photo of youth and staff participating in youth programming initiative offered by Motivating Individual Leadership for Public Advancement in Salinas, California

July 2017

By Dr. Veronica Terriquez, Dr. Ruben Espinoza, Uriel Serrano, and Ana Mendoza

From 2008 to 2019, the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI) published reports under our previous name, the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE).

 

Excerpt:

“This report describes youth programming offered by Motivating Individual Leadership for Public Advancement (MILPA), a grassroots collective in Salinas, California. MILPA’s mission is to promote community well-being through civic engagement, coalition building, professional development, and spiritual healing practices. The collective’s multi-faceted work includes programming that aims to re-integrate formerly incarcerated men into the community; “Rites of Passage” curriculum focused on youths’ social, emotional, and character development; healing arts; culturally-relevant political education; grassroots organizing and advocacy; and internships for college students. Much of MILPA’s programming is informed by Uto-Aztecan philosophies, the guidance of diverse elders of color, and the cultural traditions of their predominately Mexican-American members.”

Download report

MILPA’s Efforts to Promote Youth and Community Well-Being in Salinas

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    In 2020, the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) and the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration (CSII) merged to form the USC Equity Research Institute (ERI).

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