A Message From UCLA Latino Alumni Association President Janette Palacios '98, M.U.R.P. '01
I hope you all had a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. On behalf of ULAA, we thank you for your continued support. Whether it’s giving to our scholarship fund, mentoring students or participating in our events, we are grateful for you. You make our goal of connecting our Latinx alumni community and supporting today’s scholars possible.
Did you know there is no membership fee to join ULAA? We offer tremendous value for students and alumni through career panels, networking events and financial support through scholarships — all through our amazing volunteer work. Last month, our career panel “How Did You Get Where You Are Today?” boasted 40+ attendees. A big thank you to our panelists for their insights on “the next move” and resilience during one’s career journey.
As with our volunteer-run events, we also fundraise each year to help increase our endowed scholarship fund. Due to COVID-19, in-person fundraising events have been canceled this year. As the holiday season and year-end tax planning approach, we hope you will consider giving to the UCLA Latino Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of someone you love. All gifts are impactful and our scholars need it more than ever!
If you’re not able to contribute financially, there are other ways to support ULAA. Volunteer for one of our committees (meeting info below), become an OrgullOSO mentor, share your expertise as a panelist or speaker, or just show up to one of our virtual events and have some fun!
Find family assistance through the Children’s Institute. Programs for early-age, school-age, teenagers and foster youth, as well as parents/caregivers and fathers are available. As part of Blue Shield of CA Promise Health coverage, enrollment in their no-cost Health Homes Program provides a dedicated care coordinator to help navigate health benefits and apply for community services.
This Wednesday, Dec. 9, UCLA Alumni is offering a free workshop, Master Your Mindset, on how to tap into your body's capacity to thrive.
Finally, sign up for UCLA Extension’s free career course MGMT 753, aimed at preparing you for an effective job search. Enroll by Jan. 4 for spring.
Please check our website for more resources!
Bruins Go Hiking
Speaking of getting through 2020, exercise is also shown to relieve stress and anxiety. In October, the UCLA Latino Alumni Association celebrated autumn with our Fall in Love with a Hike campaign, inviting you to share your favorite hike destinations via social media.
Numerous ULAA supporters and members tagged us in beautiful posts from Santa Monica’s Temescal Canyon Trail and the Los Leones Trail in the Pacific Palisades. Through our network’s recommendations, we were able to compile a list of unbe-LEAF-able hiking trails here.
Thank you to those that participated. We hope you can find some serenity on the trails!
Bruin Spotlight
Check out this Q&A with Sonja Diaz, M.P.P. '10, the founding director of the Latino Policy & Politics Initiative (LPPI), a comprehensive think tank that focuses on political, social and economic issues that impact Latinos and communities of color. Diaz works to understand how research can directly result in legislation that serves society’s needs. LPPI is part of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work for the U.S. Census? How about during a pandemic? Check out the blog post titled “Civic Engagement is Not Perfect: Being a Census Worker During a Pandemic,” from volunteer Jessica Zaldana '18, on our website. You can also check out her essay on what it’s like to work the polls in case you’re considering volunteering for future elections.
Upcoming Events
ULAA Ugly Sweater Soirée
Things are going to get ugly! Please join us for some holiday fun. Wear a ho-ho-horrible holiday sweater or any other holiday flair. Meet and mingle virtually with the ULAA Board, ULAA Scholars and old friends. Enjoy live music! Learn about the Children's Institute Annual Toy Drive to help us bring joy to underserved children in Los Angeles.
UCLA Latino Alumni Association Supporting the Children's Institute's Annual Toy Drive
Help us bring joy to underserved children in Los Angeles via the Children's Institute (CII) Annual Toy Drive. Make a COVID-safe donation through their wish lists. Shipping is already set up! Shipped toys should arrive by Dec. 14.
On Dec. 19, CII will distribute items to families! All new items donated are eligible to receive a donation confirmation. Please contact Soleil Delgadillo '09 at the Children's Institute for donation confirmation: sdelgadillo@childrensinstitute.org.
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Interested in giving back? Please reach out to ULAA Committee Chairs if you’d like to get involved and attend committee meetings.
We are looking for alumni who work in a different area than their UCLA major to speak at our winter career panel. If interested, please contact cpacheco@alumni.ucla.edu.
UCLA ONE
Looking for ways to virtually volunteer? We can use your skill sets to guide the next generation of professionals! You can join our UCLA ONE Latino Alumni group here.
To indicate you’d like to mentor or network, please click on your profile picture -> Edit Profile -> Click boxes that apply under “Offer/Seek Help” section.
THE BRUIN PROMISE is a commitment from UCLA Alumni Affairs and UCLA Extension to provide access to lifelong learning to Bruins — and all who seek knowledge — through thousands of affordable courses and more than 100 certificate and specialization programs. Winter quarter enrollment begins Nov. 2.
In response to current challenges, a broad selection of virtual professional development and personal enrichment seminars are being offered at no cost. Search the list and take your future further with these educational resources and tools.
