaries, an LPPI study forecasts the demographics of the voters in California to predict the outcome of Super Tuesday.

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Bernie Sanders heads into California’s Democratic primary on Super Tuesday with a clear lead among the rest of the candidates, a clear indication of his campaign’s focus on mobilizing and engaging the Latino electorate says Sonja Diaz, Executive Director of LPPI.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project issued a white paper in an effort to pressure Congress and states to implement a universal vote-by-mail program for all upcoming primary elections and the November general election as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz discusses Bernie Sanders popularity among Democratic Latinos in states like California and who will win the Latino vote in more conservative states like Texas.

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LPPI’s analysis of Super Tuesday shows that turnout among Latinos surpassed that of 2016, and many voted in large numbers in favor of Bernie Sanders.

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Reports conducted by LPPI show the advantage Bernie Sander’s presidential campaign gained as a direct result of voters of color, particularly Latinos in key states like California.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project issued a white paper in an effort to pressure Congress and states to implement a universal vote-by-mail program for all upcoming primary elections and the November general election as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UCLA Voting Rights Project released a white paper calling for the need of a national vote-by-mail program. “All voters should have access to this in their states — and they should be able to sign up as permanent absentee voters,” said Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder and Co-founder of … Continued

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses ways to implement the recommendations from the UCLA Voting Right’s white paper, “Protecting Democracy: Implementing Equal and Safe Access to the Ballot Box During a Global Pandemic,” urging officials to implement a universal vote-by-mail program for the upcoming general election.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project issued a white paper calling for the need of universal vote-by-mail as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Chad Dunn, director of litigation for the UCLA Voting Rights Project, talks about the importance of a universal vote-by-mail program amid the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure equal access for everyone.

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Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder, discusses the Voting Rights Project report on the need to ensure the voting rights of everyone amid the Coronavirus pandemic, and the benefits of maintaining a universal vote-by-mail system even after COVID-19.

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California Secretary of State Alex Padilla joins LPPI’s webinar “Protecting Democracy: Implementing Equal and Safe Access to the Ballot Box During a Global Pandemic” which focused on underlining the urgency of getting funds to states now. In reference to vote-by-mail programs Padilla says, “The time is now to make that decision”.

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LPPI expert Chad Dunn discusses the UCLA Voting Rights Project’s report with recommendations for moving to a universal vote-by-mail program for this November’s election.

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UCLA Voting Rights Project fellows Michael Cohen and Sonni Waknin along with LPPI experts Matt Barreto and Chad Dunn, published the report, “Protecting Democracy: Implementing Equal and Safe Access to the Ballot Box During a Global Pandemic,” to circulate it to members of Congress in an effort to push for a universal vote-by-mail program.

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This is a press release on LPPI’s webinar event “Protecting Democracy: Implementing Equal and Safe Access to the Ballot Box During a Global Pandemic,” which took place on April 2nd, focusing on the importance of vote-by-mail programs for the upcoming primaries and the November general election amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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“We need that data to approximate the evidence-based interventions and reforms necessary to improve people’s lives,” says Sonja Diaz, founding director of LPPI, on the importance of the 2020 census.

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“This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, this is a health issue,” says LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto on the importance of implementing a universal vote-by-mail program for the upcoming general election in November.

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“All jurisdictions must allow vote-by-mail,” says director of litigation for the UCLA Voting Rights Project Chad Dunn on the crucial need to implement a national vote-by-mail program amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project published the report, “Protecting Democracy: Implementing Equal and Safe Access to the Ballot Box During a Global Pandemic,” to emphasize the need for a universal vote-by-mail program despite party differences.

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Vote-by-mail programs are essential, regardless of your party preference and politics says LPPI expert Chad Dunn.

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A report by the UCLA Voting Rights Project, “Debunking the Myth of Voter Fraud in Mail Ballots,” summarizes the social science research behind voter fraud and vote-by-mail programs to demonstrate the infrequency of voter fraud.

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LPPI expert Chad Dunn emphasizes the need for a universal vote-by-mail program to protect public health during COVID-19.

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Sonni Waknin, a legal fellow for the Voting Rights Project, dicusses the findings of the UCLA Voting Rights Project paper emphasizing the need to expand access to vote-by-mail in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto says states have a duty to ensure equal access to the ballot box in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and vote-by-mail is a safe and effective way to do so.

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Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder, discusses the high likelyhood that Latino voters will have a high tunrout rate with a growing population and frustration with the Trump administration, he emphasizes that it all depends on campaign outreach towards Latinos now.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz discusses the influential role that Latinos will play in the upcoming 2020 presidential election as their electoral power continues to increase.

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Voters of color with play a critical role in determining the Democratic presidential nominee, an LPPI analysis shows the lead Bernie Sanders has gained among Latino voters.

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The information from the census are used to make predictions about the needs of different populations, says LPPI expert Natalie Masuoka as she emphasizes the importance of filling out the census.

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LPPI expert Chad Dunn calls for the need of universal vote-by-mail program to protect public health during COVID-19.

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LPPI expert and UCLA Voting Rights co-founder Chad Dunn succeeds in obtaining a temporary injunction enabling expanded mail voting for July and an “aligned” early voting period in the state of Texas.

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LPPI expert and UCLA Voting Rights co-founder Chad Dunn emphasizes the need for a universal vote-by-mail program as he says people will, “forego voting in an effort to avoid getting sick”.

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There is no evidence to indicate that vote-by-mail programs lead to voter fraud, says LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto.

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“We’ve got to reduce the number of people who have to show up in person to vote, and the only way to do that is vote by mail,” says LPPI expert Chad Dunn.

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Chad Dunn, director of litigation for the UCLA Voting Rights Project, emphasizes the importance of a universal vote-by-mail program amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

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Laura E. Gómez, LPPI Expert, discusses the targeting of Mexican-Americans by LA police.

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“It is absolutely critical that the demand for in-person voting, the curve for that demand be reduced in some way. Not as a matter of policy … but as a matter of necessity,” says Chad Dunn, LPPI expert.

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Chad Dunn, LPPI expert, emphasizes the need for vote-by-mail programs to ensure the safety of voters, specifically older voters in Texas.

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Chad Dunn, LPPI expert, calls for the Texas Supreme Court to implement vote-by-mail to ensure voters do not come into contact with COVID-19 during elections.

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LPPI expert Chad Dunn urges Texas to implement a vote-by-mail program.

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“The campaign will be different than anything we have seen, so we need new strategies and more outreach than ever before,” said Matt Barreto, LPPI Co-founder.

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This is a press release on the LPPI and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge report on LA neighborhoods most affected by the Coronavirus pandemic which finds that the residents in LA’s Latino neighborhoods are the least likely to receive relief funds amid COVID-19, the UCLA report also provides recommendations for local leaders to fill … Continued

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LPPI expert David Hayes-Bautista explains why California Latinos do not have higher tunrout rates in United States elections, namely as a result of political culture of abstention.

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LPPI expert David Hayes-Bautista says that immigration is not the most important issue to the Latino community, rather what motivates them most when voting is concern for the education of their children.

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A LPPI analysis of data from eight states found that the Latino vote grew from 2014 to 2018, and this surge helped to flip control of the House as well as the young immigrant ‘Dreamers’ who mobilized people to vote.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto testifies in court on the negative effects that including a citizenship question on the 2020 census will have.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto discusses the severely negative affects that adding a citizenship question on the 2020 census will have on the ability of the Census Bureau to gather accurate information about the American population.

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LPPI expert Otto Santa Ana discusses the negative effects that Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric, as one of an invasion, has had on the Latino community, putting lives at risk and creating an anti-Latino and anti-immigrant sentiment among Americans.

