UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI)

Trump climate health rollback likely to hit poor, minority areas hardest, experts say The Trump administration’s revocation of a scientific finding that climate change is a danger to public health is likely to affect communities of color the most.

LPPI in the news: AP News details the impact of overturning the EPA's "endangerment finding" on Black and Latino areas, citing LPPI research on extreme heat, air pollution, and related health outcomes in Latino neighborhoods.

Read the article: https://tinyurl.com/ynrtyaxj

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we honor MLK’s vision for dignity, justice, and racial equality. His relentless dedication to civil rights protections, labor organizing, and multiracial solidarity continues to inspire today’s social justice advocates.

Trust and Trade-Offs: Gendered Responses to Tap Water Insecurity and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Policies | Environmental Justice Gendered decision making around household water use and spending is well-documented in the Global South but remains under-explored in the United States. This study examines how gender and trust in tap water influence caregivers’ use of bottled or filtered water, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, and attitudes toward SSB taxation in California’s San Joaquin Valley, one of the state’s most environmentally burdened regions. We analyze survey responses from 155 caregivers in Kern County, located in California’s San Joaquin Valley. We use descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression models to assess associations between gender, tap water trust, SSB consumption, and attitudes toward SSB taxation. Female caregivers are significantly more likely than male caregivers to rely on alternative water sources, despite being less likely to express concern about tap water safety, suggesting a disconnect between perception and behavior. Although male and female respondents report similar SSB consumption, females are also more likely to oppose an SSB tax, report greater price sensitivity, and are less responsive to participatory budgeting approaches. Renters are more supportive of taxation when given input on spending, while Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -eligible households remain skeptical. Findings suggest a disconnection between perceived water safety and actual water use and spending decisions among women, likely reflecting broader caregiving burdens and resource constraints, and point toward gendered responses to health policy interventions. Integrating gender and care work into analyses of environmental health disparities and policy design is essential for addressing water insecurity and promoting equitable health outcomes in under-resourced communities.

Great to work w/ Ariana Hernandez @luskininnovation.bsky.social & Silvia Gonzalez @uclalppi.bsky.social, now out in Environmental Justice.

We studied caregivers' role in tap trust and trade-offs decision making around household water & SSB use & spending.

www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...

LPPI Staff and Fellows Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Altadena On Friday, November 7, UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute (LPPI) staff and fellows volunteered with the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity in Altadena, contributing to the first home being…

Thank you @sgvHabitat for welcoming LPPI staff and fellows to volunteer in Altadena. Our research shows recovery can take years for families after disasters, and being on the ground underscores why equitable rebuilding matters. Read more in our blog: bit.ly/4hWGSzs

This Veterans Day, we honor the service and sacrifices of those who have served our country.

We invite you to join us in-person on Friday, November 14th for a convening to discuss our newest publication, BEYOND SANCTUARY, and its relevance to the moment at hand. RSVP>> beyondsanctuary.eventbrite.com

Cleaner Air, Healthier Communities: A Policy Advocacy Toolkit for California’s Latino Communities This policy toolkit provides key data and community-informed policy recommendations to address the disproportionate air pollution burdens facing California’s Latino neighborhoods.

FACT: Latino neighborhoods face nearly triple the diesel pollution exposure than white neighborhoods, denser traffic, and greater proximity to toxic sites. Our new toolkit turns community insights into policy action for clean air and health equity. https://ucla.in/4hM9efR

Latino Workers in the Inland Empire Using data from the Latino Data Hub and eight semi-structured interviews, this report provides a comprehensive profile of Latino workers in the Inland Empire.

DYK: Latinas in the Inland Empire earn the lowest median hourly wage at $17, and even college-educated Latino workers earn less than their peers of other racial or ethnic groups. Read more: https://ucla.in/3WkxcoA

Latino Workers in the Inland Empire Using data from the Latino Data Hub and eight semi-structured interviews, this report provides a comprehensive profile of Latino workers in the Inland Empire.

FACT: Between 2000 and 2022, the Latino workforce in the Inland Empire grew by 154% — from 460,000 to 1.2 million. That’s nearly 90% of all labor force growth in the region. Analysis by @UCLAlatino & #CIELOFund: https://ucla.in/3WkxcoA

The Jan. 2025 wildfires disproportionately affected small businesses with under 10 employees, exacerbating their already unstable footing. New data briefs by UCLA LPPI and UCLA CNK provide the first integrated analysis of wildfire impact on small businesses.

Read more here:
https://ucla.in/3WOQL8C

Who’s Coming Home? This data brief combines property sales, market listings, permits & fire damage data to create a snapshot of how Altadena homeowners are faring 7 months after the Eaton Fire.

Nearly nine months after the Eaton Fire, around 70% of severely damaged homes show no progress toward rebuilding, with families of color facing the greatest barriers to recovery and rebuilding. Read more: latino.ucla.edu/research/who...

LPPI faculty director Amada Armenta’s personal history influences her policy efforts The UCLA professor and alumna’s pride in her heritage inspires her to empower Latino communities through her work.

Dr. Armenta’s journey started in California’s Imperial Valley, where she learned to love being Latina while witnessing constant immigration enforcement surveillance. Read more: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/lppi-amada-armenta-personal-history-influences-policy-efforts

On Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the culture, contributions, and resiliency of Indigenous communities across the globe. UCLA LPPI acknowledges and honors the ancestral lands and histories of Indigenous peoples.

Latino Data Hub A groundbreaking digital platform offering free, reliable, and bilingual data that transforms our understanding of Latinos and equips us to create data-driven solutions for our communities.

In 2023, Latinas earned $17/hr vs. $25 for all men.
Over a lifetime, that gap translates to over $1 million lost when compared to white men.
Data from UCLA LPPI shows persistent inequities by age, descent, and state: http://bit.ly/3KGYov5

Latino Data Hub A groundbreaking digital platform offering free, reliable, and bilingual data that transforms our understanding of Latinos and equips us to create data-driven solutions for our communities.

Latina Equal Pay Day (Oct. 8) marks how far into the year Latinas must work to earn what white men made the previous year. Despite record gains in education by Latinas, the wage gap endures. Read more: http://bit.ly/3KGYov5

Latino Data Hub A groundbreaking digital platform offering free, reliable, and bilingual data that transforms our understanding of Latinos and equips us to create data-driven solutions for our communities.

DYK: Latinas now make up almost 20% of women in the U.S.? Yet, they’re still the lowest-paid major demographic in the workforce. Even among college graduates, Latinas earn less than their peers, proving that education alone isn’t shattering that pay gap.

Read more: http://bit.ly/3KGYov5

Key Facts About the Latino Workforce Across California These briefs highlight Latino resilience, innovation, and community-driven strategies in South Phoenix, Tucson, Fruitvale, and San Ysidro neighborhoods during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latino workers are essential to CA’s economy—yet face steep inequities across all regions.

- A degree ≠ equal higher pay for Latinos.
- Nearly 1 in 3 jobs are at high risk of automation.
- Highest rates of overcrowded housing.

Read more: ucla.in/4mpinvA

Climate Change and Health Disparities in California’s Latino Neighborhoods This data brief provides key facts on how California’s Latino neighborhoods face disproportionate risks from extreme heat, air pollution, and health inequities.

DYK: Latino neighborhoods in California face significantly higher exposure to extreme heat and have less access to protective infrastructure like tree canopy. Read more in our latest analysis: https://ucla.in/46kWW8L

Post-Pandemic Small Business Recovery Amid Economic and Credit Headwinds This data brief examines post-pandemic small business recovery in the U.S, highlighting how Latino-owned businesses have grown in number despite facing disproportionate challenges with earnings, acces...

Our analysis uncovers how, in 2022, LOBs were 1.3× more likely than all businesses to report major sales losses and 1.5× more likely to report financing needs, yet they consistently faced greater barriers to credit. Read more: ucla.in/42gO42G

Post-Pandemic Small Business Recovery Amid Economic and Credit Headwinds This data brief examines post-pandemic small business recovery in the U.S, highlighting how Latino-owned businesses have grown in number despite facing disproportionate challenges with earnings, acces...

