LATINA FUTURES,
2050 LAB
STRATEGIC PLAN
Pioneering Research to
Achieve Equity for Latinas by 2050
Latinas have been systematically overlooked in academia and policy discussions. Despite their significant contributions to diverse communities’ labor force and well-being, Latinas remain significantly underrepresented in influential sectors, including law, media, business, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Taking an intersectional approach, Latina Futures, 2050 Lab (LFL) responds to persistent inequalities experienced by Latinas and similarly situated populations.
In a landmark move, the California Latino Legislative Caucus’s Unseen Latinas Initiative allocated $15 million to UCLA in the summer of 2022 to establish LFL, a pioneering initiative that envisions a society where Latinas have an equal opportunity to lead, and where everyone thrives.
LFL investigates and addresses the experiences of Latinas’ in the labor market, their engagement in civic leadership, and their well-being. This research is driven in part by the stark wage gap Latinas continue to face and their severe underrepresentation in critical fields that will determine the future of our state, country, and planet.
We are setting our sights on achieving meaningful positive change by the year 2050. By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, we seek to identify viable approaches to effectively tackling systemic inequalities in our social and economic institutions.
Dr. Veronica Terriquez,
LFL Co-Founder
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Director
We are setting our sights on achieving meaningful positive change by the year 2050. By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, we seek to identify viable approaches to effectively tackling systemic inequalities in our social and economic institutions.
Dr. Veronica Terriquez,
LFL Co-Founder
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Director
The LFL Strategic Plan:
Charting Our Path to Equity
The LFL Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap for this groundbreaking five-year project. The Plan addresses the multifaceted Latina experience in the U.S. by contextualizing key facts about Latinas and shares the origins of LFL and LFL’s vision, mission, and focus areas. The Plan also details our notable achievements to date, ongoing research, and goals for the future.
While our central focus is California, the impact of LFL research extends far beyond state borders. Our findings will inform policies and decisions that influence the economic, social, and political lives of Latinas across the United States. By offering a unique Latina perspective on policy challenges and opportunities, we aim to amplify the power and influence of Latinas across both private and public sectors.
VISION
In envisioning a society in which Latinas have an equal opportunity to lead, and everyone thrives the Latina Futures, 2050 Lab aims to accelerate full inclusion through rigorous research, community partnerships, and leadership development.
Mission
The Latina Futures, 2050 Lab seeks to center diverse Latina experiences in informing and guiding initiatives that advance effective leadership, full inclusion, and authentic narratives.
Empowering Latinas Across All Sectors
The Latina Futures, 2050 Lab highlights the importance of Latinas and their intersectional identities in the US and uses research to enhance opportunities for representation, visibility, and influence across different sectors.
Rigorous Research: We conduct comprehensive research that embraces the diverse facets of the Latina demographic, serving as the foundation for impactful policy recommendations on issues affecting Latinas and allied groups, including women of color, immigrants, low-wage workers, transgender women, and those in STEM professions.
Community Partnerships: Our commitment to community engagement and partnerships ensures that our research remains firmly rooted in the diverse needs of Latina communities. We engage our extensive networks to actively disseminate our findings to inform policy and practice.
Leadership Development: Informed by research, our collaborative efforts with stakeholder groups will encompass leadership development programs aimed at enhancing Latina capacities to drive positive transformations within institutions and workplaces, fostering greater equity and inclusivity.
Through the Latina Futures, 2050 Lab, we are crafting a narrative of progress, empowerment, and limitless potential. Our work is a testament to the unwavering perseverance and steadfast determination of Latina leaders. We are not merely shaping policy; we are sculpting a future where every voice is not just heard but celebrated. Together, we’re turning the invisible into the inspirational.”
Sonja Diaz,
LFL Co-Founder
Founding Director, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Through the Latina Futures, 2050 Lab, we are crafting a narrative of progress, empowerment, and limitless potential. Our work is a testament to the unwavering perseverance and steadfast determination of Latina leaders. We are not merely shaping policy; we are sculpting a future where every voice is not just heard but celebrated. Together, we’re turning the invisible into the inspirational.”
Sonja Diaz,
LFL Co-Founder
Founding Director, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Empower Latina Futures: Join the movement today and be part of the transformation.
Contact: LFL@chicano.ucla.edu