Developing a new generation of leaders Heading link
The Urban Public Policy Fellowship (UPPF) program is a leadership development program designed to expose historically underrepresented minority undergraduate students at the University of Illinois at Chicago to key public policy issues. The program provides Fellows with seminars covering the areas of public policy-making, advocacy, community development, and service provision, and a valuable internship experience.
Students from all academic areas are eligible, including those with an interest in fields such as education, urban planning, political science, sociology, urban health, communication, and law. Upperclassman standing (minimum 45 hours) is necessary to participate in this non-degree, non-credit program.
UPPF Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process that considered grade point average, history of engagement, and leadership experience. Each Fellow has been assigned an internship service and is participating in seminars, workshops, and other activities designed to expose him or her to the theory and practice of public policy-making, advocacy, community development, and service provision. Fellows will be required to conduct public policy research projects and make public presentations on their projects at the end of the semester.
The goal of the program is to pair fellows with partner organizations who can provide students with insight into the inner-workings of government, community-based initiatives, non-for profits, and public policy. Fellows identify, research, and develop a public policy project guided by a research question that enhances their internship experience with partner organizations and are given the opportunity to present their public policy projects at an annual research conference.
The UPPF Program is administered by IPCE in partnership with the African American Academic Network (AAAN) and the Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services program (LARES).
2024-25 cohort: Applications are CLOSED
Meet our current cohort of UPPF Fellows! Heading link
The Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) in partnership with the African American Academic Network (AAAN) and Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) are pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Urban Public Policy Fellows:
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2024-25 UPPF Fellows
Jasmin Acevedo
Margarita Arango
Nia-Blessing Armstrong
Feliciti Crowder
Sanaa Davis
Edgar Flores
Christian Gamez
Alyssa Matlock
Jeremy Rivera
Monserrat Rizo
Nuria Rodgers
Mikee Rosales
Katie Soto
Ian Talley
Jessica Vega-Patino
Marc Zoppi
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Graduate Mentors
We are also welcoming three Graduate Mentors for the program: Marcus Daniels, Karlie Sanchez, and Alexander Diaz. Read more about their backgrounds and the experience they are bringing to the program on our staff page here.
UPPF Alumni Heading link
UPPF Alumni Fellows
The UPPF program is now in its twelfth year, and 218 historically underrepresented students have completed it. Recent alumni from this program have been accepted into policy-related graduate programs and have been employed by Chicago Public Schools, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Alivio Medical Center, UIC Medical Center, DNAinfo.com and City Colleges of Chicago.
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UPPF Alumni Fellows
The UPPF program is now in its twelfth year, and 218 historically underrepresented students have completed it. Recent alumni from this program have been accepted into policy-related graduate programs and have been employed by Chicago Public Schools, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Alivio Medical Center, UIC Medical Center, DNAinfo.com and City Colleges of Chicago.
Our partners Heading link
UPPF Community Partners
On behalf of the Urban Public Policy Fellowship (UPPF) program, administered through the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE), in partnership with the African-American Academic Network (AAAN) and the Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services Program (LARES) we would like to thank you for your support and for providing our students with a rewarding experience over the years!
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2023-24 Community Partners
Bickerdike Wendell Phillips High School Center for Neighborhood Technology Woodstock Institute Chicago Public Schools UIC- College of Architecture A + D Lab (Project Lab) Children’s Legal Center UIC- College of Liberal Arts and Science: Dr. Patrisia Macias-Rojas (Sociology Dept) Environmental Law & Policy UIC - Government Finance Research Center Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago UIC- Great Cities Institute (GCI) Latino Policy Forum UIC- Greater Lawndale Healthy Work Project (GLHW) Office of Julia Ramirez, 12th Ward Alderwoman UIC– Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) Office of Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th Ward Alderman Prior Years of UPPF Community Partners
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Institute for Health Research & Policy (IHRP) American Friends Service Committee Institute for Policy & Civic Engagement African Scientific Research Institute Instituto Del Progesso Latino; Rudy Lozano Campus After School Matters Ladder UP AIDSCare Latin American Recruitment Education Services (LARES) Program Alivio Medical Center Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) American Heart Association Latino Education Alliance (LEA) American Red Cross of Greater Chicago Latino Policy Forum American Theater Company Lawyers Committee for Better Housing Blackstar Project Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Café Media LePenseur Catholic Charities of Chicago Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) Center for Neighborhood Technology Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago Center of Excellence in Eliminating Health Disparities Metropolitan Mayor's Caucus China Chamber of Commerce and Technology Mexico Metropolitan Planning Council Chicago Art Department Metropolitan Tenants Organization Chicago Commons Mexican American Legal Defense Educational Fund (MALDEF) Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy CTR Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Mujeres Latinas en Acción Chicago Mayor’s Office New Covenant CDC Chicago Treasurer’s Office Nutrition Services, Chicago Public Schools Chicago Legal Clinic Office of Alderman Daniel Solis, 25th Ward Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Office of Commissioner Jesus 'Chuy" Garcia Chicago Justice Project Office of Commissioner Alma E. Anaya Chicago Public Schools Office of Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez - State Representative & Assistant Children’s Legal Center Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago - Economic and Neighborhood Development Majority Leader Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas, PhD, Senator, 20th Legislative District Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships Circles & Cipher Office of Congressman Danny Davis City of Blue Island Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising, Chicago Public Schools Clearbrook Office of Sustainability COIP Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Cook County Emergency Department One Summer Chicago, City of Chicago Cook County Department of Environmental Control PASO West Suburban Action Project Cook County Forest Preserve People For Community Recovery (through TSJ) Cook County State's Attorney's Office Pilsen Neighbors Community Council (PNCC) Cooperation for Supportive Housing Project Vida Department of Human Development & Family Studies – UIUC Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago DIYA Lab Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Economic Strategies Development Corporation Safer Foundation Edge Alliance Speaker of House Michael Madigan Office Eighteenth Street Development Corporation (ESDC) St. Leonard's Ministries English Learning Through Math, Science & Action Research (ELMSA) The Chicago Freedom School Enlace Chicago The Chicago Justice Project Erie Neighborhood Family Health The Puerto Rican Cultural Center Erie Neighborhood House The Resurrection Project Fathers Who Care The Young People's Project First Stop Health Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) Free Spirit Media U of I System Office of Governmental Relations (OGR) Frida Kahlo Community Organization U.S. State Attorney's Office Gamaliel of Metro Chicago UIC Biological Sciences Department Gigi's Playhouse UIC CCTS Girls in the Game UIC Center for Public Safety & Justice Greater Humboldt Park Wellness Center UIC CHECK Program Health Leads UIC College of Dentistry, Division of Prevention and Public Health Sciences Healthy Steps at UIC Hospital UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs Heartland Alliance UIC Great Cities Institute Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement UIC Greater Lawndale Healthy Work Project (GLHW) IFF UIC Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention UIC Latin American Recruitment Educational Services Program (LARES) Illinois Campaign for Political Reform UIC Medical Center Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights UIC Office of Governmental Relations Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence UIC Office of Sustainability Illinois Heart Rescue, UIC Emergency Medicine Department UIC Urban Health Program Inner City Muslim Action Network UIC Urban Transportation Center Instituto del Progreso Latino United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) University of Chicago, Inclusive Economy Lab