Strategic Plan 2025–2029 | UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute

Advancing
the Latino Story.

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute's Strategic Plan charts our next stage of growth: deepening our research, expanding our reach, and strengthening our capacity to drive systemic change for Latino communities.

Explore the plan  →
LPPI team photo on the UCLA campus
Cultivating the next generation of leaders
Advancing the Latino Story UCLA LPPI · 2025–2029
About LPPI

Who We Are

Aerial view of Royce Hall at UCLA campus. Photo credit: AdobeStock
Silvia González presenting at an LPPI event
LPPI Policy Fellows at graduation ceremony

LPPI has emerged as a respected and leading voice in data-driven policy and Latino-focused research. Recognized for timely, impactful work across academia, media, government, and grassroots advocacy, LPPI's model is grounded in cross-disciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and leadership development.

As LPPI expands from a strong base in Los Angeles to national relevance, partners across sectors recognize LPPI as a credible, mission-driven institution that produces high-quality, actionable research.

Leading the Next Chapter

Leading the Next Chapter

Under the leadership of Director Dr. Amada Armenta, an associate professor in the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, LPPI has entered its next stage of growth. Together, a team of scholars, researchers, strategists, and advocates brings the expertise and vision to expand the reach and impact of our work and to deepen our commitment to the communities we serve.

"

"Latino communities in California and across the United States deserve research that reflects their lives, advances their interests, and builds their power. That is exactly what LPPI is here to do – and we're just getting started."

– Dr. Amada Armenta, Director, LPPI
Our Leadership
Headshot of Amada Armenta
Director
Amada Armenta
Assoc. Professor, Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin
Headshot of Lila Burgos
Deputy Director
Lila Burgos
Headshot of Arturo Vargas Bustamante
Director of Faculty Research
Arturo Vargas Bustamante
Headshot of Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas
Director of Research
Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas
Headshot of Silvia González
Director of Research
Silvia González
Headshot of Belem Lamas
Director of Strategy
Belem Lamas
Our Vision & Mission

To be the leading Latino think tank advancing data-driven policy, building civic power, and delivering lasting change.

We envision a future where our work shapes legislation, informs decision-making, and uplifts Latino communities nationwide. We seek to influence structural policy shifts, expand civic and economic inclusion, and drive long-term systems change led by and for Latino communities. We are data-driven: disaggregated, timely data reveals inequities and drives targeted, effective policy solutions.

01

Research

Core research areas and applied projects that produce timely, rigorous, community-informed analysis.

02

Leadership

Building student capacity and ensuring research is translated and effectively utilized by those who need it most.

03

Mobilization

Connecting research to external actors and advancing impact beyond research outputs — bridging ideas with action.

Advocacy serves as both a vehicle and an outcome across all three pillars.

Strategic Priorities

Our Three Strategic Priorities

To turn our vision into action, LPPI has identified three strategic priorities that guide our next stage of growth — advancing policy change, strengthening Latino visibility and influence, and fostering long-term sustainability.

01
Strategic Priority

Research for Policy Influence

LPPI produces timely, rigorous, and community-informed research that ensures Latinos remain visible in policymaking. Research is a tool for power-building — expanding Latino representation, fostering cross-racial solidarity, and strengthening social movements.

Led by Silvia González & Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas,
Directors of Research

LPPI produces timely, rigorous, and community-informed research that ensures Latinos remain visible in policymaking. This work balances responsiveness to critical moments with long-term commitments to core issue areas. Research is also used as a tool for power-building — expanding Latino representation, fostering cross-racial solidarity, and strengthening social movements.

Our Core Research Areas

  • Economic Mobility & Prosperity
  • Representation
  • Health Care Access
  • Environment
  • Latino Data Infrastructure

This work is pursued through staff researchers, student researchers, faculty, and partnerships with other academic institutions.

LPPI employs advisory committees, coalitions, and community partnerships to guide research priorities and ensure outcomes are responsive to community needs. Our partnerships span elected officials, policy actors, legislative offices, nonprofit leaders, advocates, foundations, and the media.

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02
Strategic Priority

Strategic Engagement & Field Building

LPPI mobilizes its research by aligning projects with policy windows and advocacy opportunities. Our role in policy advocacy is rooted in our commitment to Latino-focused research that informs and shapes policy to improve the quality of life of Latino communities.

Led by Amada Armenta, Director,
and Belem Lamas, Director of Policy & Strategy

How We Engage

LPPI leverages its convening power, coalition participation, and narrative strategies to ensure data and research are translated into tangible policy impact. We pair data with trusted messengers, strategic timing, and narrative power.

National Strategy

A two-pronged approach: selective state engagement and a broader federal presence, while maintaining California as our primary focus of expertise.

Building the Leadership Pipeline

LPPI builds capacity through its Policy Fellows Program, which provides practical experience and professional exposure to policy and systems change work for UCLA undergraduate and graduate students. LPPI also supports Action Labs and policy briefings that increase community capacity to use data and expand opportunities for alumni, partners, and policy leaders to mentor, share stories, and build networks.

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03
Strategic Priority

Operational Excellence — Culture & Capacity

To sustain and scale its impact, LPPI is investing in strong organizational infrastructure, clear roles, and a culture of trust and accountability.

Led by Amada Armenta, Director,
and Lila Burgos, Deputy Director

Strengthening Our Team

Fostering a collaborative, well-supported staff culture with clear roles, shared understanding, and integrated workflows across teams.

Evolving Our Funding Strategy

Diversifying funding and aligning with shifting trends. This includes exploring fee-for-service models, cultivating aligned funders in our core research areas, and developing individual donor relationships.

Leadership Development

LPPI is preparing the Policy Fellows Program for full professional development readiness and working toward a self-sustaining initiative supported by institutional funders and individual giving.

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What This Means for You

What This Means for You, Our Partners

For Funders & Foundations

LPPI partners with funders and foundations that share a commitment to equity for Latino and other underrepresented communities, working together to build the evidence base that drives lasting positive change.

For Legislators & Policymakers

LPPI offers timely, nonpartisan research and analysis aligned with legislative cycles and policy priorities at the local, state, and federal levels.

For Community Organizations

LPPI's research is shaped in partnership with the communities it serves — through advisory committees, community-based partnerships, and a project-by-project approach that reflects local realities.

For Academic Partners

LPPI welcomes cross-disciplinary collaboration with faculty and academic institutions, including joint research projects and student-based initiatives.

Partner with us  → Support our work Explore our research