Research and Policy Institute of California, RPIC is a non-profit organization that provides leadership training, public policies, and community awareness to the African American communities, through a variety of sponsored programs.

RPIC's goal is to bridge the gap between the African American community and access to resources which are essential to their economic, social and educational well being. We will build this bridge by providing opportunities and training for our leaders of tomorrow while serving as a research and analysis clearinghouse for today's public policy makers.

Our Mission

The Research and Policy Institute of California ("RPIC") is a non-profit organization that provides leadership training, public policies, and community awareness to the African American communities, through a variety of sponsored programs. 

Our Goals 

• Provide training through workshops, seminars, conferences, mentoring, networking, and fellowship programs.

• Assist our young people in the development of their leadership skills.

• Provide research and analysis and scholarly studies on public policy issues that affect the African American community.

• Establish a speaker bureau to further the discourse on public policy issues concerning the African American community.

President's Statement

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Research and Policy Institute of California (“RPIC”), I thank you for taking the time to learn more about our Institute.
The co-founders of RPIC joined together to increase the African American community’s ability to access the resources essential to economic, social and educational progress. To do this, we recognized that we must first work to increase effective communication between the African American community and public policy makers in California.

A critical relationship exists between policy makers and those affected by the policies being made. This bond, like any relationship, is dependant upon effective communication between the parties involved. Effective communication requires cooperative interaction between both sides working together to solve problems.

It is our desire at RPIC to foster this interaction through comprehensive research, leadership training and provocative forums and symposiums. With your help, we can strengthen the union between the African American community and policy makers as well as reinforce a foundation of success for the African American community in California.

Tommy Ross, President/Chair

Board of Directors 

Tommy Ross, President
Vice President of Public Affairs at Southern California Edison
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Michael A. Gunning, Secretary/Treasurer
Vice President of the Personal Insurance Federation of California
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Winston Doby, Director
Vice President of Student Affairs at University of California, retired
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Each director can be reached at (916) 492-6017.
 

RPIC Staff

Casanya Ursery, Executive Director
Juris Doctorate with a background in community action, student activities and creative productions

RaMaura Rucker, Program Manager
Bachelors in English with a background in Education and media