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LPPI experts Kevin De León and David Hayes-Bautista advocate for the passing of a bill to remove the language of Proposition 187 from statute. Kevin de León, one of the main organizers behind the massive 1994 march on L.A. City Hall, emphasizes the need to finaly elimate this anti-immigrant rhetoric.

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LPPI expert Kevin de León recalls the mobilization and community unity that Proposition 189 spurred as a result of its attack on the Latino and immigrant community in the US more than 25 years ago.

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LPPI expert Kevin de León talks about the achievements that the immigrant community can vindicate after 25 years of ‘Proposition 187’, a bill intended to take away all their rights.

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LPPI is proud to be a founding partner of the We Are CA campaign. We Are CA – 25 Years Beyond Prop 187- is a campaign to remind us that we must come together now, as we did in 1994, to stand for equality and above all, stand for each other. Join us on Nov. … Continued

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UCLA LPPI fellow Bryanna Ruiz discusses the negative affects that the new public charge rule will have on many UCLA students and their families.

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“The global pandemic has highlighted the cracks in our security society that often fail to catch those living in poverty, which are disproportionately people of color and immigrants,” said Sonja Díaz, founding director of LPPI, about a recent LPPI report highlighting the communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“The global pandemic has highlighted the cracks in our security society that often fail to catch those living in poverty, which are disproportionately people of color and immigrants,” said Sonja Díaz, founding director of LPPI, about a recent LPPI report highlighting the communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A LPPI report analyzing the communities in LA most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic finds those most at risk to be people of color and immigrants.

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“The most important thing is coronavirus affects all of us,” said Sonja Diaz, executive director of LPPI, in addressing the findings of a LPPI study on those communities most affected by COVID-19.

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Sonja Diaz, LPPI Executive Director, writes an Op-Ed on the crucial need to help communities most in need during COVID-19, specifically Latinos and Asians.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project released a report emphasizing the urgency of a national vote-by-mail program to protect the health of voters for the coming primary and general 2020 elections, this press release highlights the recommendations made in the report. Geffen_VRP report release (1)

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LPPI Expert Pedro Noguera is among the few elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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The coronavirus is “exacerbating the inequalities we knew were there before,” said Pedro Noguera, LPPI expert.

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President pro Tempore Emeritus of the California State Senate Kevin De León joins UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs as a distinguished policymaker-in-residence and senior analyst. His role will include an advisory position with the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI). KDL-news-release_FINAL-1

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Pedro Noguera, LPPI expert, addresses ways to improve the lack of in-person classes amid COVID-19.

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LPPI expert Arturo Vargas Bustamante discusses specific policies implemented at the state and local level that likely created the marginal increases in health insurance coverage for undocumented immigrants that were excluded from the Affordable Care Act nationally.

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LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz wrote an Op-Ed focused on the Latino physician crisis in California and the urgency to address health disparities that harm the Latino population.

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Melissa Chinchilla, a LPPI expert, published a study on the Latino homeless population in LA and found they are disproportionately disadvantaged in outreach programs.

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‘The Current State of the Latino Physician Workforce: California Faces a Shortfall in Latino Resident Physicians’ compares Latino residents in the four states with the largest Latino populations: California, Texas, Florida , and New York and finds that Latino resident physicians are most severely underrepresented in California. Read the full press release here.

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‘Latino Physician Shortage in California: The Provider Prospective’ finds that unequal backgrounds and opportunities, diverse career trajectories, and various barriers in the medical profession, such as underrepresentation of Latinos in the medical field or academic disadvantages, are creating major difficulties for Latino students seeking careers as physicians. Read the full press release here.

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‘California’s Language Concordance Mismatch’ finds a troubling gap between Language-Proficient Physicians (LPP) and Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals that speak Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Lao, or Vietnamese, and provides highlights where these disparities exist in California by county. PRESS_RELEASE_Language_Concordance_Mismatch

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An LPPI study examines the psysician shortage in California amid a growing elderly population.

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A LPPI study examining the California Latino Physician Shortage demonstrates the lack of language competent doctors able to assist the limited English proficiency population in California.

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Sonja Diaz, LPPI’s Founding Director, wrote a piece on the need to support the most vulnerable people, namely those living in poverty and communities of color during this time.

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Released on April 1st, this LPPI press release focuses on LPPI’s report “Implications of COVID-19 on at-risk workers by neighborhoods in Los Angeles”, which analyzes the communtities most at risk during during COVID-19 based on job sectors. COVID economic impact final release

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A report by LPPI, the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, and Ong and Associates finds Los Angeles County neighborhoods with significant Latino and Asian American populations are the most vulnerable to economic uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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LPPI expert Dr. David Hayes-Bautista discusses the disadvantage that Latinos and other communities of color face when it comes to COVID-19 in large part to their lack of acess to health insurance.

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The reason why Latinos are among the populations most affected by COVID-19 is likely a result of the health inequalities they face, says LPPI expert Arturo Vargas Bustamante.

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Sonja Diaz, LPPI Executive Director, discusses the, “Left Behind During A Global Pandemic,” report on how Latinos are the most at-risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This is a press release on the LPPI and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge report on LA neighborhoods most affected by the Coronavirus pandemic which finds that the residents in LA’s Latino neighborhoods are the least likely to receive relief funds amid COVID-19. The UCLA report also provides recommendations for local leaders to fill … Continued

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LPPI expert David Hayes-Bautista discusses the health disparities the Latino community faces amid COVID-19 due to lack of testing and lack of access to hospitals.

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It’s a situation that’s become “just like a time bomb,” says LPPI expert Arturo Vargas Bustamante of Mexico’s healthcare system.

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This press release covers LPPI’s report, “California’s Physician Shortage During COVID-19 a Policy Roadmap to Expand Access to Care,” which provides policy recommendations to increase diversity among the physician workforce in California. CA’s Physician Shortage- COVID19 Press Release

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A LPPI study analyzes the lack of Spanish-speaking doctors in California which exacerbate the COVID-19 health crises.

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LPPI expert Dr. David Hayes-Bautista discusses the economic hit Latinos are taking during COVID-19.

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A LPPI study finds people of color most economically at-risk during COVID-19.

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“The systematic biases in our society leave Latino workers most vulnerable to the coronavirus,” said David Hayes-Bautista, LPPI expert.

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Amid COVID-19, Kevin de León, LPPI expert, works to expand access to anti-body testing.

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David Hayes-Bautista, LPPI expert, discusses the vulnerability of Latinos as they make up the front line workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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LPPI expert David Hayes-Bautista discusses the heightened inequalities Latinos face during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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David Hayes-Bautista, LPPI expert, explains the inequalities facing the Latino community during COVID-19.

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LPPI expert David Hayes-Bautista describes Latinos during the COVID-19 pandemic as, “Feeding the nation and subject to deportation”.

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A study conducted by LPPI and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, examines the neighborhoods in LA least likely to qualify for the CARES Act.

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LPPI’s study finds that Black and Brown communities face increased difficulties in complying with the safer-at-home orders during COVID-19. FINAL-UCLA-covid-resources_2020-05-20-final1-1

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LPPI’s study finds that Black and Brown communities face increased difficulties in complying with the safer-at-home orders during COVID-19.

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David Hayes-Bautista, LPPI expert, discusses the vulnerability of Latinos and Blacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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David Hayes-Bautista, LPPI expert, explains the economic hardships that people of color, mainly Latinos and Blacks, face during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A study by LPPI analyzes the difficulties Black and Brown communities face in complying with the safer-at-home orders amid COVID-19.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto conducted a study to asses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Hispanics from the United States.

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Stemming the Rise of Latino Homelessness: Lessons from Los Angeles County’ takes a critical look at the unique experience of Latino homelessness in Los Angeles County, the jurisdiction with the largest homeless population in the U.S. Press-Release-Stemming-the-Rise-of-Latino-Homelessness

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Kevin De Leon, LPPI expert and Los Angeles City Council candidate, examines possible policies to increase economic strength in LA.

