Research

Social Sciences

Current Projects

THRIVING YOUTH STUDY (2023 - Present)

In partnership with community colleges and community-based organizations across California, youth researchers survey young adults ages 18 to 34 to learn more about their education and career aspirations, family care responsibilities, health outcomes, and experiences with civic engagement. Research sites include Oxnard, Northern Santa Barbara County, East Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley, and Santa Cruz County.

Latina Futures 2050 Lab (2022 - present)

In collaboration with the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, in 2022 the CSRC launched the Latina Futures 2050 Lab, which will investigate Latinas’ experiences in the labor market, their participation in civic leadership, and their well-being.

California Freedom Summer (2021 - Present)

California Freedom Summer Participatory-Action Research Project (CFS) trains University of California, community college, and high school students in research and civic engagement. Through a participatory-action research model, CFS guides students in examining youths' multilayered concerns and conducting broad-based, nonpartisan civic action in their communities. By integrating academic coursework with hands-on experience, CFS equips young leaders with the skills and civic knowledge to drive change that prioritizes their communities' needs.

 

Completed Projects

Latinos and Economic Security (2005 - 2019)

Latinos and Economic Security (LES) is a national research project, funded by the Ford Foundation, with a goal to advance economic security for middle-age and aging Latinos by advocating, developing, and fostering a public policy agenda that prioritizes the needs of the Latino community.
 

The Smithsonian Institution and Latino Representation (2018)

An analysis of the Smithsonian Institution’s progress toward implementing the ten recommendations from its 1994 report Willful Neglect pertaining to Latino representation within the Institution's workforce, programming, collections, and exhibitions.

Hate Speech in the Media (2008 - 2013)

The Hate Speech in the Media Project is a pilot study on hate speech on commercial talk radio. Its goal is to develop a research methodology for the quantitative evaluation of hate speech.
 

Mexican American Study Project (2003 - 2008)

The Mexican American Study Project is a study on intra- and inter-generational change and persistence in ethnic identity and behavior as well as socio-economic mobility among Mexican Americans in Los Angeles and San Antonio.
 

Brown-Collar Occupations in Local Labor Markets (2002 - 2004)

This project utilized 1990 Census Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data on large, immigrant-receiving metropolitan areas to illuminate the earnings attainment process in brown-collar occupations (where immigrant Latinos concentrate).
 

Maquiladora Murders Project (2002 - 2004)

This project resulted in a brief, novel, and three-day international conference, "The Maquiladora Murders, Or, Who Is Killing the Women of Juárez?", held in Fall 2003.
 

UCLA Latino Policy Studies (SCR-43) Research Projects (2002 - 2009)

Cross disciplinary, policy-relevant research projects on Chicana/o and Latina/o issues in California.