February 21st, 2025
The Center for Poverty and Inequality Research is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 Black History Month Essay Contest.
The competition is open to all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at UC Davis.
Entrants were asked to submit essays in response to the following question: ‘How Can We Reduce Racial and Economic Inequality in California?’
The winner is Ya Yang, a graduate student in the Department of Public Health Services. Congratulations, Ya!
Ya’s winning essay appeared as a guest commentary at CalMatters.org on February 18th, 2025.
The contest was judged by CPIR directors in collaboration with members of the center’s communications committee and senior writer.
We received a number of exceptional essays, all of which offered interesting and insightful perspectives on this topic.
First prize was $500, plus the opportunity to work with CPIR Senior Writer Ben Hinshaw to prepare the essay for potential placement as an op-ed.
Ya Yang
Read Ya’s winning essay at CalMatters here:
Investing in Black communities will have ripple effects throughout California
Amy Yang, ‘Family Amplified: A new educational policy addressing race and adult education’
Thank you to all the UC Davis students who entered, and to Yousef Baig, commentary editor at CalMatters, for his support.