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“Many of the concerns raised by parents were present before the pandemic. Now they have been exacerbated. As the national survey shows, these issues aren’t limited to L.A.,” says LPPI expert Pedro Noguera.

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Cecilia Menjivar emphasizes the economic uncertainty that many migrants face in light of COVID-19.

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“This is a community response and cohesive development,” says LPPI Co-founder Sonja Diaz of a LPPI report studying the effects of transit improvements where the economic state of residents improved, and people of color were not affected by displacement.

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A LPPI report studying the effects of transit improvements finds that while the economic well-being of residents in the study improved, the racial demographics of the neighborhood was almost unchanged.

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“Over the course of the last five years, Latinos have had targeted increases in their share of home ownership in the United States and in fact have been instrumental in increasing the national share of home ownership, [but] any recession associated with the coronavirus threatens that,” says LPPI Executive Director Sonja Diaz.

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LPPI launches the first ever analysis to evaluate the Smithsonian Institution’s progress in implementing the ten recommendations from its 1994 report on the significant underrepresentation of Latinos in the Smithsonian workforce, programming, and collections. This project, led by LPPI experts Dr. Matt Barreto, Sonja Diaz, Dr. Juan Herrera and Dr. Chon Noriega of the UCLA … Continued

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Media Advisory: “Invisible No More: An Evaluation of the Smithsonian Institution and Latino Representation” took place on September 10, 2018 over a conference call in order to announce the results of LPPI’s study on Latino representation within the Smithsonian Institution.

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“en términos de diversificar el liderazgo y el gobierno, se ha presentado muy poco, casi ningún progreso”, dijo Noriega.

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“los latinos siguen en gran medida “excluidos” de las entidades que bajo su paraguas narran la historia del país, según denunció este lunes un informe. Se trata del primer “análisis riguroso”, a cargo de la Universidad de California en Los Angeles (UCLA), la Iniciativa de Políticas Latinas (LPPI), y el Centro de Investigación de Estudios … Continued

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“When you look at leadership, the Smithsonian is on par with other major cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Getty and the Chicago Art Institute, which have almost no minority leadership or governance,” said Noriega.

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“It appears that all efforts related to the advancement of a U.S. Latino museum have taken place outside of the Smithsonian”, said Sonja Díaz.

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“Just as . . . the largest minority in the country comes to the table, (the Smithsonian) says ‘We can’t do that anymore, we’re going to try something new, to integrate you across the institution,’ ” Chon Noriega, one of the report’s authors, said. “That should be happening anyway. That shouldn’t be the compromise.”

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“On September 10, the Chicano Studies Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) released a report forcefully titled ‘Invisible No More.’ The study, carried out with the UCLA Latino Politics and Policy Initiative, evaluates current Latino representation at the Smithsonian Institution, which, as you might have gleaned from the title, is not … Continued

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“The introduction of the new gallery comes months after the release of a report titled “Invisible No More,” from UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, which found that the Smithsonian failed to act on recommendations from the Institution’s 1994 report that would increase Latino representation across its institute. One of these recommendations included working with … Continued

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“Speaker Nancy Pelosi today announced the appointment of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard of California and the reappointment of Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California to serve on the governing Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.”

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L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner and LPPI expert Pedro Noguera discuss the upcoming experimental effort to show that L.A. Unified schools can boost student achievement if properly funded.

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LPPI expert Cecilia Menjívar calls for the need to replace “social distancing” with the more precise phrase, “physical distancing” in an effort to decreased the chances of doing unintentional harm.

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LPPI policy fellows Bryanna Ruiz and Amado Castillo wrote an article covering the UCLA Center for the Study of Women 30th Annual Graduate Student Thinking Gender Conference, honoring Women’s History Month.

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LPPI Co-founder Matt Barreto and past LPPI fellow Tyler Reny wrote an article covering the impacts that racist rhetoric, specifically leaders’ anti-Asian and xenophobic rhetoric, amid the Coronavirus pandemic have had on Asian communities and the increase anxieties it has caused.

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There is a need for humanities research related to the role of religion says LPPI expert Chon Noriega, as the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center launches a three-year project that will reflect the role of faith, spirituality and religion in Mexican American culture.

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Chon Noriega, LPPI expert, emphasizes the lack of humanities research about the role of religion and spirituality in the Latino community’s history.

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“Cinco de Mayo was made in the United States by Latinos who proudly carried the flags of the United States and Mexico to show their support for both the Union and its values ​​and for the Mexican victory over the French, who sought to undermine those values,” says David Hayes-Bautista, LPPI expert.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (UCLA LPPI) and SEIU California hosted a webinar on the outsized role of workers in COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts, as we reimagine a social safety net that protects and supports our frontline workers.

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Sonja Diaz and Matt Barreto, alongside other UCLA faculty leaders stand in solidarity with those fighting to end state violence against African Americans, Indigenous peoples, Latinx, Asian, and other communities of color.

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LPPI examines the California labor force to identify workers who are jobless as a result of COVID-19. This report assesses these workers’ ability to access unemployment benefits, especially along racial and ethnic disparities.

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The UCLA Voting Rights Project has observed that Fort Bend County is not providing its sizable and rapidly growing Chinese and Vietnamese communities with the resources to best exercise their right to vote. The UCLA Voting Rights Project wrote a letter to bring this shortcoming to the Fort Bend County’s attention so that their officials can collaborate to provide a timely remedy in advance of the upcoming elections.

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Today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that DACA protection will remain in place and continue to protect hundreds of thousands immigrants from deportation. UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative Executive Director Sonja Diaz issued a statement in response.

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This report details the existing voting landscape in New Mexico, examines some of its shortcomings, and proposes a series of remedies to ensure that all voters have an equitable opportunity to cast their ballot in November and beyond. This is an ideal time to consider these issues given that voting laws may feature in the deliberations of the special legislative session this week.

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Application to vacate the Fifth Circuit’s stay and to reinstate the Distrct’s Court preliminary injunction, which would protect the health of voters and their right to vote.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Alex Padilla are sued over Newsom’s executive order that allows all California voters to receive vote-by-mail ballots for the November election.

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On November 12th, UCLA LPPI brought together Latina elected officials from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico for a discussion about Latino political power and the upcoming 2020 elections.

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Summary: The California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) and the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) convened an expert panel to showcase research evidence focused on addressing the shortage of Latino physicians in the state and supporting Latino physicians currently in practice. LPPI expert, Dr. Yohualli B. Anaya, presents: Solving the Latinx Physician … Continued

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The California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) and the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) convened an expert panel to showcase research evidence focused on addressing the shortage of Latino physicians in the state and supporting Latino physicians currently in practice. 

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The California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) and the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) convened an expert panel to showcase research evidence focused on addressing the shortage of Latino physicians in the state and supporting Latino physicians currently in practice. LPPI expert, Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, presents: How to Expand Health Care Coverage to Undocumented Immigrants?

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On June 5, 2018 California voters head to the polls to elect candidates in races for all eight statewide constitutional offices, Congress, and down the ballot. LPPI Policy Expert Dr. Matt A. Barreto and a team of policy fellows assess election returns in real-time to identify: 1) Latino Vote Choice in all eight statewide constitutional … Continued

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Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante and Carmela Castellano-Garcia wrote an op-ed on how the pandemic has offered an opportunity to improve structural issues, and telehealth can be part of the solution. With a few infrastructure and policy changes, telehealth can continue to transform medical access and reduce health inequities, while improving quality of care and reducing … Continued

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Nick Gonzalez, UCLA LPPI Policy Fellow, wrote about graduating in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. “My reality, and that of every other first-generation graduate of color, is that we are entering the job market with less privilege, less social capital, and limited networks.”

