Dear Friends,

Among the many activities in the UCLA Pritzker Center’s 8-year history, a standout experience for our entire team was our 2026 Leadership Retreat at Homeboy Industries. Hosted on February 20, we were honored to learn from Father Greg Boyle, UCLA alumna and Co-CEO Shirley Torres, Anthony Chairez and UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs faculty, Laura Alongi and Tranishia Franklin. For our faculty, staff and students, the experience was described as transformational, rejuvenating and a reminder of why we do research in the manner that we do. Students offered that the being at Homeboy’s headquarters “felt like home,” and a return to their values.

Shirley Torres shared a powerful truth: at Homeboy, one of the most effective ways to help children is to stop throwing their parents away. As we honor Black History Month and look toward spring, the leadership, hospitality, service, and resilience embodied by Homeboy Industries continue to inspire our work to strengthen families. The retreat reaffirmed our commitment to advancing justice-centered leadership—in our scholarship, in our partnerships, and in our work across UCLA and Los Angeles.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our hosts and speakers for their generosity, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to healing and hope. Thank you for reminding us what courageous, community-centered leadership truly looks like. May it inspire you as you read on and take part in this work together!

In community,

The UCLA Pritzker Center Team

Celebrating Black History Month

At every stage of involvement in the child welfare system, Black children and families are overrepresented. Despite ongoing efforts to address these inequities, the child welfare system continues to produce disparate outcomes for Black children, youth and families. An urgent need remains for radical transformation of child welfare practices and policies across the United States. In response to these challenges and with a range of philanthropic support, the UCLA Pritzker Center is establishing the Racial Equity Hub for Child Welfare Reform. Hiring for this new effort is now underway! 

Blind removal aims to reduce racial disproportionality by removing racial demographics from the removal decision-making process after an investigation of alleged child abuse or neglect.

This project explores the barriers to reducing disproportionality in Los Angeles County's child welfare system by analyzing data collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis.

Racial equity and disproportionality are prominent features of reimagining the child welfare system. Our research poses ideas for reform.

Research

The UCLA Pritzker Center is currently collecting data to evaluate the ENRICH Stipend program. The 18-month program provides a regular stipend and voluntary coaching to young adults who were in extended foster care on October 31, 2024 in Los Angeles County. Program coaches and administrators from SBCC, our community partner, participated in focus groups, and focus groups are underway with young adults. We look forward to continuing to learn from young people about their experiences with the stipend and coaching through focus groups and an upcoming survey. Thank you to everyone who has participated so far!

The UCLA Pritzker Center is pleased to partner with Kristina Lovato, PhD, MSW, Director of the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Lovato is leading the study: Empowering Child Welfare Practice at the Intersections of Immigration and Child Wellbeing. We look forward to supporting her in this important and timely work. Learn more about the Center for Immigration and Child Welfare and Dr. Lovato and her team here.

In light of increased immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, we held a talk in August 2025 exploring how to support immigrant families, with a focus on child well-being. Panelists shared practical strategies for speaking to children about immigration raids, developing family preparedness plans in the event of detention or deportation, and supporting families as they navigate the back-to-school season. The discussion also highlighted key resources, including Know Your Rights materials and tools for practitioners and community-based organizations. Check out the recording! 

In the Community

Our team recently gathered for a meaningful leadership retreat at Homeboy Industries—a day centered on reflection, growth, and connection.

We had the opportunity to join the morning meeting, experiencing firsthand the culture of kinship, accountability, and encouragement that defines Homeboy’s work. We are deeply grateful to Shirley Torres, Father Greg Boyle, and the Homeboy Industries team for their warm hospitality and for welcoming us into such a powerful space of healing and transformation. Touring the building gave us a deeper understanding of the comprehensive services that support reentry and restoration. We were also able to support local vendors' businesses at Hope Alley. 

To further develop our leadership skills, Laura Alongi LCSW and Tranishia James, MSW, colleagues from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, hosted a workshop on overcoming imposter syndrome.Together, we reflected on strategies to reframe internal narratives, affirm our expertise, and support one another in showing up fully and confidently in our work.

The retreat left our team encouraged and grounded—strengthened in our commitment to our work and in our commitment to leadership in our communities.

Homeboy Industries community at the morning meeting.

Shirley Torres, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Homeboy Industries, sharing Homeboy's values and talking about leadership.

"Every time I am back at Homeboy, I am reminded about the trauma-informed and integral role they play in the Los Angeles community and beyond. I had a beautiful time learning more about the programming and the leadership that makes this place so special." — Isabella Reina, Undergraduate Student Researcher

Father Greg Boyle sharing the origins of Homeboy Industries to the UCLA Pritzker Center team.

UCLA Pritzker Center students, staff, and faculty pictured with Father Greg Boyle.

"I was so moved by how everyone was able to put their differences aside and come together to celebrate one another at the morning meeting. I could tell that there was a strong sense of community and that everyone was committed to supporting the organization's mission." — Ellen Kim, Undergraduate Student Researcher 

UCLA Pritzker Center students and staff enjoying refreshments provided by Homegirl Café.

Laura Alongi and Tranishia James from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs giving a talk to the team about battling imposter syndrome.

"What a privilege to learn from the leadership team, including Father Greg Boyle, at Homeboy Industries. I learned that each of us has the capacity to lead, even in moments when we may feel like an imposter, even when we fail or make mistakes. True leadership is embracing all parts of the human experience, and  stepping up to the plate when we are called upon." — Norma Rubio, Graduate Student Researcher 

On Campus

The UCLA Pritzker Center has been invited to speak at the UCLA Center for Community Engagement's Community Partnership Summit. The summit is a full-day, interactive convening that brings together UCLA faculty, nonprofit and community leaders, and philanthropic partners to strengthen collaboration and advance shared goals. The Summit highlights innovative UCLA–community partnerships in research, teaching, and creative practice, while creating intentional space for dialogue, relationship-building, and future collaboration.

Students

One of our doctoral student researchers, Juan J. Nunez, was recently featured in the UCLA Luskin School for Public Affairs article, “Using Data-Driven Solutions to Strengthen Vulnerable Communities,” for his work combining data analytics and community engagement to better understand inequality and support vulnerable populations.

Inspiration & Ideas

© 2025 UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families. All Rights Reserved.

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