Tue, Oct 13 ~ “Youth Well-Being in SD” by Alicia Jurek, Ph.D. of Policy & Innovation Ctr ~ Westgate Hotel ~ Validated Parking

Join us monthly at the Westgate Hotel for great food, meaningful connections, and engaging programs featuring local leaders and community impact.

The Policy & Innovation Center (“PIC”) is a San Diego-based 501c3 launched in 2021 by founding partners including the San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and the Brookings Institute (the world’s leading think tank). The PIC conducts research, convenes stakeholders, recommends policy, and brings resources to communities to solve complex challenges including inequitable economic mobility.  Funding from the City of San Diego, as well as the San Diego and Prebys Foundations, was integral to this “Youth Well-Being in SD” analysis, which will be used by the City/County and multiple Foundations in evaluating existing/future policy and funding needs. Youth well-being is essential to any region’s long-term prosperity. Youth’s  early education, health, stability, and safety shapes their ability to thrive and reach their full potential for their entire lives. This report tracks these important dimensions of well-being over an 18-year timeframe for SD youth aged 0 to 24.

Alicia L. Jurek, Ph.D.
Director of Research: Policy & Innovation Center

She is Director of Research at the PIC, where she leads research that helps regional leaders decide where to invest, what to change, and who benefits. Her data-driven research impacts policy decisions across workforce development, climate planning, youth education, economic equity and public systems. She collaborates closely with governments, foundations, and civic organizations to translate complex analysis into  actionable guidance.

Dr Jurek has more than a decade of experience across policy research, government partnerships, and academia, including prior roles at the San Diego Workforce Partnership and on federally funded research teams. Her research examines how institutions and policy design shape equity and outcomes, particularly in public-sector systems. She has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and public reports used by decision-makers throughout the region and was lead author of the comprehensive Youth Well-Being in San Diego report.