César E. Chávez Institute Info-zine 2014

Mentorship & Training Mentoring and research opportunities for faculty and students ~ for a new generation of socially engaged researchers.

For students Latino Policy Summers Excellent undergraduate students are sent to Washington D.C. each year, with all expenses paid, to participate in the Summer Institute for Latino Policy - a program of the Inter-University Program for Latino Reseasrch (IUPLR) which develops the policy research skills of young Latinos and exposes them to the world of politics.

Internship and Employment We engage students in research, training and community engagement opportunities, as salaried work experience or for academic credit.

For faculty

The César E. Chávez Institute

Community-University Empowerment Grants CUE mini-grants are competetively awarded to College of Ethnic Studies faculty to support their professional development and simultaneously fund the implementation of policy-relevant or community development projects - in close collaboration with community partners.

Faculty Work Groups The Institute facilitates multidisciplinary work groups to collaborate on projects, events, and grant proposals.

The César E. Chávez Institute gratefully thanks our funders California Endowment • California HIV/AIDS Research Program • California Policy Research Center • Center for Financial Service Innovation • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • David and Lucile Packard Foundation •

A community-based research center where impassioned science and peaceful social action intersect to produce change

Browne Foundation • Rockefeller Brothers Fund • San Francisco Foundation

César E. Chávez Institute • Belinda Reyes, Director • San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Ave EP103 • San Francisco CA 94132 • cci@sfsu.edu • http://cci.sfsu.edu

College of Ethnic Studies San Francisco State

December, 2014

Inspired by

César E. Chávez’ example of peaceful social justice action, we are dedicated to examining, documenting, and providing strategies to better address the needs of communities of color – highlighting our histories, experiences, resiliency and strengths.

We serve as a bridge between academic research and community action, developing partnerships between students, faculty, and community

Community Seminars and Forums “ Effective, informative, and provocative... ” “ It was so powerful to participate in this event, this celebration, comingtogether, learning experience...

This was a very invigorating experience. ” “The perfect

We foster the research and creative work of faculty of color and support the missions of the College of Ethnic Studies and of San Francisco State University.

venue for networking and having significant dialogue between community, academia and researchers...

Thank you! ”

In-depth, meaningful research and community mobilization depend on the ability to listen, to accurately perceive needs, to allow the community itself to move our work in new directions.

Our forums and seminars bring together community organizations, researchers and policy makers to share best practices on topics relevant to community stakeholders.

Research/Practice Forums at the Institute bring together key academic and community representatives to share new knowledge and best practices on a critical issue. These carefully structured events allow communitybased organizations, policymakers, researchers, artists, students and educators to learn from each other’s work and exchange ideas, allowing participants to improve local

Policy & Action Seminars enable community members to discuss critical issues of the day with faculty, policymakers, students, and researchers, in a less structured format.

CCI presents research evidence on the subject or brings in experts to frame the discussion. The intention is to share best practices and provide a forum for open dialogue.

Public policymakers and funders are increasingly turning to community-based organizations to create new solutions to the multiple social ills where both the public and private sectors have failed to help build, educate, protect and empower communities, and at the same time operate under an ever-greater demand for

Capacity building

designed to bolster the wellbeing of communities of color need outside help to better address the complexities of the social and political issues they face.

Our Capacity Building Initiative assists CBOs in building their research and evaluation capacity, in order to strengthen their programs and advocacy, meet contract requirements, and gain support from the community, regulatory agencies and funders.

Products and Services can include: • Research methods designed to meet • Data analysis • Program evaluations • In-depth interviews • Community assessments • Survey instrument development • Impact reports • • Culturally appropriate educational community needs, program materials objectives and design • Training and technical assistance • Literature reviews to implement assessments

The César E. Chávez Institute A multi-ethnic research center committed to promoting socially engaged scholarship and community action, with the overall goal of empowering communities and individuals of color in their struggles for inclusion and equality. We have a decade-long record promoting change in the areas of health, education, and self-determination.

We: Cesar Chavez

Currently in development: Low-income persons and communities of color have been severely impacted by the nation’s profound economic deterioration.

The protracted crisis is strongly affecting organizations to close their doors while the need for their services is greater than ever.

The remaining community organizations need staff capable of providing a wide range of services to an increasingly staff in Bay Area CBOs requries strategic in existence utilize a white/middle class challenges faced by underrepresented and

• Examine the impact of structural disadvantage and institutional bias on access and representation

marginalized communities.

We are examining the needs of Bay Area generation of professionals equipped with a critical and social-justice lens.

Many College of Ethnic Studies students

• Work to enhance capacity and enable voice in our communities

are exploring the possibility of creating a program for undergraduates and management. The curriculum would be grounded in a culturally based capacitybuilding model that embraces liberatory solving social problems.

See:

• Engage in research that informs policy and practice

Painting by Amir Khoury

Action-centered Research The César E. Chávez Institute is committed to the highest quality research, with the goal of developing effective and culturally appropriate strategies and policies.

Our community partners are not merely the objects of research and intervention, but rather active participants in the investigative process and in the meaningful interpretation and We employ a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods, such as surveys, secondary data analysis, policy analysis, ethnography, indepth interviews, oral histories, focus groups, social documentation and literary criticism.

Education We aim to improve educational progress and ensure that students of color have access to a high-quality education. We examine the varying educational attainment levels of students of color and the barriers to education.

Health We aim to improve health by increasing access to high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate care in our communities. We explore the social determinants of health and the intersection of social and institutional factors that perpetuate lax care, medical disadvantages, and poor health.

Self-determination We are committed to building the capacity of individuals, families, and communities, expand wealth, foster leadership, and promote the enfranchisement of people of color.

We examine and document barriers to selfdetermination and inclusion, explore programs that promote community empowerment, and support already present sources of resiliency and strength.

We seek only meaningful projects that have the potential to create change in our communities.

A few of our projects Latino Educational Achievement Partnership The Latina/o Educational Achievement Partnership (LEAP) is an advocacy and research initiative to promote the advancement of Latina/o students in higher education in the San Francisco Bay Area. Latinos/as are now California’s largest racial/ethnic group, but have the lowest educational attainment level of any group. LEAP’s goal is to assist local post-secondary institutions to become more “equity minded” – providing tools for evaluating institutional barriers to Latino success, and assessing Latino students’ needs. LEAP seeks to engage Bay Area institutions in a dialogue about how to best serve this population. The Institute is conducting research on barriers to college enrollment, persistence and completion, as well as on the many promising practices for improving services. This research and dialogue together will generate solid, campusneeded to better serve Latino students.

Diversifying California’s School Boards: Latino Representation Latinos comprising over half of public school students in California, but the political leadership in schools remains mostly white. This study examined barriers to Latino representation and board members’ perceptions of the problems and policy issues in their districts. We found school boards and differences in policy priorities and choices between white and non-white board members.

Three recommendations are proposed to increase representation: non-citizens voting in local school board elections, district-based elections instead of district-wide or at-large election, and to review accessibility issues in the candidacy process.

Social Lending: A credit-building tool for underbanked communities In this project we evaluated a culturally relevant and situation of low- and moderate-income persons. Through a cooperative approach, Mission Asset Fund’s Lending Circles participants build assets, improve credit scores, reductions in debt for people in Lending Circles. We also examine the replicability of the model to other ethnically

We are a member center of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research, a national network of Latino researchers and scholars.

across populations and sites.

Action-centered Research The César E. Chávez Institute is committed to the highest quality research, with the goal of developing effective and culturally appropriate strategies and policies.

Our community partners are not merely the objects of research and intervention, but rather active participants in the investigative process and in the meaningful interpretation and We employ a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods, such as surveys, secondary data analysis, policy analysis, ethnography, indepth interviews, oral histories, focus groups, social documentation and literary criticism.

Education We aim to improve educational progress and ensure that students of color have access to a high-quality education. We examine the varying educational attainment levels of students of color and the barriers to education.

Health We aim to improve health by increasing access to high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate care in our communities. We explore the social determinants of health and the intersection of social and institutional factors that perpetuate lax care, medical disadvantages, and poor health.

Self-determination We are committed to building the capacity of individuals, families, and communities, expand wealth, foster leadership, and promote the enfranchisement of people of color.

We examine and document barriers to selfdetermination and inclusion, explore programs that promote community empowerment, and support already present sources of resiliency and strength.

We seek only meaningful projects that have the potential to create change in our communities.

A few of our projects Latino Educational Achievement Partnership The Latina/o Educational Achievement Partnership (LEAP) is an advocacy and research initiative to promote the advancement of Latina/o students in higher education in the San Francisco Bay Area. Latinos/as are now California’s largest racial/ethnic group, but have the lowest educational attainment level of any group. LEAP’s goal is to assist local post-secondary institutions to become more “equity minded” – providing tools for evaluating institutional barriers to Latino success, and assessing Latino students’ needs. LEAP seeks to engage Bay Area institutions in a dialogue about how to best serve this population. The Institute is conducting research on barriers to college enrollment, persistence and completion, as well as on the many promising practices for improving services. This research and dialogue together will generate solid, campusneeded to better serve Latino students.

Diversifying California’s School Boards: Latino Representation Latinos comprising over half of public school students in California, but the political leadership in schools remains mostly white. This study examined barriers to Latino representation and board members’ perceptions of the problems and policy issues in their districts. We found school boards and differences in policy priorities and choices between white and non-white board members.

Three recommendations are proposed to increase representation: non-citizens voting in local school board elections, district-based elections instead of district-wide or at-large election, and to review accessibility issues in the candidacy process.

Social Lending: A credit-building tool for underbanked communities In this project we evaluated a culturally relevant and situation of low- and moderate-income persons. Through a cooperative approach, Mission Asset Fund’s Lending Circles participants build assets, improve credit scores, reductions in debt for people in Lending Circles. We also examine the replicability of the model to other ethnically

We are a member center of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research, a national network of Latino researchers and scholars.

across populations and sites.

Public policymakers and funders are increasingly turning to community-based organizations to create new solutions to the multiple social ills where both the public and private sectors have failed to help build, educate, protect and empower communities, and at the same time operate under an ever-greater demand for

Capacity building

designed to bolster the wellbeing of communities of color need outside help to better address the complexities of the social and political issues they face.

Our Capacity Building Initiative assists CBOs in building their research and evaluation capacity, in order to strengthen their programs and advocacy, meet contract requirements, and gain support from the community, regulatory agencies and funders.

Products and Services can include: • Research methods designed to meet • Data analysis • Program evaluations • In-depth interviews • Community assessments • Survey instrument development • Impact reports • • Culturally appropriate educational community needs, program materials objectives and design • Training and technical assistance • Literature reviews to implement assessments

The César E. Chávez Institute A multi-ethnic research center committed to promoting socially engaged scholarship and community action, with the overall goal of empowering communities and individuals of color in their struggles for inclusion and equality. We have a decade-long record promoting change in the areas of health, education, and self-determination.

We: Cesar Chavez

Currently in development: Low-income persons and communities of color have been severely impacted by the nation’s profound economic deterioration.

The protracted crisis is strongly affecting organizations to close their doors while the need for their services is greater than ever.

The remaining community organizations need staff capable of providing a wide range of services to an increasingly staff in Bay Area CBOs requries strategic in existence utilize a white/middle class challenges faced by underrepresented and

• Examine the impact of structural disadvantage and institutional bias on access and representation

marginalized communities.

We are examining the needs of Bay Area generation of professionals equipped with a critical and social-justice lens.

Many College of Ethnic Studies students

• Work to enhance capacity and enable voice in our communities

are exploring the possibility of creating a program for undergraduates and management. The curriculum would be grounded in a culturally based capacitybuilding model that embraces liberatory solving social problems.

See:

• Engage in research that informs policy and practice

Painting by Amir Khoury

Inspired by

César E. Chávez’ example of peaceful social justice action, we are dedicated to examining, documenting, and providing strategies to better address the needs of communities of color – highlighting our histories, experiences, resiliency and strengths.

We serve as a bridge between academic research and community action, developing partnerships between students, faculty, and community

Community Seminars and Forums “ Effective, informative, and provocative... ” “ It was so powerful to participate in this event, this celebration, comingtogether, learning experience...

This was a very invigorating experience. ” “The perfect

We foster the research and creative work of faculty of color and support the missions of the College of Ethnic Studies and of San Francisco State University.

venue for networking and having significant dialogue between community, academia and researchers...

Thank you! ”

In-depth, meaningful research and community mobilization depend on the ability to listen, to accurately perceive needs, to allow the community itself to move our work in new directions.

Our forums and seminars bring together community organizations, researchers and policy makers to share best practices on topics relevant to community stakeholders.

Research/Practice Forums at the Institute bring together key academic and community representatives to share new knowledge and best practices on a critical issue. These carefully structured events allow communitybased organizations, policymakers, researchers, artists, students and educators to learn from each other’s work and exchange ideas, allowing participants to improve local

Policy & Action Seminars enable community members to discuss critical issues of the day with faculty, policymakers, students, and researchers, in a less structured format.

CCI presents research evidence on the subject or brings in experts to frame the discussion. The intention is to share best practices and provide a forum for open dialogue.

Mentorship & Training Mentoring and research opportunities for faculty and students ~ for a new generation of socially engaged researchers.

For students Latino Policy Summers Excellent undergraduate students are sent to Washington D.C. each year, with all expenses paid, to participate in the Summer Institute for Latino Policy - a program of the Inter-University Program for Latino Reseasrch (IUPLR) which develops the policy research skills of young Latinos and exposes them to the world of politics.

Internship and Employment We engage students in research, training and community engagement opportunities, as salaried work experience or for academic credit.

For faculty

The César E. Chávez Institute

Community-University Empowerment Grants CUE mini-grants are competetively awarded to College of Ethnic Studies faculty to support their professional development and simultaneously fund the implementation of policy-relevant or community development projects - in close collaboration with community partners.

Faculty Work Groups The Institute facilitates multidisciplinary work groups to collaborate on projects, events, and grant proposals.

The César E. Chávez Institute gratefully thanks our funders California Endowment • California HIV/AIDS Research Program • California Policy Research Center • Center for Financial Service Innovation • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • David and Lucile Packard Foundation •

A community-based research center where impassioned science and peaceful social action intersect to produce change

Browne Foundation • Rockefeller Brothers Fund • San Francisco Foundation

César E. Chávez Institute • Belinda Reyes, Director • San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Ave EP103 • San Francisco CA 94132 • cci@sfsu.edu • http://cci.sfsu.edu

College of Ethnic Studies San Francisco State

December, 2014