California, the golden state, the land of opportunity. But for many residents, opportunities are few and far between, and oftentimes the reality of policy falls short of well-meaning diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Poverty and homelessness, lack of affordable housing, rising expenses for necessities, high incarceration rates, drought, and natural disasters are statewide issues. In the inland region of Southern California, home to the University of California Riverside (UCR), faces lower educational attainment, high housing cost burden, lower annual wages, and higher pollution burden than the more affluent regions along the Southern California coast.

If these are policy issues you are passionate about, we invite you to join UCR’s School of Public Policy inaugural PPIA Public Service Weekend (PSW) from October 4 – 6, 2024. Participants will be introduced to policy issues, graduate school and career opportunities, and professional development activities during the three-day program. Students will learn about policy issues such as housing affordability, CA energy policy, prison reform, environmental racism, and the role of public-private partnerships in the decision-making process. Students will then apply what they learned throughout the weekend and present a policy solution to one of the policy issues analyzed in the program.