Cynthia Gonzalez

Cynthia Gonzalez is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. She previously served as Assistant Director of the Division of Community Engagement at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science and is an alumna of the RAND School's Faculty Leaders Program. Her work integrates community-based participatory research, cultural anthropology, and social ethnography to address urban community challenges.

Education:

• Alumna of the RAND School of Public Policy's Faculty Leaders Program

Research Interests: Focused on urban communities' impact on health equity, particularly for low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations in under-resourced areas. Her approach emphasizes 'local solutions to local problems' through social justice and multidisciplinary collaboration. Projects include the Watts Community Studio and Los Angeles Promise Zone Young Ethnographers Program, fostering partnerships between communities, governments, and academic institutions.

Advising/Grants: No specific grants or advising details noted in the text. Partnerships emphasize collective action rather than traditional academic grants.

Labs/Teams: Active in community-driven initiatives like the Watts Community Studio, designed to uplift marginalized urban neighborhoods through participatory design and policy interventions.