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Committee Created to Guide Work on Critical Intersection of Climate and Health Disparities in California

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) has formed the Latino Health and Climate Advisory Committee to guide a new initiative supported by The California Wellness Foundation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA LPPI Announces Committee to Guide Work on Critical Intersection of Climate and Health Disparities in California

LOS ANGELES (October 3, 2024)—The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) has formed the Latino Health and Climate Advisory Committee to guide a new initiative supported by The California Wellness Foundation. Cal Wellness works to improve the health of Californians by expanding access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments, and safe neighborhoods.

The new committee is dedicated to producing actionable data to examine two crucial, intersecting systemic barriers that contribute to inequality and exclusion in Latino communities: climate change and health disparities. Every committee member is at the forefront of tackling these issues, which disproportionately affect California’s Latino communities.

The group will guide UCLA LPPI’s development of a data dashboard that provides essential data about environmental and health inequities and how they impact Latino communities. This initiative is centered on providing an evidence-base to foster policy change that enhances economic opportunity, health, and environmental justice outcomes for Latinos in California, promoting a more equitable future for all Californians.

The committee members are:

  • Mar Velez, director of policy, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
  • Michael Mendez, assistant professor, UC Irvine School of Social Ecology
  • Leticia Classen Rodriguez, director, participatory science program, SocioEnvironmental and Education Network
  • Irene Burga, director of the Climate Justice and Clean Air Program, Green Latinos
  • Colleen Callahan, co-executive director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
  • Laura August, environmental program manager at the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
  • Paul Ong, director, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge

“The formation of this group of innovators marks a significant advancement in our commitment to health equity and climate justice among California’s Latino communities,” said Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, faculty of research at UCLA LPPI and principal investigator for this project.

“By leveraging our innovative data dashboard, we aim to provide actionable insights to drive policy decisions to enhance health outcomes, ultimately steering us towards a more equitable future for all Californians. We also are grateful to Cal Wellness for their ongoing support of our work. Their funding is crucial for the launch of this pivotal project,” said Dr. Silvia R. Gonzalez, director of research at UCLA LPPI.

“The formation of this committee marks a critical opportunity to directly tackle the pressing issues of climate change and health inequities impacting our Latino communities. The work will not only deepen our understanding but also drive strategic interventions that are crucial for promoting sustainable health improvements,” added Mar Velez, committee member and policy director at Latino Coalition for a Healthy California.

The data dashboard is scheduled to launch in 2025.

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About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu