As Latino students continue to navigate the hurdles of higher education, many have chosen to give back by pursuing academic leadership positions that address equity gaps. Graduation rates for Latinos at two-year institutions have remained at around 33% since 2018, and stayed at around 52% for those at four-year institutions, according to statistics published by Excelencia in Education. Dr. Silvia González dropped out of high school at 16. Life served up plenty of obstacles and challenges after that, yet González has beaten the odds and carved out a remarkable career, and today she serves as the Director of Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Health Research at the University of California Los Angeles, Latino Policy & Politics Initiative. Following a “non-traditional” route throughout her academic career, González took a total of six years to complete her associate’s degree at Los Angeles Valley Community College.
Tag: ucla
Posted inEducation
Edgar Miramontes, CAP UCLA’s new Executive and Artistic Director, oversees reopening of Nimoy Theatre
On September 17 the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) officially opened the Nimoy Theatre. UCLA acquired the well-loved theater in 2018 which was formerly known as the Crest Westwood Theatre. In May, Edgar Miramontes was appointed as CAP UCLA’s new Executive and Artistic Director. He is a strategic arts leader, curator and producer who previously worked at REDCAT, the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater, as a curator and associate director.
Posted inEspañol
9 lecciones que aprendí después de graduarme de la universidad como latina indocumentada de primera generación
Ha pasado más de un año desde que me gradué de la universidad y recibí mi licenciatura en periodismo de la Universidad Estatal de California en Dominguez Hills. En mayo del año pasado, me estaba preparando para iniciar la primera etapa después de mi graduación y me parecía estar soñando. Al entrar al recinto de […]
Posted inHealth
Latino community harmed by the underrepresentation of Latina physicians in the U.S.
Despite progress in gender diversity in the medical field, gaps remain for Latina physicians. A new report by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute reveals that Latina physicians in California and the U.S. are severely underrepresented. It has been shown that physicians who speak Spanish are essential to improving Latino healthcare access and addressing […]
Posted inEspañol
COMENTARIO: Tres lecciones que aprendí como graduada latina de primera generación
Lección #1 – Eres más brillante de lo que tú misma crees Nunca olvidaré el día que ingresé a mi portal de solicitudes de UCLA (el sistema de la Universidad de California, y su campus en Los Ángeles) y las palabras “felicitaciones, eres una #bruinbound” (es decir, eres parte de UCLA, como si fueras una […]
Posted inOpinion
COMMENTARY: Lessons I learned as a first-generation Latina graduate
I feared I would not get into a University of California (UC) which I had dreamed of attending. I always had hopes and dreams of attending a school like Harvard, Stanford, or UCLA, but I did not believe I would get in. When application season came around my junior year of high school, I recall checking the box for UCLA on the UC application solely because I had an additional application fee waiver, not because I was confident I would be accepted.
Posted inEducation
After earning a coveted $50,000 scholarship from Edison International, student aims to change the economy via science
Avalon High School student, Arlene Cazares Garcia, was surprised last month with a $50,000 STEM scholarship from Edison International. Each year, only 30 high school students from Southern California are selected for scholarships by the Edison program. Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison and one of the largest corporate philanthropic companies.
Posted inImmigration
UC signals support for hiring of undocumented students; vote will follow six-month study
The University of California on Thursday took a first step toward allowing the hiring of undocumented students for jobs across the 10-campus system, a move that follows months of pleas from those students. The action by the system’s board of regents Thursday does not immediately authorize the employment of undocumented students. Instead, UC plans to create a working group, proposed by President Michael V. Drake, that will spend the next six months considering the proposal.
Posted inImmigration
Financial aid access has worsened for California’s undocumented students
The struggle for financial aid has intensified for undocumented students in California, making it even harder for them to access higher education. Learn about the challenges these students face and the potential consequences for their future.
Posted inHealth
The role of structural and social determinants in Alzheimer’s disease
At the University of California, Los Angeles, the Equity for Latinx-Hispanic Health Aging Lab (EHLA) for Alzheimer’s Research and Care Department of Neurology recently went through the process of evaluating the role that structural and social determinants play in dementia care. Dr. Mirella Díaz-Santos is an assistant professor in the department of neurology with the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research & Care, and the director and founder of the Equity for Latinx-Hispanic Healthy Aging Lab at UCLA. She is also a neuropsychologist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, working primarily with the Latino older adult community and their families.
Posted inHealth
Mami & Me: If your pediatrician says your baby has jaundice, I got you
In the first few weeks of being a first-time mom, so many challenges come at you unexpectedly. Unfortunately, my journey on a steep learning curve started on the first day I became a mom. A few hours after Levi was born, he was taken from me and placed into the intensive care unit (ICU) for a few days. Not only did he have to stay there, but as we were being discharged we were told that Levi was had jaundice.
Posted inJustice
EYVIN HERNANDEZ, LA lawyer wrongfully detained, family holds vigil
Eyvin Hernandez was wrongfully detained in Venezuela last March. He is currently being held in a maximum-security military prison in Caracas, Venezuela. his family and colleagues are asking for President Bidens’ help to bring him back home.