About

About IUPRA

The Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis is a non-partisan organization committed to applying empirical data to inform legislative policies that affect the quality of life of populations of color. Many of our projects focus on populations in the United States while some examine similar populations throughout the Diaspora. The Institute’s mission is based on our understanding of the critical role that public policy has historically and currently plays in determining the distribution of resources and opportunities by race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, language, orientation, and region. Our staff and graduate students use a variety of research tools and approaches to assess existing and proposed policies in areas such as health, education, criminal justice and public safety, housing, and income and wealth.

History

The Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis (IUPRA) was developed in 2011 through the collaborative efforts of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, the John Warfield Center for African and African-American Studies, and the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. Development of IUPRA was seen as an important method for understanding the impact of public policies on Black people and communities, especially in Texas. Conducting critical policy analyses of existing and proposed legislation was seen as a means of developing data about the causes, content, and consequences of public policy by race, ethnicity, class, language, sexual orientation, gender, history, and culture. The diverse products IUPRA generates are designed to meet the needs of local, national, and international audiences, including organizations, communities of color, legislatures, scholars, and the general public.

IUPRA is one of the units that comprise Black Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Together, Black Studies at UT Austin form a unique approach to university education, research, and cultural programming within the College of Liberal Arts. The effort to infuse public policy analysis within this framework is unique, innovative, and exciting. IUPRA’s focus on quantitative, mixed methods and community engagement approaches to policy analysis adds an applied sciences focus to scholarship within Black Studies.

We look forward to your continued support of our work as we serve the university, local communities, the city of Austin, the state of Texas, and national constituencies. What starts here changes the world!