UCLA, Arizona State University partner on data initiative to serve Latinos
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UCLA and Arizona State University have teamed up on a new initiative that will help policymakers use U.S. census data to push for health, education, housing, and employment reforms affecting Latinos.
Why it matters: Data on Latinos is difficult to access in one location. The new initiative will help policy advocates and community leaders learn how to navigate droves of data to better advocate for Latino communities.
Catch up quick: Last year, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute launched a first-of-its-kind data hub focused on the lives of Latinos in the U.S.
- The program aims to provide a closer and more nuanced look at how Latinos are affected by various issues.
Zoom in: Now, UCLA and Arizona State University Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research are launching the Latino Data Hub Action Lab, partially supported by a JPMorgan Chase $1 million grant.
- They say it promises to "revolutionize advocacy and policy-making" with new analysis tools and skills.
- The inaugural cohort will equip 16 policy advocates and community leaders with training on the new data sets.
- The program will start with an in-person session and continue through the fall of 2024 with virtual workshops.
By the numbers: Latinos make up 31% of the population in Arizona, making them the second-largest racial or ethnic group.
- Maricopa County, where ASU is located, saw the third-largest increase in the Hispanic population between 2010 and 2020, per the Pew Research Center.
- But Latinos in Arizona have lower rates of educational attainment and home ownership than white people in the state, and nearly half live in poverty or low-income households, according to previous LPPI research.
What they're saying: "The program provides essential tools and training and fosters a collaborative environment where leaders can share insights and strategies to magnify their impact," Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, director of research at UCLA LPPI, said in a statement.
- Angie Bautista-Chavez, assistant professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at ASU, said the first cohort is a diverse group from many communities.
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