UCLA Government and Community Relations in partnership with the Alumni Association recently organized a series of educational events to help voters understand some of the most significant and contentious state and local ballot measures for the 2024 election. Jim Newton, a veteran journalist and editor of UCLA's
Blueprint magazine, moderated the panels, which featured UCLA experts and covered Proposition 33, Proposition 36, L.A. City Charter Amendment DD, and L.A. County Measures G and A. The panels discussed rent control, penalties for theft and drug trafficking, government structure, ethics, accountability, independent redistricting, and a tax increase to fund homeless services. If you missed these events, you can watch the recorded sessions here.
On October 8, more than 70 people from across Los Angeles gathered at a reception in Westwood Village to discuss Metro’s proposed future Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC) project. The STC4All Coalition was formed in 2021 to advocate for an equitable and accessible STC that includes a direct, on-campus UCLA station and a seamless connection to the Metro Purple/D Line Westwood Village station. This event marked the first in-person gathering since the coalition’s formation. During the reception, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, the first elected official to publicly endorse the coalition, provided virtual remarks. Coalition members and supporters also previewed two new videos about the
Sepulveda Transit Corridor and the Coalition. To learn more, visit https://www.stc4all.org/.
Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt's recent fall update highlights UCLA's involvement in the Getty's PST ART initiative, an update on the university's strategic plan one year after its launch, and efforts to help the community prepare for this year's important elections.
On October 5, UCLA Volunteer Day engaged thousands of new and continuing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members in nearly 40 service projects across the Los Angeles region. This large-scale annual event, now in its 16th year, supports UCLA's strategic goal of deepening engagement with diverse communities and has involved approximately 60,000 volunteers and contributed nearly 355,000 hours of service to date since 2009. It is making a significant impact on Southern California and beyond.
The fall 2024 issue of UCLA Magazine offers a glimpse into the lives of UCLA's incoming chancellor, Dr. Julio Frenk, and his wife, Dr. Felicia Knaul. The feature highlights their inspiring family histories of resilience and community, and reflects their steadfast belief in the power of possibility.
The rising influence of Latina voters in U.S. politics
A new research brief from the Latina Futures 2050 Lab emphasizes the increasing influence of Latina voters in U.S. politics, highlighting their potentially pivotal role in battleground states. Latinas comprise 12% of registered female voters and most of those who register also turn out to vote, giving them the potential to shape election outcomes, especially in five states where their numbers are especially high: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and California. The brief stresses the importance of addressing Latina voters' concerns and actively engaging them in the political process to ensure their voices are heard on critical issues such as women's rights, healthcare, and economic justice.
As get-out-the-vote efforts intensify across the country, a team of UCLA researchers and community organizations is focused on informing the over 2 million individuals with felony convictions about their restored voting rights. UCLA sociology professor Naomi Sugie is leading the team's efforts in partnership with trained scholars, students and volunteers to address voting obstacles and misinformation. The team seeks to educate and empower system-impacted individuals to exercise their right to vote by conducting interviews, implementing text-based outreach, and collaborating with community organizations.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded UCLA a $3.4 million grant to establish an Autoimmunity Center of Excellence (ACE) for studying the causes of autoimmunity and potential cures. Dr. Maureen Su is leading the center's focus on hormone-related autoimmune disorders, such as Type 1 diabetes. The center will concentrate on understanding long-term autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s immune system turns against the body itself; the impact of cancer immunotherapies on autoimmune disorders; and the mechanisms behind sex differences in endocrine autoimmune disorders to develop targeted cures.
During a recent event on campus, UCLA faculty and California NanoSystems Institute members led discussions about the potential of quantum sensing to address climate change and public health challenges. They are exploring how quantum sensing can integrate into sensor technology to provide more accurate and real-time data on atmospheric conditions. These advancements can help in making better public health decisions, such as preventing respiratory illnesses.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has awarded a $2.2 million grant to support the UCLA School of Law’s Tribal Legal Development Clinic for five years. The funding will help produce new practitioners and scholars who work in Indian law or whose work intersects with issues involving tribal sovereignty, and help expand UCLA Law’s reach and success in producing positive change.
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families brings together a diverse network of experts from across campus and Los Angeles County to develop innovative solutions aimed at reducing the need for foster care while advocating for fair reforms within the child welfare system.
