EDI Voices

Welcome to EDI Voices! In this forum, we center the diverse voices and experiences of people throughout our UCLA community and highlight important contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion.

For this issue of EDI Voices, we asked members of UCLA’s First Responders, from UCLA Administration, UCLA Emergency Medical Services, UCLA Fire, and UCLA Police Department, the following prompt: “How does our EDI mission inform your work at UCLA?”

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Fulfilling the EDI mission is instrumental to developing and implementing equitable and inclusive programs and services that understand the unique backgrounds, needs, and expectations of our large and diverse campus community. We are committed to protecting and supporting the security of our campus community, especially those who have been harmed by others, recognizing that not everyone defines protection and support in the same way. We are also advocates of free speech and of allowing differing perspectives to exist in the same space, and this is reflected in the way in which Administration engages with the community and responds to associated events on campus.

Vice Chancellor Michael Beck (UCLA Administration)

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Equity, diversity and inclusion are not mutually exclusive – they are paramount to success, and this could not hold more true for law enforcement. As the Personnel and Training Sergeant for UCPD, equity manifests as fairness and equality for opportunity, and inclusion promotes an environment of consistency and openness. Diversity calls for representation inclusive of people from all walks of life.

Sergeant Camille Brox (Personnel and Training Division, UCLA Police Department)

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As a daughter of Peruvian immigrants, I feel extremely proud to be part of UCLA EMS as a 911 first responder. I am grateful for the ability to assist patients in their hour of need and be an asset medical provider to Spanish speaking individuals. Being fluently bilingual has helped me better support the Latinx community in the healthcare field and encourage others, like me, to reach for their aspirations in medicine.

EMT Astrid Cabrera (UCLA Emergency Medical Services)

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As the only female in the department and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, my mission is to lead inclusively and elevate equity. This means actively and intentionally providing a psychologically safe environment that fosters diversity, full participation, and sense of belonging of every personnel, colleague, and customer. It is our priority to serve the community with just work, addressing ways to access our services including fire suppression, fire prevention, and public education for everyone. To be a JEDI (Just work, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), professing EDI must be aligned and accompanied with practice.

Captain Jamie Ellazar (Assistant Fire Marshal, UCLA Fire)