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Commentary & Analysis

Welcome 2025-2026 policy fellows

Sophia Pu

Now in its sixth year, LPPIโ€™s policy fellowship program empowers UCLA graduate and undergraduate students to become transformational leaders through paid, hands-on experience working alongside the instituteโ€™s staff and faculty experts. These opportunities equip students with the skills and experience to work in policy and applied research โ€“ and to step into leadership roles across…

When Extreme Heat Becomes the Opponent

Chloe Cardenas

During my high school cross-country meets in Los Angeles, the competition doesnโ€™t always feel like itโ€™s just between runners. Sometimes the toughest opponent is the sun.ย  Iโ€™ve watched teammates collapse to the floor after races, fighting off nausea from dehydration. On most days, practices stretch late into the afternoon, and the heat lingers long after…

Real Data, Real Impact: Confronting California’s Climate Inequities

Eduardo Garcia

For two decades, I had the honor of representing communities in Riverside and Imperial Counties in local and state governmentโ€”places like Mecca, Coachella, and Calexico. These are hardworking families living near the Salton Sea, where the air is often thick with dust and pollution, and kids grow up with higher rates of asthma. The jobs…

UCLA LPPI Statement on the Passing of Kent Wong

LPPI Comms

We at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) are deeply saddened by the passing of Kent Wong. Over years of service, Kentโ€™s leadership at the UCLA Labor Center was rooted in relationships, trust, and conviction. He believed that building a just future requires both scholarship and solidarity. His steadfast support for community-based work,…

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