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“With the right outreach and training, telehealth can serve as an important bridge to ensure that underserved communities, especially rural and linguistically diverse patients, access the medical attention they need, particularly during the pandemic,” said Sonja Diaz, founding director of UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.

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“In response, the community protested the placement of this highway interchange, and even though they weren’t able to block the freeway, they demanded the right to paint murals on the highways,” says Eric Avila, a professor and cultural historian at UCLA and UCLA LPPI expert.

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Democratic lawyer Chad Dunn says the state is putting voters in the untenable position of making a decision to obtain a ballot while guessing whether a district attorney “is going to later think the excuse they used to check the disability box is sufficient.”

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Fernando Torres-Gil, UCLA LPPI expert, spoke about the health risks of staying in a nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Those who were older, those who have various types of disabilities were put at the back of the line, a clear example of ageism,” he said.

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UCLA LPPI expert, Kelly Lytle Hernández, found that Black students had disproportionate rates of interactions with officers. “It’s part of a culture we have to break that sees these young kids as more of threats than humans to be invested in.”

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Michael Méndez, UCLA LPPI expert, writes about “the struggle of low-income and minority communities to have a voice in shaping environmental policy” in his new book, “Climate Change From The Streets.”

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Amada Armenta, UCLA LPPI expert, said without DACA, UCLA would lose many students who have become integral parts of the campus community. She added the university should make sure all students are safe and are able to complete their studies.

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“Defunding the police is the first step in a much broader historical transformation that I’m hoping you’re seeing broad-based support for on the streets today,” says Kelly Lytle Hernández.

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These injustices have gone unseen by many Angelenos. “Moving through the city now on a freeway, you’re essentially removed from any kind of contact with people, you’re totally isolated in your car, and you’re also isolated on the platform of the freeway, so you lose any kind of sense of where you’re at, of what … Continued

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There has been a spike in COVID-19 infections among LA County Latinos. David Hayes-Bautista projected this kind of spike would happen as those Angelenos who could self-isolate did so, while others — particularly low-wage workers of color and those living in dense housing — could not.

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“We need more Spanish-speaking physicians like Dr. Rios to meet the health care needs of the Latino community,” said Dr. Gerardo Moreno, executive director of the program. “She has a passion for helping Hispanic youth and has served as a mentor to many of them.”

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We analyze official state primary election returns from a subset of states with large populations of Asian American and Latino voters to evaluate their candidate preferences and participation rates going into the 2020 general election.

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A UCLA report shows that Asian Americans and Latinos in California, Texas and Virginia went to the polls in smaller numbers in the 2020 primaries than they did in the primary elections four years ago. Because those three states have large Asian American and Latino populations, the findings may signal that Democratic political campaigns have more work to do to engage those voters before the November elections.

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Chad Dunn, a lawyer for the Texas Democratic Party, said in the absence of guidance from state officials, the courts will have to provide answers. The party has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case.

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On July 2, 2020, the first eight members of the 14-member 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission were randomly selected from a list of applicants delivered by the Legislature on June 26, 2020. Of the eight members, who will be responsible for selecting the next six members of the commission, no Latinos were selected. Sonja Diaz, Founding Executive Director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, issued the following statement in response.

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Continuing its first-ever Summer Speaker Series, UCI Law SBA is proud to host Sonja Diaz, founding director of the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative.

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A study by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that Hispanics and Asians attended in fewer numbers in the 2020 primaries than in the primaries four years ago. This is true for California, but also for the states of Texas and Virginia, said the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI), which worked with the Center … Continued

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In the report’s preface, Sonja Diaz, founding director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, offers insights on how the findings can provide a call to action for campaigns that are courting Asian American and Latino voters.

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Asian American and Latino voters in three key states — California, Virginia and Texas — had lower engagement in the 2020 primaries compared to four years before, according to a new analysis from the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.

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“The 2020 election will not only decide control of the White House and the United States Congress, but down-ballot races that will decide redistricting, economic recovery, police reform and our fragile social safety net,” said Sonja Diaz, founding director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.

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Instead of looking out the window of his new office in Waite Phillips Hall, incoming Rossier School of Education dean Pedro Noguera looks at the windows of Zoom calls on his computer screen. His days are full of virtual meetings rather than ones he can stroll to on the 229-acre University Park Campus, normally full of students … Continued

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Dr. Hayes-Bautista told briefing attendees that Latinos are 80% less likely to find a dentist in their local area. “Lack of Latino dentists, lack of insurance, and high costs makes dentistry inaccessible to Latino Communities. Teledentistry may provide access and affordable options for underserved communities,” Dr. Hayes-Bautista said.

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Matt Barreto, professor of political science and Chicano/a Studies at UCLA and co-founder of the research and polling firm Latino Decisions, discusses weekly political roundtable recaps.

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“It really hasn’t helped that you’ve had some of these groups thinking that wearing a face mask is the first step in tyranny or communism,” said David Hayes-Bautista, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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“When kids are under stress, they don’t perform as well,” said Pedro Noguera, most recently Distinguished Professor of Education at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and the incoming dean of the USC’s Rossier’s School of Education. “When kids are taken out of the classroom to be punished or to be processed in some way, … Continued

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The report is part of ongoing advocacy by the UCLA Voting Rights Project, an effort led by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative. The Project is pushing for the implementation of universal vote-by-mail for the November general election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“Many Latino youth, they are making the connection, they are pressing their families to have difficult conversations,” said Chris Zepeda-Millán, a professor of Chicano studies and public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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UCLA LPPI expert, Efren Perez, writes an op-ed on people of color protesting in today’s time. “But the many Latinos, Asian Americans and other nonwhites standing behind African Americans today are there in genuine support of their cause as “people of color.” They all have skin in today’s game of racial politics.”

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“White Americans have defined the nation, its norms, what it means to be an American for decades. That means that, by definition, some individuals … have been on the outs,” said Efrén Pérez, a professor of political science and psychology at UCLA.

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UCLA history professor Kelly Lytle Hernandez, director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, said that school police have a long history of singling out Black youth and that more training will not improve the underlying problem.

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UCLA professor Eric Avila says some city transportation planners, especially in the Southern US, were motivated by white supremacy.

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Despite the setback, TDP general counsel Chad Dunn told the Chronicle there remains “plenty of time” before the fall for action by the Fifth Circuit or SCOTUS to enable universal VBM in Texas.

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It’s not just the Republicans who perpetuate age bias. Chad Dunn, General Counsel for the Texas Democratic Party, said in a television interview, “I’m shocked, frankly, that the state of Texas, even today in these circumstances when so many people are suffering, is fighting tooth and nail to make a grandmother who is 64-years-old, go vote … Continued

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“Campaigns across the country need to engage voters in their vision for a prosperous future,” said Natalie Masuoka, a UCLA associate professor of political science and Asian American studies, and the report’s lead author. “We believe that tapping the potential of the subset of voters of color is critical to electoral victory for Democratic candidates who … Continued

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“There is such a clear and very explicit attempt to make (DACA recipients’) lives more difficult, to make them more likely to get deported, to make them more likely to lose any protections that they’ve had,” Leisy Abrego said. “Knowing that weighs very heavily on people emotionally.”

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Jenny Medina, New York Times National Correspondent, and Matt Barreto, Founding Principal at Latino Decisions, join MSNBC’s Alicia Menendez to discuss what Arizona voters are looking for in November.

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Another insight from Matt Barreto who researched for Latino Decisions said that the sharp decline in support from seniors and Latinos in Florida could impact his chances for reelection.

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CNN interviewed David Hayes-Bautista about the politicization of the pandemic response in the United States. “Wearing a mask has become a political statement which unfortunately, when everyone needs to be wearing masks and social distancing and having half the population not doing it, basically undercuts our ability to control this pandemic,” Hayes-Bautista said.

