In this episode of Policy Chats, Riverside City Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes sits down with Dori Pham and Sammie Burgess for a conversation about what it takes to build abundant, welcoming communities at the local level. From immigration enforcement protocols to housing policy and public art, Councilmember Cervantes explains how city decisions shape daily life for families, students, and workers across Riverside.Throughout the episode, she breaks down her recent resolution on federal immigration enforcement, which strengthens identification standards, reinforces state law, and creates new tools for civil rights documentation and community education. She shares how collaboration with community groups, legal partners, and the Riverside Police Department helped craft one of the strongest resolutions of its kind in California, and why it matters for immigrant families and public safety.The discussion then turns to housing and homelessness, where Councilmember Cervantes serves as chair of the city’s Housing and Homelessness Committee. She talks about motel conversions into permanent supportive housing, safe parking pilots for families living in their cars, and the importance of prevention as well as shelter. She also reflects on how budgets, staffing, and creative partnerships can move resources toward the neighborhoods with the greatest need.Finally, Councilmember Cervantes shares her planner’s view of transportation, walkability, and public art. She describes Riverside’s investments in bus service, bike and walking connections, and mural programs that build pride, safety, and economic opportunity. Her vision of abundance centers on dignity, imagination, and the power of art and policy together to transform a city street by street.

Topics Covered:

- How Councilmember Cervantes stays connected with residents and neighborhood groups

- The development and impact of Riverside’s immigration enforcement resolution

- Community partnerships in advancing immigrant rights and public safety

- Housing and homelessness strategies, including motel conversions and safe parking pilots

-How murals, public art, and artist residencies can foster safety, pride, and economic activity

📍 This episode is produced by the UCR School of Public Policy and reflects our mission of creating solutions that improve lives locally and globally.

🎧 Guest Speaker: Clarissa Cervantes, Riverside City Councilmember

Interviewed by: Dori Pham host of Policy Chats and Sammie Burgess

🎵 Music by Vir Sinha

🔗 Learn more: spp.ucr.edu/podcast

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @ucr_spp

👉 Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode exploring how policy shapes our future.

In this episode, Graham Steele, former Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Treasury and current academic fellow at Stanford Law School, discusses the implications of cryptocurrency and blockchain on the central banking functions of government. This is the eighth episode in our 11-part series, Technology vs. Government, featuring former California State Assemblymember Lloyd Levine.

About Graham Steele:
Graham Steele is an Academic Fellow at Stanford Law School’s Rock Center for Corporate Governance. He has extensive experience at the highest levels of financial policy, having served as the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he was responsible for policy on banks, credit unions, insurance, fintech, and financial cybersecurity. Prior to his role at Treasury, he directed the Corporations and Society Initiative at Stanford Graduate School of Business. His formative policy experience was on Capitol Hill, where he served for nearly eight years on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, including as Chief Counsel for the Democratic Staff, working on the Dodd-Frank Act in response to the 2008 financial crisis.

Interviewer:
Lloyd Levine (Former California State Assemblymember, UCR School of Public Policy Senior Policy Fellow)

Key Discussion Points:

🎵 Music by: Vir Sinha

🔗 More on the UCR School of Public Policy: ⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast⁠

📱 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@ucr_spp⁠👉 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and stay tuned for more conversations on the policies shaping our future!

In this episode of Policy Chats, Host Dori Pham and Paula Omokhomion joins California State Treasurer Fiona Ma for a thoughtful conversation about how the state’s financial decisions shape the future of public higher education and economic opportunity.

Throughout this episode, Treasurer Ma explains how financial planning during economic downturns can protect students and families from rising tuition costs. She also shares how universities can partner with private companies to expand student housing, create internship pipelines, and provide students with more stable pathways to employment. With California currently facing a budget deficit, this conversation offers insight into how the state can continue to invest in students while staying financially resilient.

Treasurer Ma also reflects on the importance of keeping high quality jobs in California and ensuring that future state revenue is strong enough to support public institutions like the University of California and California State University systems. Her message underscores the role of strategic planning, savings, and innovation in creating long term prosperity for all Californians.

This episode highlights how financial policy is not just about numbers, but about people, opportunity, and the future of education. Tune in to hear how Treasurer Ma is working to create lasting change in California and beyond.

Topics Covered

• What the California State Treasurer’s Office does and why it matters

• How state funding supports UC and CSU campuses

• The impact of budget deficits on higher education and strategies to manage them

• Student housing challenges and how public private partnerships can help

• Ways to reduce student debt through savings programs and smarter investments

• How to retain high paying industries and jobs in California

• Inflation, tariffs, and the role of the federal government in stabilization

• The importance of economic planning for long term prosperity and equity

  
  

📍 This episode is produced by the UCR School of Public Policy and reflects our mission of creating solutions that improve lives locally and globally.

