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LRI
The Latino Research Institute is a research-focused entity within the College of Liberal Arts. The mission of the Latino Research Institute is to provide the infrastructure for the creation and dissemination of quality information about issues affecting Latino populations in the region, state, and nation. Together with the Center for Mexican American Studies and the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, the Institute supports the interdisciplinary study of Mexican-origin and Latino populations in Texas and beyond.
The Latino Research Institute will support the production of research and community-based projects that focus on five key areas in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies: politics and public policy, health and social equity, immigration, the arts, and an archive of materials and data relating to these areas.
By creating and supporting a community of scholars in Latino studies and building a comprehensive archive, the Latino Research Institute will serve as an invaluable resource for community volunteers, activists, policy makers, and other groups working to create programs and policies which directly affect the lives of Latinos in the United States.
About Us
The Latino Research Institute is a research-focused entity within the College of Liberal Arts. The mission of the Latino Research Institute is to provide the infrastructure for the creation and dissemination of quality information about issues affecting Latino populations in the region, state, and nation. Together with the Center for Mexican American Studies and the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, the Institute supports the interdisciplinary study of Mexican-origin and Latino populations in Texas and beyond.
The Latino Research Institute supports the production of research and community-based projects that conduct health/social equity and public policy research in the following areas:
- Chronic disease, prevention, and control
- Human development and parenting
- Mental health in at-risk populations
- Substance use and violence prevention
- Women’s health across the lifespan
Our Focus
RESEARCH
Interdisciplinary research that informs policy and actions to improve the well-being of Mexican American and Latina/o communities.
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TRAINING
Building and strengthening pathways to successful research careers for Latinos through mentorship programs, summer institutes, research internships, fellowships, and networks.
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COMMUNITY
Translating research findings into policy and actions in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
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- Our Mission
We believe in research that:
- Enables social justice
- Promotes the well-being of Latino communities
- Builds equitable and sustainable community partnerships
- Champions community-identified research priorities
- Incorporates culturally appropriate methods
- Considers implementation first, not last
- Informs policy and leads to real change
The Latino Research Institute is a research-focused entity within the College of Liberal Arts. The mission of the Latino Research Institute is to provide the infrastructure for the creation and dissemination of quality information about issues affecting Latino populations in the region, state, and nation. Together with the Center for Mexican American Studies and the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, the Institute supports the interdisciplinary study of Mexican-origin and Latino populations in Texas and beyond.
The Latino Research Institute will support the production of research and community-based projects that focus on five key areas in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies: politics and public policy, health and social equity, immigration, the arts, and an archive of materials and data relating to these areas.
By creating and supporting a community of scholars in Latino studies and building a comprehensive archive, the Latino Research Institute will serve as an invaluable resource for community volunteers, activists, policy makers, and other groups working to create programs and policies which directly affect the lives of Latinos in the United States.
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- A Message from the Director
The launch of the Latino Research Institute in 2016 was a milestone in the history of Latino Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Over five decch Institute is poised to become a national leader in research and policy about issues affecting Latinos. About two out of every five people in Texas, and one out of every six people in the United States, are Latino. What happens to Latinos happens to the nation. Our physical, economic, and cultural well-being is critical to the well-being of the United States as a whole.
Sound policy starts with good information. The mission of the Latino Research Institute is to provide the infrastructure for the creation and dissemination of quality information about issues affecting Latino populations in the region, state, and nation. We serve as a resource for communities, advocates, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
In just a few years, we've launched several major grants to study health issues that disproportionately impact Latino communities in South Texas. We've begun expanding our presence in Central Texas, launched a competitive fellowship program and a first-of-its-kind summer training institute for intersectional qualitative researchers, developed an impressive body of research on topics like immigration, women's and mental health, and education, and strengthened vital relationships in the greater Austin community.
I am honored to serve as the inaugural director of the Latino Research Institute and I welcome you to join me in shaping a healthy, vibrant future through research.Dr. Deborah Parra-Medina
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News
On Course With Liberal Arts: COVID-19 In Latino Communities
Since March, many social scientists whose research centers on Latino communities have pivoted their projects to account for the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on this highly vulnerable population. In June, the Latino Research Institute launched an initiative to bring together researchers from various institutions to share their latest findings, research methods, and more. A few of these researchers reflected on lessons learned so far and what a plan of action may look like for the Latino community.
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Join our research team!
The LRI has many exciting research projects and is always looking for graduate and undergraduate students interested in community-based research.
Our student research assistants participate in data collection and analysis, policy brief drafting, recruitment, and on-site coordination and they engage in critical discussions about the improving well-being of Latinos in the U.S.
Fill out the form below to tell us about your training and research interests. We'll be in touch about how you can get involved!
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Contact Us
210 W. 24th Street
GWB 2.102, F9200
Austin, TX 78712
Phone: 512-232-2264
Fax: 512-471-9639
Email: lri@austin.utexas.edu