PBI Newsletterthe edmuNd g. “Pat” BrowN INstItute of PuBlIc affaIrs California State University, Los Angeles

spring 2008VoLUme 16, ISSUe 1

inside this issue

Reflections on the califoRnia agenda

by Erin Aubry Kaplan

The Pat Brown Institute kicked off 2008 with its first panel in The California Agenda forum series. The January event focused on the nuances of civic engagement across the state—an eloquent way to describe Califor-nia voters bracing themselves for an already rough-and-tumble upcoming presidential primary. Of course, the events in this ex-traordinary presidential race unfold weekly, sometimes daily, which is why January (to say nothing of the California primary) al-ready feels like several seasons and many, many news cycles ago. Still, the panel was timeless in its focus on the shifting politi-cal and racial dynamics impacting not only the presidential race, but also reconfiguring communities all across California. Full dis-closure: I sat on the panel that day in what now feels like a familiar position – an Af-rican-American voicing the interests and anxieties of a people who, the rise of Barack Obama notwithstanding, are in serious eco-nomic, demographic and political decline. The good news is that my fellow panelists–Kathay feng (California Common Cause), max Neiman (Public Policy Institute of Cali-fornia) and John trasvina (MALDEF)–were

more than willing to address that paradox and its wider meaning. In dissecting topics like immigration, class, culture, tolerance, leadership, new voting patterns and power. They—we—strove to relate these topics to the ancient yet ongoing struggle for social equality identified with, but not limited to, blacks in America. The audience joined in a very lively conversation that featured lots of salient questions, though few ready answers: What is leadership? How do we address racial justice in polyglot America (or polyglot California, or polyglot Los An-geles)? What lasting effects, if any, will this admittedly exciting presidential election year have on the more mundane business of state, county and municipal elections—elections that will have a more immediate impact on all of us, especially people of color?Things came down to earth somewhat in February, when the PBI forum turned to the role of race and gender in public educa-tion. Not that folks were any less passion-ate about the subject. What to do about the schools is a long-standing L.A. crisis that in

the california agenda 1

from the executive director 2

blueprint for peace?pbi community policing 4

youth enrichment project 5

hpoc obesity crisis 6

15th annual policy issues conference recap 8

calendar of events 7

pbi highlights: board members and staff 10

Continued on page 3

PBI Research Fellow, author, and panelist Erin Aubry Kaplan

Kathay Feng, Executive Director of California Common Cause serves as a panelist for The California Agenda

save the date

16th annual califoRnia Policy issues confeRence

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

MillenniuM BiltMore Hotel, los Angeles CAliforniA

save the date

2 PBI NEWSLETTEr / SPrINg 08

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

This certainly has been one of the most exciting presidential primary campaigns ever. We have seen record election turnouts in nearly every state–especially on the Democratic side of the ticket. Additionally, we’ve seen heightened engagement of youth across racial, ethnic and gender lines, as well as Latinos and other communities of color being taken very seriously across the nation–by the candidates, strategists, analysts and the media.

Indeed, history will be made on November 4. On that day, we will elect the first woman or African American president, or the oldest person ever to take office.

The Pat Brown Institute is non-partisan, but hardly disinterested. This is a fantastic time to be at the forefront of public policy research and programming precisely because there is so very much to observe and comment on during this exciting period of history.

However, we are very mindful that it is also a time of much concern for us and for the various communities and constituents with whom we work. We face a weakening economy; withered state and local budgets; likely cutbacks in society’s “safety net” and other social programs; a horribly expensive and unpopular war in Iraq; fierce partisan and ideological divides in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, and, finally, a strongly prevailing sense that the state and nation are headed in the wrong direction–fears expressed by Democrats, republicans, independents and others alike.

Nonetheless, in the excitement of this election year, the heightened state of engagement and participation in the political process by people of all ages and backgrounds is something to behold. There are several reasons for this: voters undoubtedly see hope in the candidate pool for a future filled with promise; there is the absence of an incumbent president or vice president on the ticket, all of which gives Americans the perception of having a “clean slate” coming into the White House; the nation holding its first ever “national primary day” (of sorts) on February 5th, fed enhanced notions that various states (including California which moved its presidential primary to February 5th from June) would be “in play” in deciding election outcomes; and voters are invested in this chance to participate in making history.

To be sure, it is the excitement of the Presidential race that has voters involved in the process at historic levels. But lest we forget, there are other important federal and state elections to be decided on November 4. Much is riding on those outcomes as well.

In the vast majority of these campaigns spread over the coming general election, domestic issues will continue to be dominant for the vast majority of voters. Foreign policy will obviously be debated and positioned–the war in Iraq, national and international security, trade agreements, and “day-one readiness” primarily. However, it will be such issues as health care, economic well-be-ing, jobs and wages, housing and transporting the workforce, immigration, k-12 education, gang and youth violence, and creating more inclusive and livable communities that will be most on the minds and thoughts of voters.

And, these are among the core issues the Pat Brown Institute is focused on in our public policy education programs, policy briefs and articles, statewide policy issues conference, and safe and healthy communities program.

An exciting time it is! And, a time to be engaged – in our communities, in our states, and through our participation in the politi-cal process.

Sincerely,

Jaime A. regalado, Ph.D.Executive Director & Professor of Political Science

from the executive directorJaime a. regalado, Ph.d.

3PBI NEWSLETTEr / SPrINg 08

reflections on the califoRnia agenda

“Blue PRint” foR Peace? PBI community Policing

(L to R) Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, Maria Brenes, Monica Garcia, and Sharon Harrison.

Max Neiman interviewed by KFWB.

recent years seems to have reached a tipping point in terms of taking action, from charter school takeovers, to grassroots education activism, to a high-profile re-form effort spearheaded by Mayor Villaraigosa him-self. The panelists discussed a number of issues that affect educational outcomes across various communi-ties. While they agreed that the system is broken and must be repaired for the sake of the district’s universal-ly ill-prepared students, tensions surfaced about what to repair first and how best to repair it. Though a range of topics were discussed, race was an issue throughout the forum. School board president and panelist monica garcia, who gave a blunt and cogent analysis of the overall problems facing the LAUSD, said that the num-ber-one priority for the district should be English-lan-guage learners. The panel also included maria Brenes (InnerCity Struggle), santiago Jackson (LAUSD), and sharon harrison (UTLA). Moderator Adolfo guzman-Lopez (KPCC/NPr) questioned panelists about what happened to the African-American Learners’ Initiative that was adopted by the board in 2001 to address the needs of black students, consistently the district’s low-est achievers. Panelists had no clear answers but sug-gested the effort faded (and was watered down) due to a lack of political will and follow-up. That was hardly comforting, but it was the truth. And in truth there is always some progress.

Continued from front cover

POMONA – The team was small, but it had just the right combination of caring and clout to help solve a crime problem in the Karesh Avenue and Abbey Lane neighborhood of eastern Pomona.

The six-person team – three members of the Pomona Police Department, a councilwoman, a housing de-partment administrator and a minister – put together a crime-prevention plan using the city’s code enforce-

Monica Rodriguez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Staff Writer

1/13/2008 Reprinted with permission

Continued on page 4

ment department, property owners, residents, police and others.

Soon after, residents began to see positive changes in the neighborhood. “There was so much violence” a year ago, said Dolores Nunez, who lives in the area. The violence has diminished, drug activity that had been commonplace in some alleys isn’t visible anymore, and property owners are making improvements to their buildings, Nunez said.

The California Agenda was created to educate and engage leaders and individuals from across the sectors on significant state, regional and local public policy issues. A calendar of upcoming events is listed on page 7.

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The plan was the product of a five-day course on com-munity policing offered by the PBI training Institute for law enforcement in late October.

The product “was a pretty good blueprint of what needed to be done,” said Police Chief Joe romero, himself a grad-uate of the course.

Soon after returning from the course, police and city code enforcement officials walked through the neighborhood and identified lighting shortcomings and problems with security gates, said the rev. rick DeBruyne, team mem-ber and pastor at Lincoln Avenue Community Church.

residents from southern Pomona’s Angela-Chanslor neighborhood, along with Councilwoman Cristina Car-rizosa, shared their experiences and successes dealing with crime with Lincoln Avenue church staff who work with Karesh and Abbey Lane residents.

People were encouraged to get to know their neighbors, and managers and owners to know their tenants, De-Bruyne said. They were simple but effective steps.

“It made a dramatic difference in Karesh and Abbey Lane within weeks,” DeBruyne said.

“You see less of young men hanging around in groups. They’re less visible and intimidating,” he said.

In the three months prior to the course, 50 crimes were reported in the neighborhood. Just 39 have been reported since then, police said.

City code enforcement has issued 47 requests for correction in the neighborhoods since the team returned, police said.

Those results, and the participation of various city depart-ments along with residents and nongovernmental agencies is important.

“When residents see that, it gives them more energy to participate,” DeBruyne said.

romero said follow-through on everyone’s part is critical, especially by the Police Department, or residents become disillusioned and won’t become involved.

The course did more than help produce a plan of attack, DeBruyne said. It offered “a common language we can all use” by giving everyone an understanding of community policing philosophy, he said.

Among the officers who attended was Lt. Jerry Wright, who is familiar with the philosophy of community polic-ing yet through the course learned new things, including something about partnerships.Often police officers think people want solutions from them, he said.

“You call us up, and we think you expect us to have all the answers,” Wright said. Through the course, he and others learned that’s not the case.

Taffany Lim, director of policy training and community out-reach at the Edmund g. “Pat” Brown Institute, a think tank at Cal State Los Angeles and the source of the course, said what Pomona’s team and others learned was community governance.

What that means is “that we all play a role in our public safety,” Lim said. The team Pomona sent to the course in many ways is the ideal, she said.

The elected official, Councilwoman Paula Lantz, showed the commitment of City Hall to address a problem, Lim said.

“She has the clout and relationships to say, “This is what we can do,” Lim said.

The participation of DeBruyne is important because he was more than a resident representative, she said. He is a person residents can trust to go to for help when they don’t feel comfortable speaking out about a problem they see.

“He’s a relationship builder,” Lim said.

Pomona received “high kudos” for the team it assembled, Lim said, adding that Lantz was the first elected official to attend the entire 40-hour course.

DeBruyne said he hopes this approach to dealing with crime problems is used more often around the city. romero said he plans on sending another team for training in March.

“Blue Print” for Peace? Continued from page 3

Youth eNrIchmeNt ProJect shINes

Hopeless. Apathetic. resistant. Angry. These were the words used by teachers and counselors to describe 13-year-old Angel rivas, a first generation Salvadoran-American, rivas was born and raised in Boyle Heights, a community east of the Los Angeles river. Historically known as one of the most underserved communities in Los Angeles, Boyle Heights is a primarily poor, work-ing-class community of Latino immigrant families.

rivas is an eighth grade student at Hollenbeck Middle School (HMS), one of the largest local middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Until recently, his teachers and counselors identified him as an academically low-performing student noto-rious for vandalizing school property with his colorful markers. His matriculation from HMS to high school was in jeopardy. Because of this precarious situation, his counselor sought intervention and referred him to the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs’ after-school program, the Youth Enrichment Project (YEP).

YEP is a school-based, after-school program designed to help students from L.A.’s underserved communities, like Boyle Heights, stay in school and out of harm’s way. YEP seeks to decrease youth and gang violence through tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment activi-ties for high-risk (current and potential gang members) and at-risk students. YEP focuses on fostering safe and healthy communities by providing students with struc-tured educational and enrichment activities that will help them develop self-esteem and conflict resolution skills.

Although initially defiant to YEP’s staff, Angel even-tually came around and realized the safe space and genuine support the program offered. Through the tu-toring, mentoring, and enrichment activities offered in YEP, a change and growth was noted in rivas’ grades and overall attitude by not only his teachers, but by his parents as well. His outlook in school began to change to a more positive and optimistic one. His homework was completed, his behavior in class was more man-ageable, and he even became a member of YEP’s bas-ketball team.

While everything appeared to be moving in the right direction, Angel’s teachers still notified YEP staff every now and then that he was being inattentive in class.

by Blanca Martinez-Navarro

rather than doing his class assignments he was “doo-dling” in a black notebook. rivas never lost sight of this notebook and guarded it all times. As a result of his rap-port with YEP staff, Angel allowed them to look at this so-called “doodling”. YEP leaders soon discovered that rivas possessed a talent for animation and calligraphy art. At 13, rivas had mastered the colorful art of graffiti like that of a professional who had been in the industry for years.

recognizing the importance of class participation as well as his artistic talent, both rivas and staff came to an agreement that allowed him to work on his notebook dur-ing program hours. He also was given an opportunity to design the YEP t-shirt logo.

Both rivas and his parents are extremely proud. With the support provided by YEP, Angel rivas, the student once deemed a likely high school dropout, is now an optimis-tic and hopeful student with ambitions and the goal of achieving a college education.

His story exemplifies the value of YEP’s unique “triad” approach of working with feeder schools from the three school levels (elementary, middle, and high school). For Angel and others like him, YEP will be able to continue providing that seamless stream of support via our after-school program at roosevelt High School.

5PBI NEWSLETTEr / SPrINg 08

Through the tutoring, mentoring, and en-

richment activities offered in YEP, a change

and growth was noted in Rivas’ grades and

overall attitude by not only his teachers,

but by his parents as well.

6 PBI NEWSLETTEr / SPrINg 08

Health Policy outReach center addResses obesity crisis among asian, latino Youth

By using public policy to create healthy places, and by encouraging individuals to make small changes, people will be healthier. These were just a few of the ideas shared by speakers at a recent program en-titled “Preventing Obesity: A Look at Asian and Latino Youth”, presented by the Pat Brown Institute’s health Policy outreach center (HPOC).

Held Feb. 4 at the Center for Healthy Communities, the program featured a presentation by Dr. Paul Si-mon, MD, MPH, Director, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and Dr. Michele L. Allen, a researcher from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Family Medi-cine and Program in Health Disparities research.

Citing the “epidemic increase in the prevalence of over-weight among children, from less than 5% during 1963 to 1965 to over 15% during 1999 to 2000,” Dr. Simon said such children face an adulthood “associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.”

Additionally, Dr. Simon said there are large racial/eth-nic, socioeconomic and geographic disparities in obe-sity rates, with affluent communities showing the low-est rates of childhood obesity. “Our response to date has been insufficient,” he said.

According to Dr. Simon, the obesity crisis must be at-tacked on multiple fronts—starting with physical activ-ity patterns. Consider that only 13% of children walk or bike to school, as compared to 66% in 1974.

Dr. Simon outlined a partial list of factors contributing to the obesity epidemic in Los Angeles County:

Increased marketing of junk food and sodas to childrenIncreased portion size of food and beveragesMore meals consumed outside the homeDecreased physical education in schoolsFewer safe areas for exercise in communitiesIncreased TV and computer timeLess access to fresh, nutritious, affordable food in underserved areas (and more access to cheap, cal-orie-dense, unhealthy food)

Increased time spent in cars

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To prevent obesity and related adverse health effects, we must implement “multiple strategies operating at multiple levels across multiple sectors,” Dr. Simon said. Solutions must include changing land use and transportation policy to encourage healthy space for exercise. Predisposing social and economic conditions must also be addressed. Finally, robust funding streams will be needed to change normative behavior and fight back against food industry practices.

Among Dr. Simon’s community recommendations to ad-dress obesity:

Prioritize parks and other green spaceSupport community recreation programsIncorporate pedestrians and bicyclists into master plansOffer incentives for restaurants to offer healthy foodsProvide incentives to supermarkets and farmers mar-kets to offer affordable fresh produceProhibit toy giveaways at fast food restaurantsrestrict billboards that promote junk foodEnsure schools comply with state physical education requirementsImplement recent school nutrition requirements (SB 12 and SB 965)Incorporate nutrition education in schoolsreduce high calorie snacks in the classroomPromote participation in the School Breakfast ProgramAllow community recreation programs to use school groundsInclude analysis of Body Mass Index (BMI) in all physi-cal examsCounsel children and adults who fall into overweight or obese BMI ratingsEstablish a referral network, group classes and peer support networks for nutrition counselingProvide incentives to employees who take part in physical activity and healthy eatingPromote exercise breaks and walking groups for em-ployeesPromote healthy eating in the workplaceWork with law enforcement to improve neighborhood safety so people feel free to exercise outdoors

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continued on page 11

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April 30th - Healthcare and Health PolicyNo other issue affects American quality of life like ac-cess to quality healthcare. This policy lecture will look at the ongoing health policy debate among advocates, community members, policy analysts, and some elect-ed officials. To overcome our healthcare woes, we need to take significant, and perhaps revolutionary, steps in the near future. But, what are these steps? And, why is it taking us so long to achieve the needed reforms? Our expert lecturer will deal with these and other questions that affect the future of healthcare reform.

May 21st - Youth ViolenceEvery time a young person turns to violence, our coun-try risks losing one of its most valuable resources. This panel will examine the issue of youth violence and effective intervention methods—specifically gang in-tervention in urban communities. Additionally, the panel will examine the need for education reform as it responds to youth violence, probing specifically at the issues of school structure, the lack of culturally sensitive curriculum, and insufficient resources for both students and parents.

June 18th – Financing the Future of the Golden StateOnce again, California faces severe budgetary crises. As policymakers debate an acceptable solution, Califor-nia residents continue to witness the erosion of public services. Should schools and healthcare providers, who already face critical shortfalls, be forced to cut more and risk further decline in their quality of services? And with our state facing increased gridlock, should transporta-tion funding be cut? How will California remain a gold-en State without a significant investment in its future? How will we maintain the quality of life that Californians have come to expect? How will the sixth largest econo-my of the world fare in the next few years as it grapples with diminished funding sources? This lecture will focus on these and many related questions, as we begin to embark upon a new fiscal year in July 2008.

2008 Calendar of Events

the calIforNIa ageNda

September 24th - Technology and the Future of Civic EngagementFrom touch-screen voting to online campaigning, tech-nology is shaping the future of civic engagement. But what does this mean for democracy—especially for those individuals and communities without access to the latest technology? This panel will consider the promise of technology and how it may enable us to acquire and disseminate information. In debating various notions of e-democracy, the panel will look at the degree to which the digital divide may hinder any aspect of these expec-tations. Our experts also will address what local, state, and national policy initiatives are designed to address the anticipated problems.

October 22nd – Immigration, Immigrants, and the 2008 ElectionsLess than two weeks away from the national elections, this lecture will focus on the importance of immigration policy and its role in various campaigns. Do the candi-dates differ from each other in their immigration policy proposals? If immigration has not been fully debated, what factors may explain that? Will this issue resurface in 2009 as a topic, because of the November elections? And in an exciting departure from typical immigration policy analysis, this lecture will also address the degree to which immigrants may have played a role in the 2008 elections.

The California Agenda events from April through September will be held at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., the October Distinguished Lecture will be held at the City Club on Bunker Hill from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. To rSVP visit our website at www.patbrowninstitute.org

Supported by a generous grant from the James Irvine Foundation, the Public Policy Education Program serves as the um-brella for PBI’s public policy events and publications. The California Agenda is hosted by Southern California Edison.

Southern California Edison’s Fernando de Necochea (L) chats with MALDEF president John Trasvina

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cReating livable cities for all: los angeles mayoR, former state tReasuReR Kathleen BRown Join exPeRts at 15th annual PBI conference to discuss califoRnia’s futuRe

Equitable and inclusive development is the key to cre-ating livable cities for everyone in the golden State, according to experts who spoke at the 15th Annual California Policy Issues Conference hosted by the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs.

Held Nov. 15, 2007 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, the event attracted more than 300 attendees (thousands others at-tended later and “virtu-ally” through cable and film coverage in northern and southern California) who gathered to hear the state’s most influential thinkers, policy makers and leaders offer their perspectives on sustainable and inclusive development, addressing the environmental, econom-ic, political and social issues that are often intertwined with the urban growth and physical development of a city. Session topics included smart growth, energy effi-ciency, green building, low-income housing, inclusive zoning and other issues associated with urban devel-opment and livable cities.

Because the concept of the livable city incorporates numerous political and social issues—from affordable housing, employment, transportation and environ-mental concerns to economic development, public health and population growth—it provided complex and challenging fodder for conference panelists, key-note speakers and attendees, said Ali Modarres, as-sociate director of Pat Brown Institute.

“Sustainability and the concept of the livable city demand attention to social justice and inclusivity,” Modarres said. “We need to be green, but green ev-erywhere. That includes high density, low density, old, new and everything in between.”

With many of California’s suburbs no longer resem-bling suburbs, conference participants urged city planners to look at regional development with an eye toward inclusivity. Ideas presented included bringing

housing and jobs closer together, concentrating density around transit, promoting energy efficient buildings, and enabling consumers to make sustainable choices, such as paying less for a condominium or an apartment without a

parking space—thus encourag-ing the use of mass transit.

“These are not really new ideas,” said Michael Woo, member of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission. “What is new is a level of seriousness in implementing them.”

In his keynote address, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Vil-laraigosa called for continued investment in transportation and for citizens to commit to mass transit. “The only way we’re going to address our traffic problem is to change the way we look at our city,” Villaraigosa said. “We need to grow smart, we need to grow green.”

He also encouraged continued investment in police and in schools to create livable, thriving cities. “If our kids can’t read and write, they can’t be electricians, plumbers, county workers,” he said. “Our economic competitive-ness is predicated on them being able to read and write.” Citing what he called “middle-class flight” from Los Ange-les, the Mayor called for the public and private sector to address housing affordability and good-paying jobs—say-ing firefighters, union electricians, teachers and others cannot afford to live here.

“The only way we’re going to address our traffic problem is to change the way we look at our city,” Villaraigo-sa said. “We need to grow smart, we need to grow green.”

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa delivers a keynote address at the 15th Annual Policy Issues Conference

Villaraigosa cited L.A.’s efforts to “green the Ports” and to incorporate incentives for green building as examples of his administration’s commitment to livability. He also said green technology development can be a force for creating new and high paying jobs in Los Angeles and beyond.

Former California Treasurer Kathleen Brown, now of gold-man Sachs & Co., joined Villaraigosa in providing co-key-note luncheon remarks at the conference luncheon. She cited the state’s rapidly increasing population as the most critical challenge to state lawmakers and local planners.

“We have to address California’s growth by investing in infrastructure,” said Brown, whose late father, former gov.

9PBI NEWSLETTEr / SPrINg 08

Edmund g. “Pat” Brown was know for his investments in infrastructure projects. “We are at a turning point in our State’s history. If we fail to deal with our challenges in an open, direct, innovative way, we will fail. The opportunity is here.”

Specifically, she said the state must not rely solely on general obligation bonds to fund infrastructure projects. “That is a great, important first step, but not enough,” she said. “It is borrowing from the future to pay for assets today.”

Instead, Brown said lawmakers must look for ways to fund infrastructure, including adding user fees. “We have to be insistent and innovative to pull the resources of this state together so that we can reinvent ourselves for this cen-tury.”

Jaime A. regalado, Ph.D., executive director of the Pat Brown Institute, called the conference a success, saying the concept of “livable cities” is one of great interest to the Institute.

“This is a concept that crosses all the public policy issues we study and address—from healthcare and transporta-tion to education and public safety,” regalado said. “We anticipate this will be an ongoing area of PBI research and advocacy.”

(L to R) Dr. Ali Modarres, Kathleen Brown, Dr. Desdemona Cardoza, and Dr. Jaime Regalado

Los Angeles City Planning Commissioner Mike Woo

PBI welcomes New BoaRd members

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Currently the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles, dr. desdemona cardoza is responsible for executive direction and policy formation for the university’s Division of Academic Affairs. This includes its six Colleges, the Library, Undergraduate Studies, graduate Studies and research, the Division of Extended Education, the Los Angeles region Cal State TEACH Program, and the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs (PBI). She serves as the Board Chair for PBI.

Previously, she was Dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences, the largest of CSULA’s six Colleges. Prior to that, she was Vice President of Information resources Management. She

began working at Cal State LA in January 1987. Since then, Dr. Cardoza has served on numerous University-wide committees. She is also a consultant to the City of Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women and its Young Women at risk Program, and a board member for the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

Dr. Cardoza received her B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and her M.A. and Ph.D. Psychology degrees from University of California riverside. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Educational research Association.

As president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, annelle grajeda has a 35-year history in the labor movement. In 1996, after 12 years with SEIU, she became the first Latina general Manager of SEIU Local 660, a position she held for the next 10 years.

As SEIU Local 660’s general Manager, grajeda led many successful campaigns on behalf of working families, including the 1997 “LA County Needs A raise!” contract campaign that provided workers with overdue salary increases; the 1998 campaign to pass L.A. County’s Liv-ing Wage Ordinance, and successful efforts in 2000 to improve retirement benefits. She also worked on last year’s “Step Up For LA County” campaign, which resulted in a groundbreaking childcare benefit and the largest overall contract gains in SEIU Local 660’s history.

When SEIU Local 660 united with six other Locals to form SEIU Local 721, a larger, more powerful, regional union, SEIU president Andy Stern appointed grajeda to serve as its interim President. Local 721 represents more than 85,000 members throughout Southern California.

As Vice President of Programs at The California Wellness Foundation, cristina regalado pro-vides strategic leadership in advancing its mission of improving the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention. On average, TCWF awards $60 million in grants annually to nonprofit health organizations in California.

regalado’s commitment to systemic change in order to promote equality and social justice is reflected in the many programs and initiatives on which she has worked. These include trans-national organizing to improve worker conditions and access to healthcare; multi-ethnic coali-

tion building; galvanizing new voices in advocacy and public policy; building nonprofit organizational infrastructure; and addressing violence against women and economic injustice.

A leader in philanthropy, she is vice chair of the board of grantmakers in Health and a board member for both the Women’s Funding Network and Southern California grantmakers. Before joining TCWF, she was Vice President of Program and Administration at the Los Angeles Women’s Foundation.

PBI staff highlights

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And for individuals, Dr. Simon encouraged everyone to reduce their food intake, limit fast food to no more than once a week, and to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity per day. “Lots of people making small lifestyle changes can go a long way toward reversing the obesity epidemic,” Dr. Simon said. “This is unlikely to happen without addressing the major economic, social, cultural and environmental forces that are driving excess food consumption and physical inactivity.”

Also speaking at the event was Dr. Michele L. Allen, who shared findings from her study on “Preventative Health Be-haviors Among Asian & Latino Youth: Trends in California.”

Among the trends she noted: The good health habits of adolescent Asian immigrants improve with each genera-tion born in the United States, but health habits among adolescent Latino immigrants generally remain poor or become worse in succeeding generations.

Dr. Allen explained that in order to help adolescents from immigrant communities achieve healthy lifestyles, we must understand the social context that contributes to their health behaviors, so that we can appropriately tailor public health interventions.

“The findings and recommendations of Dr. Simon and Dr. Allen must come in to play when we shape public policy in California,” said Dr. Jaime A. regalado, Ph.D. “Whether we are discussing urban planning, transporta-tion, education, healthcare or the environment, we simply cannot ignore the growing economic and ethnic dispari-ties between good health and a future filled with obesity, illness and disability.”

Approximately 30 leaders from the San gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles communities attended the HPOC program. Many represent community-based health orga-nizations working on the issue of obesity.

PBI’s HPOC strives to create a unified voice for commu-nity based organizations and health advocacy groups serving Asian Pacific Islander and Latino residents, with a particular focus on communities in East Los Angeles and the West San Gabriel Valley. The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation and Kaiser Perman-ente generously fund HPOC.

We are honored to welcome the following additions to PBI Staff:

erin aubry Kaplan as research Fellow. An author and regular contributor to the Opinion pages of Los Angeles Times, she will be working with our Public Policy Education Program and contribute to the development of various policy briefs in the future.

Blanca martinez-Navarro as the new director of the Youth Enrichment Project. She is a graduate from Columbia Uni-versity School of Social Work and brings a wealth of experience working with inner-city youth from coast to coast as a school social worker in the Bronx and developing academic and social programs in East Los Angeles.

Jacqueline ruiz as the new director of the Public Policy Education Program, she formerly worked for California Assem-blymember Mike Eng and former California Assemblymember Judy Chu.

And, we bid adieu to taffany lim as a long time PBI staff member and welcome her as a contract consultant coordinat-ing the Institute’s heralded Community Policing Training Program. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the central role that she has played in the success of the Community Policing Training Program and we look forward to our continued affiliation with her.

HPOC Addresses Obesity Crisis continued from page 6

P (323) 343-3770f (323) 343-3774www.patbrowninstitute.com

PBI Board of advIsors

desdemona cardoza, Ph. d.Board ChairProvost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, CSULA

diana m. Bonta, Ph.d.Kaiser Permanente

scott Bowman, Ph.d.Department of Political Science, CSULA

Kenneth c. BurtCalifornia Federation of Teachers

charles casey, Jr. (ex-officio)UC Davis

anita gabrielianAT&T

James r. galbraith (Member Emeritus)Conrad Hilton Foundation

annelle grajedaSEIU Local 721

gordon gregoryMosaic Capital LLC

andres f. IrlandoVerizon

alice KawakamiCalifornia State University, Los Angeles

Kathleen a. Kelly (ex-officio)

stewart KwohAsian Pacific-American Legal Center of Southern California

herman d. lujan, Ph.d. (Member Emeritus)Cal Poly Pomona

marie moretti

frank J. QuevedoSouthern California Edison

george ramirezUnion Bank of California

cristina regalado The California Wellness Foundation

david sicklerLos Angeles Department of Water and Power

alan sieroty (Member Emeritus)Sieroty Company, Inc.

Nathaniel trivesNew Visions Foundation

Peter r. villegasWashington Mutual

Keith weaver Sony Pictures Entertainment

PBI staff

Jaime a. regalado, Ph.d.Executive Director

ali modarres, Ph.d.Associate Director

lily BabaAdministrative Analyst

Blanca martinez-NavarroDirector, Youth Enrichment Project

Jacqueline ruizDirector, Public Policy Education Program

antonio crisostomos-romoCoordinator, Youth Enrichment Project

tarren lopez Program Coordinator, Public Policy Education Pro-gram & Policy Training and Community Outreach

Ben owensCoordinator, Youth and Gang Violence Interven-tion Specialist Training Program

Irene PosadaSite Staff Lead, Youth Enrichment Project

tania torresSite Staff, Youth Enrichment Project