FACT: From 2018 to 2022, Latino-owned businesses grew from 533,000 to 658,000, preventing a decline in total U.S. business counts despite challenges. Read more: ucla.in/42gO42G

Building Stronger Communities: La Doce, AZ This case study combines quantitative data and community voices to highlight Latino-led, grassroots-driven responses to COVID-19 in Tucson’s La Doce Corridor.

New Research! In Tucson’s 12th Avenue Corridor, community-led mutual aid, business support, & cultural organizing delivered immediate relief to community members dealing with challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more: ucla.in/41O0HlC

Building Stronger Communities: South Phoenix, AZ This case study combines quantitative data and community voices to highlight Latino-led, grassroots-driven responses to COVID-19 in South Phoenix, AZ

In South Phoenix, collaborative networks equipped and educated residents to shape more equitable and resident-centered transit projects from design to implementation. Learn more: ucla.in/4lB49r6

Building Stronger Communities: San Ysidro, CA This case study combines quantitative data and community voices to highlight Latino-led, grassroots-driven responses to COVID-19 in San Ysidro.

In San Ysidro, COVID-19 death rates were triple the county average, but local leaders and community orgs collaborated to achieve the highest vaccination rates through tailored outreach. Learn more about Latino-led Economic Development in San Ysidro: ucla.in/47R9LKl

Building Stronger Communities: Fruitvale, CA This case study combines quantitative data and community voices to highlight Latino-led, grassroots-driven responses to COVID-19 in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood.

During the pandemic, Fruitvale community orgs leveraged historic coalitions for crisis response. The Resilient Fruitvale Collaborative organized culturally competent outreach, testing, & aid distribution for Latino and Mam residents. Learn more: ucla.in/46ZlJkR

The 2025 Monica Salinas Field Fellowship Cohort Announced As Women’s History Month draws to a close, two new data briefs from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) spotlight the resilience of self-employed women entrepreneurs in California.

This summer, six UCLA Luskin students are gaining hands-on policy experience—from the State Capitol to grassroots orgs—working on housing, immigration, climate justice & more. Learn more: ucla.in/47mQHmW

Latino Data Hub A groundbreaking digital platform offering free, reliable, and bilingual data that transforms our understanding of Latinos and equips us to create data-driven solutions for our communities.

Discover the upgraded Latino Data Hub! New 2023 ACS data, K–12 English Learner stats, and more ways to analyze Latino experiences. Discover more at latinodatahub.org.

Latino Data Hub A groundbreaking digital platform offering free, reliable, and bilingual data that transforms our understanding of Latinos and equips us to create data-driven solutions for our communities.

The Latino Data Hub’s 2025 update is here! New child wellbeing data, transportation metrics, and a re-designed filter function with 5 new filters. Empowering Latino communities with data! Visit latinodatahub.org!

Latino Data Hub A groundbreaking digital platform offering free, reliable, and bilingual data that transforms our understanding of Latinos and equips us to create data-driven solutions for our communities.

UCLA LPPI’s Latino Data Hub just got a major 2025 upgrade! New disability data, education metrics, and a unique automation risk indicator for Latino workers. Explore latinodatahub.org today!

Key Facts About CalFresh Beneficiaries This data brief examines how proposed federal SNAP cuts threaten food access for millions of Californians and disproportionately impact Latino communities.

New UCLA LPPI report details risks to CA’s safety net from $186 billion in federal SNAP cuts. CalFresh serves 5M Californians. Learn who depends on it and why it matters. Read: ucla.in/4kNurWG

Author and scholar Irene Vega discusses her book 'Bordering on Indifference' NPR speaks with scholar and author Irene Vega about her detailed analysis of the principles that shape how U.S. immigration agents understand and carry out their professional responsibilities.

UCLA LPPI faculty expert, Irene Vega, speaks with NPR about her detailed analysis from her book “Bordering on Indifference,” which dives into the principles that shape how U.S. immigration agents understand and carry out their professional responsibilities. Check it out: www.npr.org/2025/07/16/n...