Coffee for 12 Strangers
2026-01-15 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Public Affairs 4371
Looking to connect with other Luskin students outside of your department? Coffee for 12 Strangers brings together a cross-disciplinary group of Luskin students to meet and build community. Complimentary craft coffee beverages will be provided.
Each quarter, the program brings together:

3 MPP students
3 SW students
3 UP students
3 Seniors from Luskin’s BA in Public Affairs

The Future of Educational Equity: Alumni Panel Conversation
2026-01-22 12:15 - 14:00
Join us for a dynamic and thought-provoking alumni panel exploring The Future of Educational Equity. Together, we’ll dive into the challenges, innovations, and opportunities shaping K–12 and higher education today—highlighting the voices of UCLA Luskin alumni working at the forefront of policy, practice, and community impact.
This lunchtime gathering is a chance to:
Hear directly from alumni making meaningful contributions in the field
Engage in conversation about the next frontier of educational equity
Connect with students, faculty, and fellow alumni committed to transformative change
A light lunch will be provided to support conversation and connection.
We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring and timely discussion.

Luskin Day at City Hall
2026-01-23 09:30 - 16:00 | Los Angeles City hall, Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Luskin Day at City Hall will take place Friday, January 23, 2026. This event is exclusively for Luskin graduate students in Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning programs. The goal of this event is to facilitate networking between Luskin graduate students and officials working in local government and to pipeline Luskin graduate students to jobs and internships in the City and County of Los Angeles.
To participant in this experience, lease apply via CareerHub November 19-December 7.

Reexamining the “Nation of Immigrants”: The Politics of ICE Enforcement
2026-02-05 17:00 - 19:30 | UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join us for a keynote and panel exploring new data on immigration enforcement, stronger state protections, and fair, sustainable policy.

RSVP HERE

With the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) arrests and detentions surging, California’s legislative leadership offers critical lessons on safeguarding rights and rebuilding trust. Join us on February 5, 2026 for a keynote presentation followed by a panel of policymakers, researchers, and advocates who will discuss what the latest data reveal about enforcement patterns, how to strengthen state protections, and what’s next for fair and sustainable approaches to immigration.
Reception 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Lecture and Panel 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Registration is free and required for all guests. We intentionally oversell tickets to ensure a full venue. Entry and seating are first come, first served and not guaranteed, even with a ticket. We recommend arriving early and join the pre-reception to maximize your chance of entry.

Attorney General Rob Bonta will be the keynote speaker.
Panelists include:

Miguel Santana, President and CEO, California Community Foundation (moderator)
Ahilan Arulanantham, Professor from Practice, UCLA Law; Faculty Co-Director, Center for Immigration Law & Policy
Paul Ong, Director, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge
Angelica Salas, Executive Director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); Luskin Senior Fellow

Learn more about the research from the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and the Latino Policy & Politics Institute.

This event is part of the Luskin Lecture Series and co-hosted by the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
View all of our upcoming events at luskin.ucla.edu/events

TONGVA ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). As a land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
PHOTO RELEASE
By attending this event, you will be entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. With your presence, you authorize UCLA Luskin and its licensees to photograph you, make sound and/or video recordings of you, and use the recordings for marketing, publicity and promotion of this event and UCLA Luskin generally. Please click on the link for the full UCLA Luskin Notice of Filming Release.
Attendance by a public official will constitute acceptance of a reportable gift.

UCLA Luskin Alumni Regional Reception Sacramento
2026-02-09 18:00 | Cafeteria 15L, 1116 15th Street, Sacramento, 95814, United States
Please join us for the UCLA Luskin Alumni Regional Reception Sacramento on Monday, February 9, from 6:00–8:00 PM at Cafeteria 15L.
This special gathering is a wonderful opportunity to stay connected with the UCLA Luskin community and strengthen the relationships that make our School so vibrant. Alumni from our programs in Social Welfare, Public Policy, Urban Planning, and the Undergraduate Program in Public Affairs play an essential role in shaping our region and state. Coming together across disciplines not only enriches our shared experience but deepens the collective impact we create together.
We’re also delighted to welcome our Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris and faculty, who will be in Sacramento ahead of the annual Sacramento Briefing. In addition, a select group of current Luskin students traveling for the briefing will join us—they’re eager to learn from your journeys, connect with alumni, and build meaningful relationships with the leaders who inspire them.
To make the evening even more special, your ticket includes appetizers, a street tacos buffet, a drink of your choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and a scrumptious dessert.
Early-bird tickets will be available December 17–January 16 for $20. After that, tickets will be $40, so we encourage you to reserve yours early.
We hope you’ll join us for an evening of conversation, community, and Bruin camaraderie.
We look forward to welcoming you!

2026 UCLA Luskin California Policy Briefing
2026-02-10 09:00 - 12:15 | UC Student and Policy Center, 1115 11th Street, Sacramento, 95814, United States
The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs will present its third annual Briefing at the UC Student and Policy Center in February 2026.

The annual UCLA Luskin California Policy Briefing in Sacramento convenes leading UCLA public policy, social welfare, and urban planning faculty and research centers to share evidence-based insights on the most urgent challenges facing our state. By translating rigorous research into practical policy solutions, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs strengthens the bridge between university expertise and public decision-making, advancing informed, equitable outcomes for all Californians.
The gathering will feature two panel discussions coordinated by esteemed UCLA Luskin faculty members and their affiliated research centers in collaboration with elected officials, government agencies and other policy experts. Networking opportunities are also planned.
Panel 1 – How Can the State Assist and Oversee Implementation of SB 79 and Local Zoning Plans?
Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
SB 79, California’s new statewide upzoning law, takes effect in phases beginning July 2026. To identify areas subject to the law, the Department of Housing and Community Development must develop zoning-capacity standards that will also inform upcoming 7th-cycle housing element updates. This session explores what policymakers need to create clear, effective standards — and how these standards can strengthen local planning and improve implementation of state housing law.
Panel 2 – What Will It Take to Ensure Fair Voting for All Californians?
Voting Rights Project
How can California advance more equitable and accessible elections? This session examines policy and legislative strategies to reduce bias in vote-by-mail signature rejections and to expand voting access for rural communities and residents with limited English proficiency. Panelists will explore practical reforms that strengthen fairness, inclusivity, and trust in the electoral process.
A list of speakers and specific details about timing and location will be announced as the date draws closer.

Land and Labor Acknowledgement
As a land grant institution, UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands) and are grateful to have the opportunity to work for the taraaxotam (Indigenous peoples) in this place. We pay our respects to Honuukvetam (Ancestors), elders, and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
We hold sacred the labor of enslaved Africans and immigrants, often exploited, indentured and underpaid, that built and continue to serve our institutions of higher education. We honor the labor and resistance of these ancestors, acknowledge that we benefit from this land and labor, and strive to work towards liberation for all.
UCLA Luskin Photo Release Language
By attending this event, you will be entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. With your presence, you authorize UCLA Luskin and its licensees to photograph you, make sound and/or video recordings of you, and use the recordings for marketing, publicity and promotion of this event and UCLA Luskin generally. Please click on the link for the full UCLA Luskin Notice of Filming Release.
Attendance by a public official will constitute acceptance of a reportable gift.