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Sotomayor’s exhortation suggests the Supreme Court will wait for a Fifth Circuit ruling before accepting its own consideration of the TDP appeal. Yet in applying to the Supremes, TDP general counsel Chad Dunn noted that the Fifth Circuit’s stay order – by a three-judge panel – effectively (and at length) ruled on the appeal in advance of … Continued

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Matt Barreto, who did the Priorities USA research for Latino Decisions, said any meaningful erosion for the president in Florida in such a close state is important and could dash his reelection hopes. “It could be an early election night if the results are unexpectedly good in Florida, it would probably secure a Biden presidency … Continued

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“The 2020 election will not only decide control of the White House and the United States Congress, but down-ballot races that will decide redistricting, economic recovery, police reform and our fragile social safety net,” said Sonja Diaz, founding director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.

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This first-of-its-kind report brings together political science data with public health insights on the spread of COVID-19 to conclude that the safety of in-person voting during the 2020 elections depends on expanding absentee voting, eliminating polling place congestion, and reducing wait times at polling stations. The report reviews existing medical literature on risk factors for COVID-19, political science research on congestion during voting, and evidence of the public health impacts of the 2020 primary elections to create urgent policy recommendations for the November general election.

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Sonja Diaz talks to Marcos Gutierrez from Hecho en California about the lack of representation in the selection of the first eight members of California’s 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission.

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In line with LPPI’s mission, this convening will craft a 2020 Latino Agenda that speaks to the needs of vulnerable communities of color and addresses the spectrum of policy areas that directly impact the health and safety, political voice, and economic opportunity of Latinos and other similarly-situated communities of color.

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Joe Biden is leading the president among Latino voters in six battleground states, according to new polling. Matt Barreto of Latino Decisions joins Morning Joe to discuss.

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“Least likely to have insurance, most likely to speak Spanish, almost 100% immigrant, 70% undocumented,” David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center said of the state’s migrant farmworkers. “Farmworkers, the people who grow the food that we eat, they’re in these public exposure situations that made it possible for the wealthier communities to shelter in place.”

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“If you think it doesn’t look good now, you would have seen it six months ago,” said Matt Barreto, a pollster whose firm specializes in the Latino electorate. National polls conducted by Barreto’s firm Latino Decisions in mid-September found that 15 percent of Latino voters in the Democratic primaries intended to vote for Warren, compared to … Continued

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“Well, what we see is that there are blind spots in our policy. For example, in the early days of the pandemic, we thought essential workers, all physicians and nurses, let’s make sure they have their personal protective equipment that they know what to do, and, of course, they’re very important,” says Dr. David Hayes-Bautista.

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Jason De León, UCLA LPPI expert, was one of five professors who received the Chancellor’s Award for Community-Engaged Research! In De León’s course, students will connect with community organizations to interview and conduct focus groups with migrants who have been held in federal detention centers along the United States–Mexico border, as well as with detention center … Continued

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Gabe Sanchez, professor of political science and director of UNM’s Center for Social Policy, is part of an interdisciplinary research team looking at how the pandemic is impacting behaviors of the US population as a result of the pandemic. The team also consists of principal investigators from ASU – Edward Vargas; UCLA – Matt Barreto and … Continued

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A recent report by the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative shows that Latinos are chronically underrepresented in the redistricting process: from the number of applications we submit, to our eligibility, to the final slots provided for members of our community.

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Among the suggestions: more polling sites, longer periods for early voting and a push to increase vote-by-mail. Sunni Waknin is the managing legal fellow with the UCLA Voting Rights Project.

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A new report out this week is urging states to make changes to their voting processes amid the coronavirus pandemic. The UCLA study recommends increasing access to the polls through a series of steps. UCLA Voting Rights Project legal fellow Sunni Waknin says people should be encouraged to vote by making absentee voting easier “But we also need to … Continued

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Gary Segura, Dean, Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA, is an Academic Partner with The Committee for Greater LA who are assembling new data and personal testimony to paint a clear picture of what structural racism looks like in the Los Angeles region.

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Defunding the police and re-imagining public safety—in Los Angeles—starts with the LAPD, but includes the sheriffs, the school police, and the UCLA police force. Kelly Lytle Hernandez comments—she’s a professor of history at UCLA, she wrote City of Inmates, a history of the LA jails, and she’s the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant.

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A conversation with national political leaders on the future of Black and Latino social movements, intersectional politics.

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On July 15, UCLA LPPI convened over 80 multigenerational and multisectoral Latinx leaders to discuss the biggest issues facing U.S. Latinos amid COVID-19. The end result is a Latino agenda focused on policy recommendations that can improve opportunities for all Americans.

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Patricia Gándara, an education professor at UCLA, said she thinks it is unlikely Trump could completely rescind the program prior to the presidential election in November. However, Trump may start the process to appeal to his voter base, she added. “But in either case, whether he does or he doesn’t (begin the process), everything depends … Continued

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Patricia Gándara, a research professor of education at UCLA and co-director its Civil Rights Project, said the impact of Prop 209, which banned affirmative action, was seen most acutely at UCLA and UC Berkeley – two of the state’s flagship universities.

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“There’s definitely an enthusiasm gap that is made even larger because of the lack of investment and attention to get the Latino electorate to come out and vote in November,” said Sonja Diaz, director the Latino Policy & Politics Initiative at the University of California. The Biden campaign says in response, just watch as it starts … Continued

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Private tutors will further widen the gap in education, and those who are unable to afford them will continue to lag behind more advantaged peers, said Pedro Noguera, dean of the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

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UCLA professor and author Eric Avila argue the significance of freeways in Los Angeles extends much further than either being stuck to bumper to bumper or flying to your next destination. Avila’s particular interests are in racial identity, urban space, and cultural expression, which all intersect at the freeway, he says.

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But Latino Decisions’ pollster Matt Barreto said Trump overreached by trying to exploit a name brand, prompting the outraged response. “Trump didn’t understand what that was going to do with the average Hispanic-American psyche to see this brand they associated with … and it was not just being associated with Trump. It was lying that he was … Continued

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Efrén Pérez, a political science professor specializing in ethnic and racial politics, said the globalization of Black Lives Matter would not have been possible without the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting changes to our daily life.

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“There’s a huge opportunity,” said Matt Barreto, Latino Decisions co-founder and pollster who also worked for Clinton’s campaign, adding it “did an okay job” with Latino turnout and support levels.

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“Least likely to have insurance, most likely to speak Spanish, almost 100% immigrant, 70% undocumented,”David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center said of the state’s migrant farmworkers. “Farmworkers, the people who grow the food that we eat, they’re in these public exposure situations that made it possible for the wealthier communities to shelter in place.”

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Joe Biden is leading the president among Latino voters in six battleground states, according to new polling. Matt Barreto of Latino Decisions joins Morning Joe to discuss.

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The California Covid-19 Spike. In mid-May and despite warnings from public health leaders, California began reopening its economy. But the state did it so fast that the move led to a new surge of Covid-19 cases. Latinos are being hit the hardest by the new outbreaks and the shortage of Covid-19 testing. A top researcher … Continued

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The policy document was built in collaboration with 80 Latinx leaders from across California and serves as a national call to action amid the devastating impacts Latinos face amid COVID-19.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and several Latino leaders in the state… announced a Latino policy agenda Thursday that they hope will take hold not only in California, but nationally.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative Thursday released any agenda that calls for action from local, state and federal leaders on reforms that they say are needed to improve outcomes for U.S. Latinos amid the economic problems caused by COVID-19.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative released what it’s calling a 21st Century Latino Agenda. The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative founder, Sonja Diaz, spoke to Sonseeahray about the agenda.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute released an agenda this Thursday that calls for action by local, state, and federal leaders on reforms they say are necessary to improve outcomes for America’s Latinos due to the economic problems caused by COVID-19.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative released on Thursday a set of policy recommendations aimed at policymakers and political leaders to improve opportunities for Latino communities and push them towards a road to an “equitable recovery” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Democracy Now! speaks with Cecilia Menjívar, UCLA sociology professor, who says the image of unmarked vans snatching people from the streets “brings back memories to Latin Americans who lived through disappearances of families and friends and co-workers.”

