Monica De La Cruz

Department and Institution: 
Social Welfare, UC Berkeley
Bio/CV: 

Monica De La Cruz is a doctoral candidate at UC Berkeley's School of Social Welfare. Her broad research interests focus on reducing family poverty within communities of color, specifically through innovative approaches like guaranteed income. Her dissertation recognizes the impact of social context and cultural narratives on both the conditions of those experiencing poverty and the formation of related policies. Her research includes studies on poverty narratives and perceptions of deservingness in the U.S., examining their effects on public opinions regarding guaranteed income and on those experiencing poverty. Monica aims to translate her research into policies that work to dismantle oppressive systems and reframe the national discourse on poverty to prioritize racial justice and recognize subsistence as a universal human right.

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