Meet our Panelist
SONJA DIAZ
Founding Director UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute
Sonja Diaz is a practicing civil rights attorney and policy advisor . She is the Co-Founder of the Latina Futures , 2050 Lab , a pioneering initiative that envisions a society where Latinas have an equal opportunity to lead , and where everyone thrives . For seven years , Diaz directed all aspects of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute , a comprehensive think tank that addresses the domestic policy challenges facing communities of color in the U . S . Prior to UCLA , Diaz served as policy counsel to Vice President Kamala D . Harris during her first and second terms as California Attorney General and directed voter protection programs in Virginia during the 2016 election . Diaz routinely briefs state legislators and local elected officials from across the U . S . on evidence-based governance and emerging trends in domestic policy . Her research and commentary have been mentioned in major news outlets , including The New York Times , The Los Angeles Times , CNN , NBC , and NPR . In 2021 , Diaz was appointed to the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission and served as Vice Chair of data and mapping . Diaz received her J . D . from UC Berkeley ’ s School of Law , holds a M . P . P . from UCLA ’ s Luskin School of Public Affairs , and a B . A . in politics from UC Santa Cruz .
“ Remember , remember always , that the vast majority of us , and you and I especially , are descended from immigrants .” - Franklin D . Roosevelt