Inaugural UCLA LPPI Latino Policy Day 2025

Join us at UCLA LPPI’s inaugural Latino Policy Day to introduce the UCLA community (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) to groundbreaking work that LPPI has supported in the areas of housing and homeownership, education, and immigration and health. Panels will feature our faculty experts and issue-specific leaders. 

Program Agenda:

12:00 PM Lunch and Alumni Panel 

• Moderator: Estrella Torres, policy fellow, UCLA LPPI 
• Panelist: Jose Alvarez, senior associate, Estolano Advisors
• Panelist: Heidy Melchor, district office liaison, LA City Council Office of Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez
• Panelist: Lupe Renteria Salome, data analyst, USC Equity Research Institute

1:00 PM Welcome Remarks

• Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante, faculty director of research, UCLA LPPI

1:15 PM Latinos in California’s Community College Bachelor’s Degree Programs: What We Know So Far (45 min.) 

Presentation by Dr. Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, professor and associate dean of equity, diversity, and Inclusion, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies

Panel Discussion:

• Moderator: Dr. Silvia González, director of research, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics  
• Panelist:  Dr. Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, professor and associate dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies 
• Panelist: Dr. Patricia Ramos, dean of academic affairs, Santa Monica College 
• Panelist: Dr. Elizabeth Gonzalez, chief program & strategy officer, College Futures Foundation

2:00 PM Break (15 min.)

2:15 PM House Rich, Access Poor: Refinancing Challenges for Latino and Black Homeowners in Los Angeles County (45 min.) 

Presentation by Dr. Jose Loya, assistant professor, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, featuring Gabriella Carmona, senior research analyst, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

Panel Discussion:

• Moderator/Panelist: Gabriella Carmona, senior research analyst, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
• Panelist: Dr. Jose Loya, assistant professor, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
• Panelist: Jonathan Sanabria, program officer, Conrad Hilton Foundation
• Panelist: Noerena Limon, chief executive pfficer, Casita Coalition

3:00 PM Break (15 min.)

3:15 PM Expanding Insurance to all Immigrants: Lessons from Illinois’ HBIA/HBIS (45 min.) 

Presentation by Dr. Aresha Martinez, assistant professor, University of Chicago Department of Public Health Sciences

Panel Discussion:

• Moderator: Dr. Arturo Bustamante, faculty director of research, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
• Panelist: Dr. Aresha Martinez, assistant professor, University of Chicago Department of Public Health Sciences
• Panelist: Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), assemblymember, California State Legislature
• Panelist: Mar Velez, director, Latino Coalition for Healthy California

4:00 PM Closing Remarks

• Dr. Amada Armenta, faculty director, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

4:15 PM Reception

5:30 PM End