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LPPI

Monica Salinas Field Fellowship (Summer 2025)

This competitive fellowship will provide selected fellows with the unique opportunity to engage in impactful, hands-on work that addresses the most pressing domestic policy challenges facing historically underserved communities.

Program Overview:

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) is proud to announce the Monica Salinas Field Fellowship program (Field Fellowship) for undergraduate and graduate students from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. This competitive fellowship will provide selected fellows with the unique opportunity to engage in impactful, hands-on work that addresses the most pressing domestic policy challenges facing historically underserved communities.

The Field Fellowship will begin in mid-June 2025 and will run through mid-August 2025. The 8-week period will be determined by the partner organization based on their needs.

During the program, fellows will be placed at one of LPPI’s partner organizations in or around Los Angeles and will actively contribute to programs or projects at their placement organization.

This Field Fellowship can be used by Luskin master’s students looking to complete their summer internship requirement and may serve as a launch pad for Luskin undergraduate and graduate capstone projects. Those selected will be responsible for consulting with academic department advisors to meet their program’s requirements. 

Program Goals:

  • Hands-On Experience: Fellows will gain valuable field experience by working directly with LPPI’s partner organizations, which may include government agencies, community-based organizations, or advocacy groups on projects that address critical issues affecting marginalized communities.
  • Research & Advocacy: Fellows will support ongoing research initiatives and advocacy efforts to advance policy reforms and create more equitable opportunities.
  • Leadership Development: Fellows will participate in professional development opportunities, including mentorship and networking with policy experts, community leaders, and LPPI affiliates, to enhance their leadership and policy-making skills.
  • Community Impact: The program offers the chance for fellows to directly contribute to tangible policy and community impacts, furthering LPPI’s mission to create policy solutions that uplift communities of color.

Partner Organizations:

Below is a list of partner organizations for the 2025 Field Fellowship. Fellows will be matched based on their application materials and the specific needs of each site. These are the only partner organizations available for the program. Please note that not every placement will host a fellow, and final decisions will be made by the partner organizations.

Community Coalition (CoCo)

Location: 8101 Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90044 

Description: The fellow will support the Senior Director of the Center for Community Organizing with research related to CoCo’s campaigns on economic development, housing, public safety, and land use.

Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA)

Location: 1565 W 14th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Description: The fellow will support IDEPSCA’s mission to create a more humane and democratic world through the use of popular education by organizing with and educating low-income community members who want to resolve problems in their own communities. Bilingual candidates (English and Spanish) are highly valued for this position.

L.A. City Council District 1

Location: 200 N. Spring Street, Room 460 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Description: The fellow will be placed on one of the following teams and work closely with the team’s respective Director on policy and field work: Legislative Affairs, Planning & Land Use, or Housing & Homelessness.

CA Assembly District 39

Location: District Office, 823 East Avenue Q-9, Suite B, Palmdale, CA 93550

Description: The fellow will support tasks that advance the legislative agenda of CA Assembly District 39 as office leadership sees fit. 

CA Assembly District 48

Location: District Office, 100 North Barranca Street, Suite 895 West Covina, CA 91791

Description: The fellow will support tasks that advance the legislative agenda of CA Assembly District 48 as office leadership sees fit. 

CA Assembly District 55

Location: District Office, 5601 W. Slauson Ave., Suite 200 Culver City, CA 90230

Description: The fellow will support tasks that advance the legislative agenda of CA Assembly District 55 as office leadership sees fit. 

CA Assembly District 62

Location: District Office, 4909 Lakewood Blvd., Suite 400 Lakewood, CA 90712

Description: The fellow will support tasks that advance the legislative agenda of CA Assembly District 62 as office leadership sees fit. 

CA Senate District 31

Location: District Office, 3737 Main St., Suite #104, Riverside, CA 92501

Description: The fellow will support tasks that advance the legislative agenda of CA Senate District 31 as office leadership sees fit. 

CA Senate District 33

Location #1: District Office, 3939 Atlantic Ave., Suite 107 Long Beach, CA 90807 

Location #2: District Office, 3355 East Gage Avenue Huntington Park, CA 90255

Description: The fellow will support tasks that advance the legislative agenda of CA Senate District 33 as office leadership sees fit. 

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicants must be current undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
  • Fellows must be available to work in person at their assigned partner organization during the summer of 2025. To be eligible for this fellowship you must be available to work a minimum of 240 work hours total (30 hours per week for 8 weeks). Required hours may vary depending on the needs and expectations of the partner organization or the requirements of your Luskin program. 
  • Strong interest in public policy, advocacy, and social justice issues, particularly as they relate to Latino and other communities of color.
  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through policy work.
  • Prior experience in research, advocacy, or community service is preferred but not required.
  • Fellows must have reliable transportation to commute to and from their placement organization.
  • Share fellowship experiences through LPPI digital communications channels, including newsletter, social media, and blog. 

Application Materials: 

  • Short Responses: The short responses are 200 words maximum to each of the below questions:
  1. What draws you to the Monica Salinas Field Fellowship, and how does it align with your personal and professional interests?
  2. What experiences, skills, or knowledge from your academic, professional, or community involvement will you bring to your work with a partner organization?
  3. How will participating in this fellowship help you address the most critical policy challenges facing Latinos and other communities of color, and how does this relate to your long-term career aspirations?
  • Resume
  • Unofficial Transcript

Application Process:

Interested students will be required to submit an application detailing their academic background, career interests, and motivation for pursuing the fellowship. There will be two rounds of interviews:

  1. First Round: Interview with LPPI staff to assess the applicant’s alignment with the organization’s mission and the goals of the fellowship program.
  2. Second Round: Interview with the partner organization to evaluate the applicant’s suitability for the specific project or program they would be supporting.

The partner organization will have the final say in selecting the fellow who will be placed with them.

APPLY HERE

Fellowship Benefits:

  • Stipend: A competitive stipend of $6,000 will be provided to all fellows for the duration of the program. 
    • Student Stipend Payment Schedule: $2,500 Beginning, $2,500 Midpoint, $1,000 End*
  • Professional Development: Fellows will have access to mentorship from leaders in their placement organization.
  • Impactful Work: Fellows will gain experience on projects that make a real-world difference for marginalized communities while also advancing their understanding of policy and advocacy.
  • Holidays: Friday, July 4th, 2025

Key Dates:

  • Application Opens: Monday, April 14th, 2025
  • Application Deadline: Sunday, April 27th, 2025 at 11:59 PM
  • Notice of Application Status: mid-May 2025
  • Program Start Date: mid-June 2025**
  • Program End Date: mid-August 2025**

For more information on the application process, contact LPPI at LPPIPrograms@luskin.ucla.edu.

*Disbursement will be processed through Bruinbill account. 

**8-week period to be determined with partner organization based on their needs