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The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the UCLA Voting Rights Project, and Voting Rights Lab (VRL) have released a report from medical experts, political scientists, and voting rights advocates entitled “Protecting Public Health in the 2020 Election.”

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“Latino and people of color basically do the scut work that keep the state going, its economy going, but get very little of the resources,” says Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

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But during a panel on Black and brown social movements, hosted by UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative on Wednesday, Bass told POLITICO that there is no such policy.

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A joint report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and the UCLA Health Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture highlights the struggles of safety net providers to build telehealth platforms. For most, their biggest hurdle is securing the financial backing to set-up their infrastructure.

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A recent study completed by Voting Rights Lab, Union of Concerned Scientists, and UCLA Voting Rights Project concluded that eliminating congestion on Election Day through providing multiple methods for voters to cast their ballot will lead to safer and more accessible elections.

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“Latino and people of color basically do the scut work that keep the state going, its economy going, but get very little of the resources,” says Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

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A study published by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative compares the prevalence and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in two large metropolitan county areas, Los Angeles County and New York City (NYC), and among racial and ethnic minorities.

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Former congressman Esteban Torres will receive the UCLA Medal. “His life exemplifies the standards that are represented in UCLA’s mission as a public university,” said Chon Noriega, director of UCLA’s Center for Chicano Studies Research and professor at the Faculty of Theater, Film and Television.

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“Lack of Latino dentists, lack of insurance, high costs makes dentistry inaccessible to Latino Communities. Teledentisty may provide access and affordable options for underserved communities,” Dr. David Hayes-Bautista said.

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Co-author David Hayes-Bautista says the disparity is driven by Latino farm workers who weren’t protected early in the pandemic.

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Report co-author and UCLA professor David Hayes-Bautista said the trend is directly linked to the fact that Latino workers comprise much of the high-risk agricultural sector. “Farmworkers work in large gangs, they often times sleep in barracks, they ride out in busses,” he said. “The packing house workers … they work shoulder to shoulder.”

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Sonja Diaz, a lawyer and scholar, talks about immigrants, who are disproportionately represented among essential workers but have received little in the way of COVID-19 aid. The pandemic has left them in limbo.

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Statement from Matt Barreto, founder of the UCLA Voting Rights Project, an advocacy research arm of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative in response to voter fraud.

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LPPI research and analysis provides policymakers with data and facts that can inform policies on issues that affect Latinos and other communities of color. Diaz spoke with Governing about the vital role that immigrants are playing in pandemic response, their importance to economic recovery and a path forward that could benefit all Americans.

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“More than 60% of Latinos in the U.S. reside in four key states that have historically experienced extreme events,” according to the agenda. “This includes wildfires and droughts in California.”

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Sonja Diaz, founding director of UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, said there’s more at play in this battle than just the budget. “Recent officer-involved shootings, like that of Andres Guardado in Gardena, have elevated the role of members of the Board of Supervisors in taking a more public stance in reigning in the Sheriff,” said … Continued

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In many ways, getting a grasp on the spread of coronavirus in the state and in the country represents an issue of trust in the community, according to Sonja Diaz, founding director of the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative at UCLA.

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A separate analysis published this week by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative found that in Los Angeles County and New York City, Latino and Black residents were twice as likely to die of COVID-19 compared with white residents.

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“Latino support for Trump was already at historic lows,” Gary Segura, dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at U.C.L.A. and co-founder of the polling firm Latino Decisions, told me. “There’s just not that much room for them to move down.”

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative hosted a webinar moderated by Politico reporter Laura Barrón-López to discuss how Black and brown communities can work together to build pipelines to political offices for prospective Black and brown leaders and become a part of advocacy efforts.

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“Latino support for Trump was already at record lows,” Gary Segura, dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and co-founder of the Latino Decisions polling firm, told the New York daily. Segura hinted that the backing cannot go much lower .

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A study published today by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative found that Latino and Black residents of Los Angeles County and New York City are roughly twice as likely as white residents to die from COVID-19.

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A UCLA study published Monday underscores that Blacks and Latinos living in Los Angeles — as well as New York — are roughly twice as likely as white residents to die from COVID-19 and calls for more protections for essential workers and expanded economic assistance for high-poverty communities. Neighborhoods with high poverty rates in both … Continued

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Sonja Diaz, founding director of the policy initiative, said two significant reasons for those trends are that low-income Black and Latino people in both regions tend to have a greater need to work outside of the home and a greater reliance on public transportation, both of which put them at a greater risk for exposure … Continued

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“We are now seven months into the pandemic, and we are starting to have clear information about the disproportionate health and economic impacts that communities of color are facing,” Sonja Diaz said. “It’s time to address the specific ways that COVID-19 hurts Latino and Black families and to protect our most vulnerable communities as the … Continued

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For Monocuco, that marginalization was deadly. “It was already a death sentence from even this moment many years ago when Alejandra was crying out against police brutality in her life,” said Amy Ritterbusch, who interviewed Monocuco in 2014 along with Salamanca, and is now an assistant professor in the Department of Social Welfare at UCLA.

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The COVID-19 pandemic and recent racial justice movement have exacerbated systemic inequities, demonstrating the need for a policy agenda that focuses on issues impacting Latinos and other communities of color, said Sonja Diaz, the founding executive director of the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.

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“The through line here is not the protection of federal property,” said Kelly Lytle Hernandez, a historian at U.C.L.A. “It’s the effort to suppress the uprising for Black life. That sounds pretty familiar. That sounds pretty late 19th century.”

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“Latinos are serving as frontline, essential workers. They pick our harvest, cook our meals, staff our grocery stores, all while suffering high rates of coronavirus infections and economic degradation for keeping this country safe,” said Sonja Diaz, founding director of UCLA LPPI.

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With so much at stake in this critical election year, Congress must act now to protect the integrity of the census and ensure fair representation for all.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative has been calling for a Latino agenda from presidential candidates, national political parties, and state leaders. On August 4, 2020, the Biden campaign released a Latino agenda. Sonja Diaz, Founding Executive Director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, issued the following statement in response. FOR IMMEDIATE … Continued

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Today, the California 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission announced its final six members, which include four Latino representatives. Of the initial list of eight members, none were Latino, raising grave concerns about fair representation.

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A UCLA study published today found the exclusion of undocumented residents and their families from the $1,200 given to taxpayers a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a loss of $10 billion in potential economic output.

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In the Golden State alone, 7 million people live in an area with a shortage of healthcare providers; the state also has a shortage of 54,000 Latino physicians, says Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, a professor of medicine and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine … Continued

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“We expected that the COVID cases would sweep out of Beverly Hills and Brentwood and Bel-Air and down into the more exposed areas,” said David Hayes-Bautista, professor of medicine at UCLA and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture. “It’s done that exactly, following the line of least resistance.”

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“The opportunity in Arizona is that Bernie did really well there, especially with younger Latinos, so those are voters that do not like Trump at all,” said Biden campaign pollster Matt Barreto, who recently joined the campaign.

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Rather than simply declaring that “illegal immigrant” is an unacceptable derogatory term, analyze Jason De Leon’s “The Land of Open Graves,” a vivid portrait that “pushes our understanding of how lives are lived and lost on the U.S.-Mexican border to a new level.”

