News

Serving as a Fellow at a national civil rights organization in Washington, D.C. means learning quickly that policy work does not pause, even when everything around it feels unstable. During my time at the LULAC National Office, my fellowship unfolded amid a government shutdown,...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: "Still Here": Holding Ground and Advocating at LULAC Through a Government Shutdown

This fall, I served as a Policy and Research Fellow at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Office, the largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization in the United States, founded in 1929. LULAC’s legacy of advocating for educational equity, civic...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: "Aquí 'stoy": Tracing Roots and Resiliency while Interning at LULAC in Washington, D.C.

The IGS Library (IGSL) has made remarkable progress in its multi...Read more about The Library Corner - Fall 2025 Recap Edition

Since December 2023, I’ve been pulling local government documents—usually issued by cities, towns, and regional authorities—from our library stacks, preparing them for our digitization partners, and then reshelving them once again. In the...Read more about Dusty Shelves and the Quiet Work of Democracy

Digitized in February 2025 as part of the California Local Government Documents Collection, the Loyola Corners Neighborhood Commercial Center Specific Plan (City of Los Altos, 1990) offers a vivid example of how local governments use specific...Read more about Spotlight on Local Planning: The Loyola Corners Specific Plan

This week the Institute of Governmental Studies will be conducting another of its periodic polls of the California public about major political and public policy issues facing the state. It is a legitimate non-partisan poll sponsored by...Read more about Berkeley IGS Poll in Progress this Week (Oct 20 - Oct 27)

Few experiences capture the tension of DC quite like a government shutdown. Witnessing firsthand the frustration and resilience of our representatives has come with both uncertainty and confusion. While it is deeply disheartening and disappointing to see programs halted,...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: Finding Resilience in Chaos and Uncertainty: Supporting Constituents During a Historic Government Shutdown

I currently work at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center, a community space for queer folks. They provide food, community events, basic needs, and generally, a space for people to exist. People who come in are encouraged to think of the space as a sort of “second living room.” I am...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: "A Second Living Room": Supporting Safe Community Spaces in the Humming Humidity of DC

I’ve definitely hit the ground running. As a National Security, Intelligence, and International Affairs Research Intern at the Institute of World Politics, I’ve been mentored by an Ambassador, numerous professor-practitioners, a defense contractor, and inspiring academics. I’ve...Read more about UCDC Fall 2025: Full and Busy, but Beautiful: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and Finding Wonder in Washington, D.C.

One of my favorite parts of working with the library's document collection is getting to take in all the imagery. In his poem "A Supermarket in California," Allen Ginsberg...Read more about Student Assistant Allie Carr: Shopping For Images

Welcome back to another dive into California's local history!

If you've been following our blog on the CA Local Documents Digitization Project website, you know that the...Read more about A History of Berkeley

Dr. Smith is best known for his leadership as the Assistant to the...Read more about Harold Palmer Smith, Jr., Distinguished IGS Scholar in Residence (1935-2025)

The Institute of Governmental Studies Library (IGSL) at UC Berkeley has reached a remarkable achievement: more than 5,000 local government documents from across California have been digitized and made freely accessible to the public!

...Read more about 5000th item digitized!

On Friday, May 23rd, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. sharp. It was the day I'd been waiting for since I had graduated a few days before. I was flying to Washington D.C. for the Democracy Camp program! I messaged the group chat with my cohort last night if anyone wanted to...Read more about 2025 Democracy Camp in DC Journal

California has become the epicenter of wildfire devastation, with recent years marked by unprecedented destruction and loss of life. The state now...Read more about California wildfires: documents in the California Local Government Documents digitization collection

This week the Institute of Governmental Studies will be conducting another of its periodic polls of the California public about major political and public policy issues facing the state. It is a legitimate non-partisan poll sponsored by...Read more about Berkeley IGS Poll in Progress this Week (June 2 - June 9)

Congratulations to these three incredible recipients of the prestigious Chancellor's Award!

The first recipient, Esme Nuno Mora, '26, is a 2025 Democracy Camp in Berkeley Alum with deep passion for creating higher pathways for unnaccompanied homeless youth, and aiming to pursue her PhD...Read more about Three IGS Alums recognized by prestigious Chancellor's Award

Spending a semester in Washington, D.C., was a defining chapter of my academic, professional and personal growth journey, one that has reshaped my aspirations for the future. From snowy days to the vibrant bloom of spring, my time in D.C. was truly an unforgettable experience....Read more about UCDC Spring 2025: Blossoming in Spring - How A Semester in D.C. Reaffirmed My Commitment to Public Service and Advocacy