🎧 Guest Speaker: Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer

Interviewed by: Dori Pham, Host of Policy Chats and Paula Omokhomion

🎵 Music by Vir Sinha
🔗 Learn more: spp.ucr.edu/podcast
📱 Follow us on Instagram: @ucr_spp
👉 Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode exploring how policy shapes our future.

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Esterling, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at UC Riverside, talks with the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about using technology to make public meetings more inclusive and effective. This is the seventh episode in our 11-part series, Technology vs. Government, featuring former California State Assemblymember Lloyd Levine.
About Dr. Kevin Esterling:
Kevin Esterling is Professor of Public Policy and Political Science, chair of political science, and the Director of the Laboratory for Technology, Communication and Democracy (TeCD-Lab) at the University of California, Riverside, and affiliate of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC). He is the past interim dean and associate dean of the UCR Graduate Division. His research focuses on technology for communication in democratic politics, and in particular the use of artificial intelligence and large language models for understanding and improving the quality of democratic communication in online spaces. His methodological interests are in artificial intelligence, large language models, Bayesian statistics, machine learning, experimental design, and science ethics and validity. His books have been published on Cambridge University Press and the University of Michigan Press, and his journal articles have appeared in such journals as Science, Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Human Behavior, the American Political Science Review, Political Analysis, the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, and the Journal of Politics. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, The Democracy Fund, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Institute of Education Sciences. Esterling was previously a Robert Wood Johnson Scholar in Health Policy Research at the University of California, Berkeley and a postdoctoral research fellow at the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions at Brown University. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 1999.

Interviewer:
Lloyd Levine (Former California State Assemblymember, UCR School of Public Policy Senior Policy Fellow)

Music by: Vir Sinha

Commercial Links:
https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp
https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp

This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: https://spp.ucr.edu

Subscribe to this podcast so you do not miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes at https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast.

In this episode of Policy Chats, hosts Rachel Strausman and Dori Pham sit down with Assemblymember Corey Jackson of California’s 60th Assembly District. Together, they explore his journey from founding SBX Youth and Family Services to serving in the legislature, and how his lifelong commitment to uplifting vulnerable communities has shaped his approach to policymaking.

From tackling the school to prison pipeline to championing affordable housing and advancing juvenile justice reform, this episode highlights the ways Assemblymember Jackson has worked to dismantle systemic inequities. He also reflects on the importance of building resilient communities through government and nonprofit collaboration, and why long term investment in people is key to breaking cycles of poverty and instability.

This episode is not just a conversation, it is a call to reimagine how policy can better serve those most impacted by inequities. Tune in to hear how Assemblymember Jackson is working to create lasting change in California and beyond.

Topics Covered:

• Assemblymember Jackson’s journey from student leader to legislator

• Founding and growth of SBX Youth and Family Services

• The school-to-prison pipeline and juvenile justice reform

• The importance of sealing juvenile records for a fresh start

• California’s affordable housing crisis and social safety net programs

• How government and nonprofits can build resilient communities

📍 This episode is produced by the UCR School of Public Policy and features insights that align with our motto: “Solutions for the Region, Solutions for the World.”
🎧 Guest Speaker:
Assemblymember Corey Jackson, California State Assembly, District 60
Interviewed by Rachel Strausman and Dori Pham, UCR Public Policy Students and hosts of Policy Chats

🎵 Music by: Vir Sinha
🔗 More on the UCR School of Public Policy: https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast
📱 Follow us on Instagram: @ucr_spp
👉 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and stay tuned for more conversations on the policies shaping our future!

In this episode of Policy Chats, host Dori Pham sits down with Assistant Director Marisol Torres and Policy Intern Germaine Ho from The Well, UC Riverside’s student health promotion department. Together, they explore the topic of menstrual equity, the challenges students face in accessing period products, and how policies are working to address period poverty on college campuses. 

From research-based policy briefs to creative programs like Flow Into Summer, this episode looks at how public health, education, and equity come together to make a difference. Additionally, Marisol and Germaine will discuss the barriers created by stigma, the difficulty of getting policies implemented effectively, and why collaboration between departments matters.
This episode isn’t just a conversation—it’s a reminder that institutions have a responsibility to support their students in every way. Tune in to hear how advocacy, empathy, and education are helping to bring real change to UCR and beyond.

Topics Covered:

• What is period poverty?

• How menstrual inequity impacts student wellbeing

• Current UC and CSU policies, including AB 367

• Data-driven approaches to policy writing

• Institutional strategies to provide free menstrual products

• The importance of stigma reduction and faculty training

• Visions for a future of comprehensive menstrual access

📍 This episode is produced by the UCR School of Public Policy and features research-informed insights that align with our motto: “Solutions for the Region, Solutions for the World.”

🎧 Guest Speakers:

• Marisol Torres, Assistant Director at The Well

• Germaine Ho, Policy Intern at The Well

• Interviewed by Dori Pham, UCR Public Policy Student and incoming host of Policy Chats

🎵 Music by: Vir Sinha

🔗 More on the UCR School of Public Policy: https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @ucr_spp

👉 Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and stay tuned until the end for bonus reflections from the new host and ongoing research updates!