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We Are California / Somos California (“Somos California”) is a group of Latino leaders in Southern California originally formed to coordinate activities commemorating 25 years since the passage of Proposition 187. Somos California has since continued its work by focusing on emerging issues affecting California’s Latino communities. They include Sonja Diaz, Founding Director, Latino Policy & Politics Initiative and Kevin … Continued

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With less than 100 days until the election, Biden’s campaign has ramped up its efforts to reach these voters. In recent weeks, the campaign has made several high-profile hires, including Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, and Matt Barreto, the founder of Latino Decisions, a top Democratic polling firm. It also announced a $1m … Continued

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Chris Zepeda-Millán, a professor at UCLA in the departments of Chicana/o studies and public policy, credits the protests for stopping the bill and encouraging voter registration among Latinos. But he said the protests also intensified congressional polarization, dimming prospects for any immigration overhaul and citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

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Sonja Diaz, founding director of the policy initiative, said more needs to be done to protect residents. “We are now seven months into the pandemic, and we are starting to have clear information about the disproportionate health and economic impacts that communities of color are facing,’’ Diaz said. “It’s time to address the specific ways … Continued

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US News published a commentary that referenced research by UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and Arturo Bustamante, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health associate professor of health policy and management.

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“Lack of Latino dentists, lack of insurance, and high costs make dentistry inaccessible to Latino communities. Teledentistry may provide access and affordable options for underserved communities,” said study leader Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at UCLA.

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When it comes to air pollution, Latinos are “exposed through various forms of cumulative pollution sources, because there are many harmful facilities in the areas where they live and work,” said Dr. Michael Méndez. Latino and black communities near freeways are also affected by air pollution.

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With the rise in COVID-19, New York’s election laws need to improve their absentee ballot process in order to ensure that there is no voter disenfranchisement.

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Harris has addressed the economic crisis in the past few months in the U.S. Senate, co-sponsoring legislation to give tens of millions of Americans $2,000 a month and banning evictions, foreclosures, rent increase and utility shut-offs for the duration of the pandemic, “to ensure that people have the money necessary to keep food on the … Continued

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“Latinos have not been able to break through to the highest offices in the state of California and that includes the two U.S. Senate seats and the governor’s mansion,” said Sonja Diaz, founding executive director of the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative.

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Sonja Diaz, founding executive director of the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs: Vice President Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate is historic and points to the fact that voters are demanding greater diversity in their elected officials.

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UCLA LPPI expert, Dr. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, co-writes a blog post on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undo the stimulus effect of the programs and exacerbate the economic damage from the lockdown.

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“It would be only fair to recognize their contributions by including them in recovery efforts, and it is also clear that we cannot rebound from this crisis if we leave them behind,” said Sonja Diaz.

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A UCLA study published today found the exclusion of undocumented residents and their families from the $1,200 stimulus payments given to taxpayers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a loss of $10 billion in potential economic output.

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A study published July 27 by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, compared COVID-19 case and death rates in LA County across several ethnic, racial and income demographics. While 23 out of every 100,000 white LA County residents died from COVID-19 complications, the rates for Black and Latino residents were 46 per 100,000 and 54 per 100,000 … Continued

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“Undocumented workers are fundamental to our economy, especially during the pandemic when many of them are the essential workers who are keeping us fed, safe and healthy,” said Sonja Diaz, founding director of the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative.

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La cifra proviene de un análisis de la Universidad de California, llamado ‘Trabajadores esenciales pero desechables’, e indica que ellos pagan anualmente 250 millones de dólares en impuestos, pero una vez pierden sus trabajos se convierten en familias “desechables”.

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The vast majority of these workers are considered essential, but when it comes to offering public assistance for them and their families -mixed- they become “disposable workers” as if by magic, says Dr. Raúl Hinojosa. This is a mistake that would cost the state a whopping $ 10 billion in losses.

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A UCLA study published Monday found that the exclusion of undocumented residents and their families from the $1,200 given to taxpayers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an estimated loss of $10 billion in potential economic output. The study was a collaboration among the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, the UCLA … Continued

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To dismantle systemic racism in health care, we must be prepared to take drastic actions. In addressing concerns over the disproportionate deaths in communities of color, a recent UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative report suggests this starts with providing access to quality health care to historically marginalized communities.

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The courts have found on several occasions, said UCLA law professor Laura E. Gómez, that Trump’s proposals are arbitrary and capricious. “I think that’s an area where Trump has gotten into particular trouble,” Gómez said.

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A UCLA study published today found that the exclusion of undocumented residents and their families from the $1,200 given to taxpayers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an estimated loss of $10 billion in potential economic output. The study was a collaboration among the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, the UCLA North American … Continued

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A UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative study published Monday found that the exclusion of undocumented residents and their families from the $1,200 given to taxpayers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an estimated loss of $10 billion in potential economic output.

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This exclusion will cost the United States about 14 billion dollars in economic activity, conclude researchers from the North American Integration and Development Center (NAID) and the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment in their report issued by the Latino Policy and Politics initiative of UCLA.

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The study prepared by UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative ensures that there will be a loss of 112,000 jobs nationwide, 22,000 of them in California. At the same time, that means it will cost the US economy $ 14 billion and the recovery will be more difficult.

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This report analyzes AltaMed’s GOTV efforts of low propensity voters leading up to the 2020 primary election. AltaMed engaged in voter outreach in East Los Angeles, Anaheim & Santa Ana, Oakland, and South San Diego counties. 

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The fourteen final members of the California Citizens’ Redistricting Commission (CCRC) have been selected and Latinos are underrepresented. This fact sheet extends our research published in May 2020 analyzing the representation of Latinos in the last stages of the CCRC selection process.

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Gwinnett County fails to comply with Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act for the Spanish-speaking population. Change needs to be made in order to assist Spanish-Speaking voters rather than burden them.

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Sonja Diaz is a guest on talks about how critical it is for Presidential Nominee Joe Biden to clinch the young Latino vote, which is one of the nation’s fastest growing populations.

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Sonja Diaz joins KTLA as a political analyst for the Democratic National Convention. “Over the course of the last four years, we have seen more job losses than we ever have in American history. If Joe Biden can talk about two things- it’s health and jobs.”

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Sonja Diaz joins KTLA as a political analyst for the Democratic National Convention. “It’s an absolutely historic night on eve of centennial for the 19th amendment. Senator Harris is embracing the future. This is a night about women and a night for the future of this country.”

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“During the primary, Harris was quite popular with Latinos. She is well regarded in California and has been a champion for immigrant rights and working families her entire career. So I’m not surprised to see that she was well received, but the magnitude of the jump — about 15 net points in favor of Biden … Continued

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Sonja Diaz joins KTLA as a political analyst for the Democratic National Convention. “The nominating speeches spoke to the issues Americans care about: the economy, the need to address the COVID-19 crisis, and embracing our nation’s diversity as a strength rather than a weakness.”

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For both Maria Morales and Adriana Bernal, being a part of the meeting was squarely in line with the reasons they joined the policy initiative as student fellows: collaborating with civil rights organizations and elected officials to develop data-based policy recommendations that can improve lives for communities of color.

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“The fight for dignity and gender parity is a battle for every American. As we face unprecedented challenges, the path towards recovery and a democracy that achieves the principles of our Declaration of Independence can only be realized with full political representation of women of color”, said UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Founding Director, Sonja Diaz.

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Sonja Diaz joins KTLA as a political analyst for the Democratic National Convention. “Today is about party unity and thinking through a concrete party platform that will speak on so many issues Americans care about tonight.”

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Latino Decisions is the leader in Latino political opinion research. Founded by professors of political science, Dr. Gary M. Segura and Dr. Matt Barreto, it leverages a unique combination of analytical expertise and cultural competencies that are unparalleled in the industry.

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“Responding to COVID-19 is the gorilla at the table. It is a giant factor that Latinos are considering as the most important issue that they are facing. It eclipses health care costs and unemployment,” said Gary Segura, a principal with Latino Decisions polling firm, which conducted the poll.

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UCLA LPPI fellows, Diana Garcia and Nick Gonzalez, write on the importance of Democratic candidates finally treating every issue as a Latino issue. “As already shown by some 2020 candidates, mobilizing Latinos to vote blue in November will come when we see our needs reflected in the party’s policy priorities.”

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The necessary public health steps are clear: A recent report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, UCLA Voting Rights Project, and the Voting Rights Lab found that the safety of voting during the 2020 elections depends on expanding absentee voting, eliminating polling place congestion, and reducing wait times at polling stations.

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The Biden campaign recently made other high-profile hires including Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of civil rights hero Cesar Chavez, and Matt Barreto, the founder of Latino Decisions, a top Democratic polling firm. The campaign has also hired Republican strategist Ana Navarro.

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“What explains Bernie’s strong numbers is he did a lot of outreach,” said Democratic pollster Matt Barreto, who is working with the Biden campaign. “Not every Latino that Bernie got to vote for him was a super-progressive. For some, that was the only outreach they got.”

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That’s why, for L.A., achieving true justice will require not just transforming systems but also forging a new identity, free of the powerlessness embodied in “Chinatown.” And the best attempt at a new narrative comes from the best L.A. book of the 21st century, “City of Inmates,” by UCLA historian Kelly Lytle Hernandez.

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Amada Armenta, who teaches urban planning at UCLA, went on ride-alongs with police in Tennessee during the street-enforcement phase of 287(g), and later wrote a book about it. She said most of the immigrants officers held for deportation were stopped for driving without a license.

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This report examines how statewide agencies involved in the juvenile justice system collect and report racial and ethnic data across the U.S.

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On Tuesday, August 25, Alianza for Youth Justice and the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative are releasing a new “Call to Action” report detailing The Latinx Data Gap in the Youth Justice System. The report shows that inconsistent data collection methods complicate race and ethnicity tracking across different stages in the youth justice system.

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This policy brief describes the role of Ethnic Studies curriculum in high school settings, in light of legislative efforts through AB-331 to require Ethnic Studies as a statewide high school graduation requirement.

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Hawaii County needs to be doing more for their growing Filipino and Japanese communities, specifically Tagalog and Japanese material.

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Evidence shows Kaua’i County should be covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act for their Tagalog and Japanese-speaking residents.

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Strong evidence shows that Hudson County should be covered by Voting Rights Act Section 203 for their Tagalog and Chinese residents.

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Maui County should be covered by Voting Rights Act Section 203 for its Tagalog and Japanese-speaking residents.

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Evidence indicates that Ramsey County should be covered by Voting Rights Act Section 203 for its Hmong-speaking residents.

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With a large Chinese population, Champaign County should have all information regarding elections in both English and Chinese.

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The Chinese population in Montgomery County should be providing better language access resources and bilingual elections to accommodate to their residents.

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Howard County has a sizable and growing Korean community that is not being provided proper resources that will allow them to best exercise their vote.

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Middlesex County has a sizable and growing Chinese community that is not being provided proper resources that will allow them to best exercise their vote.

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Kodiak Island Borough has a sizable Filipino community that needs to provide better election language access material to accommodate its residents.

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Norfolk County has a sizable Chinese community that needs to provide better resources for language access materials.

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Tompkins County has a sizable and growing Chinese population that would benefit from having bilingual elections.

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“During a virtual panel hosted by UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative in July, CBC Chair Karen Bass told POLITICO that elements of the BREATHE Act are already in existing legislation. However, parts of the sweeping proposal, she said, are ‘more challenging.’”

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“Sonja Diaz, executive director of the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative at UCLA Luskin, provided live commentary on the Republican National Convention as a political analyst on KTLA News. On the convention’s final night, Diaz noted that President Trump’s speech did not meaningfully address two issues important to Americans: the COVID-19 crisis and nationwide calls for racial justice.”

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“Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor and UCLA LPPI expert, said in a statement that in the early days of the pandemic, concern centered on the skyrocketing death rate of the elderly.”

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Artist Harry Gamboa Jr. and Times writer Carolina A. Miranda join a post-screening discussion with moderator Chon Noriega, director of UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and author of “Shot in America: Television, the State, and the Rise of Chicano Cinema.”

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Research by Professors David Hayes-Bautista and Paul Hsu showed increased mortality rates in all Latino age groups: young adults, early middle age, and late middle age.

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“In late April, a detailed 20-page LAC DPH report showed how COVID-19 cases and deaths were significantly higher among Black and Latino populations compared with white and Asian populations, with poverty another leading factor—findings mirrored in this more recent UCLA [Latino Policy & Politics Initiative] analysis.”

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In City of Inmates: Conquest, Rebellion, and the Rise of Human Caging in Los Angeles, 1771-1965, Kelly Lytle Hernández tackled L.A.’s sprawl of jails and prisons, explaining how the city came to create the largest prison system in the U.S. by systematically and intentionally “purging, removing, caging … and eliminating” immigrants and people of color.

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A new study from UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative indicates the juvenile justice system either is not collecting data on Latinx youth or is failing to collect the data consistently. CBS News contributor Maria Elena Salinas joins CBSN to discuss how it is possible that members of the country’s largest ethnic group are being undercounted.

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Sonja Diaz, the founding executive director of the Latino Policy and Politics Initiative at UCLA appeared as a guest speaker on AirTalk. “President Donald Trump participated in a naturalization ceremony last night despite the last four years of an administration that saw kids in cages, families separated at the border, a Muslim ban, and public charge rules. … Continued

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Sonja Diaz joins KTLA as a political analyst for the Republican National Convention on night two. “We find ourselves no better off with the pandemic and its response. We find ourselves not only dealing with racial reckoning, made top of mind with what happened in Wisconsin, but with climate change. We see wildfires in California and … Continued

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“As our country undertakes a long overdue reckoning on race and justice, it is critical that Latinos be included in the conversation,” said Sonja Diaz, founding director of the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative and one of the report’s co-authors. “Far too often we are overlooked, but to effectively address inequities in the justice system, … Continued

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On Tuesday, August 25, Alianza for Youth Justice and the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative are releasing a new “Call to Action” report detailing The Latinx Data Gap in the Youth Justice System. The report shows that inconsistent data collection methods complicate race and ethnicity tracking across different stages in the youth justice system.

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Sonja Diaz joins KTLA as a political analyst for the Republican National Convention. “The allegations on vote-by-mail are baseless. These are attacks on the right to vote, particularly on voters of color.”

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Trump will need more than that to reassure Americans that the pandemic is under control, said Gary Segura, co-founder of the research firm Latino Decisions and dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA.

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The UCLA archeologist Jason De Leon, who excavates human remains in the desert and appeared on Immigration Nation, notes that one of the official metrics used to gauge the success of this “prevention through deterrence” policy was the number of migrant deaths.

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Sonja Diaz joins KPCC’s Morning Edition and discusses Senator Kamala Harris and how she will energize all voters, especially women and voters of color.

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The Wall Street Journal interviewed David Hayes-Bautista, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health professor of health policy and management and LPPI expert, on why mortality findings are skewing younger for many minorities. “Latinos tend to be very, very poorly connected to the formal medical and public-health infrastructure,” Hayes-Bautista said. The story also ran on MSN, and Hayes-Bautista was interviewed … Continued

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The late Dr. Leo Estrada was a UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative expert and Associate Professor of UCLA Urban Planning. Dr. Estrada talks about how the Latino population explosion occurred hand in hand with Orange county’s economic boom in a 1983 Los Angeles Times article.

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