In this episode, Policy Chats hosts our second live podcast recording, featuring researchers, practitioners, and individuals with lived experiences discussing the current policies that shape reentry, higher education, and employment access post-incarceration. This panel was produced in collaboration with the UCR Presley Center for Crime and Justice Studies. Panelists include:

• Dr. Annika Anderson, CSUSB Project Rebound Executive Director/Principal Investigator
• Pete Pridanonda, UCR Department of Economics Ph.D. Candidate
• Sofia Alvarenga, CSUSB Project Rebound Outreach Coordinator
• Ryan Uribe, UCR School of Public Policy Student

Learn more about the Presley Center for Crime and Justice Studies via presleycenter.ucr.edu

Stay tuned until the end of the episode for bonus content featuring panelists' research, as well as a discussion with the incoming host of Policy Chats, Dori Pham!

Interviewer:

Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean’s Chief Ambassador)

Music by: Vir Sinha

Commercial Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

In this episode, City of Redlands Councilmember Denise Davis, talks with students from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about her work advancing equity, tackling homelessness, and building stronger, more connected communities at the local level.

About Denise Davis:

Denise Davis was elected in 2018, and is proudly the first openly LGBTQ Council Member in the City of Redlands. She served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2018-2020, running meetings in the Mayor’s absence, and sitting on a number of subcommittees including the budget subcommittee, the COVID-19 subcommittee, the City Manager Recruitment subcommittee, and has been a liaison to the Cultural Arts Commission, the Traffic and Parking Commission, the Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission, OmniTrans, SBCTA, and the Santa Ana River Conservancy Commission. Denise has also served as the City of Redlands voting delegate each year for the League of California Cities Annual Conference. 

Learn more about Denise Davis via https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddavis11

Guest:

Denise Davis (Councilmember, City of Redlands) 

Interviewer:

Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean’s Chief Ambassador)

Music by: Vir Sinha

Commercial Links:⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp⁠⁠⁠ 

This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: ⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/⁠⁠⁠ 

Subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via ⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast⁠⁠⁠. 

In this episode, Dr. Pierre Berastaín, the Centre for Public Impact's Regional Director for North America,  talks with students from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about his journey from Peru and his extensive work in addressing systemic challenges like immigration, gender-based violence prevention, and restorative justice.

About Pierre Berastaín:

Dr. Pierre R. Berastaín is a public health leader and advocate with academic degrees in Social Anthropology, Divinity, and Public Health from Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill. He co-founded Caminar Latino – Latinos United for Peace and Equity, a national organization supporting Latino families affected by domestic violence, and has held leadership roles in several organizations focused on gender-based violence, including Harvard’s Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. Pierre has led federal grant programs, trained nationally and internationally, and advanced culturally competent approaches to violence prevention. Originally from Peru, he now lives in Washington, DC with his husband and has been recognized among Boston’s Top 25 Most Influential LGBTQ People of Color.

Learn more about Pierre Berastaín via https://centreforpublicimpact.org/team/pierre-r-berastain/

Guest:

Pierre Berastaín (Regional Director for North America, Centre for Public Impact) 

Interviewers:

Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean’s Chief Ambassador)

Liam Burley (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean’s Ambassador) 

Music by: Vir Sinha

Commercial Links:⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp⁠⁠ 

This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: ⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/⁠⁠ 

Subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via ⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast⁠⁠. 

In this episode, Deb Aikat, University of North Carolina Professor of Journalism and Media, talks with the UC Riverside School of Public Policy about how technology impacts government processes and media communication. They discuss the media's crucial role during the pandemic and emphasize the importance of providing balanced news to support a healthy democracy. This is the seventh episode in our 11-part series, Technology vs. Government, featuring former California State Assemblymember Lloyd Levine.

About Deb Aikat:

A former journalist, Deb Aikat has served as a faculty member in UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media since 1995. Aikat’s peers elected him to lead as the 2023 President of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), the premier 112-year-old scholarly organization with members in 43 countries across six continents. An award-winning scholar, Aikat theorizes the role of media platforms in two democratic societies, India, the largest democracy of 1.4 billion people, and the United States, one of the oldest modern democracies. By integrating news agenda-setting and agenda melding concepts, Aikat has theorized how media platforms in India and the U.S. are empowering people to protest, publish and provoke ideas through media platforms devoid of government control.

Learn more about Deb Aikat via https://hussman.unc.edu/people/deb-aikat

Interviewers:

Lloyd Levine (Former California State Assemblymember, UCR School of Public Policy Senior Policy Fellow)

Rachel Strausman (UCR Public Policy Major, Dean’s Chief Ambassador)

Music by: Vir Sinha

Commercial Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://myadv.ucr.edu/forms/spp-neumann

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/ba-mpp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

This is a production of the UCR School of Public Policy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Learn more about the series and other episodes via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spp.ucr.edu/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.