UCLA Government and Community Relations recently hosted a conversation featuring L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Blueprint Editor-in-Chief Jim Newton at UCLA Downtown. The event, held in partnership with CalMatters, marked the 10th anniversary of Blueprint, which featured Harris-Dawson in its second issue and its latest. Held on the newly renovated UCLA Downtown rooftop, the conversation focused on key civic issues, including the proposed expansion of the city council and the upcoming mayoral runoff between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, highlighting the changing demographics of the city and differing strategies on housing policy. Harris-Dawson also discussed the implications of Spencer Pratt's unexpected candidacy and the influence of media on public opinion and governance in Los Angeles.
Newton, who also writes a column for CalMatters, mentioned the event in his latest piece.
UCLA’s annual Sustainable Bruin Move Out program helps students donate unwanted but usable items during move-out instead of throwing them away. This year, students donated nearly five tons of furniture, appliances, kitchenware, and other household goods, including 3,200 pounds collected at campus drop-off sites and 6,600 pounds through Goodwill collections at university housing locations. The donated items were distributed to local nonprofit organizations such as Goodwill, the UCLA Thrift Store, and St. Joseph’s, reducing landfill waste while supporting the community. Volunteers, materials, and services came from the office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, Athens Services, University Credit Union, and LA Sanitation, as well as several UCLA
departments and campus organizations. Many students, especially those without a car, appreciated the convenience of on-campus donation sites, which made it easier to responsibly dispose of items such as mini-fridges, microwaves, and furniture. UCLA organizers say the program benefits both the environment and the Westwood community and plan to continue the effort in future years.
The programs and resources highlighted on the UCLA Community Partnerships website offer free services to the community and feature a wide variety of campus sponsors.
Watch this short video to learn how to: ► Search and browse hundreds of UCLA community programs ► Use the interactive map to find resources near you ► Browse initiatives in education, health, arts, and more ► Filter by legislative district (Congressional, California State Senate, State Assembly, L.A. City Council, and L.A. County Supervisor)
California has launched the first-in-the-nation AI-Unemployment Tracker, which connects unemployment insurance claims with data on occupational AI exposure to monitor labor market changes. Developed through a partnership between Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and the California Policy Lab at UCLA, this tool helps identify early signs of AI-related disruptions in the workforce. A report shows no statewide increase in layoffs as of May 2026 but highlights rising unemployment claims among college-educated workers in high AI-exposure occupations, particularly in the San Francisco Bay area. This data is meant to equip policymakers to anticipate and respond to the evolving labor landscape.
UCLA in Sacramento
In June, UCLA Government and Community Relations joined the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) in Sacramento to meet with legislative offices and advocate on behalf of UC legislative priorities including concerns with AB 1582 by Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro). AB 1582 would create operational restrictions across UC campuses, medical centers, and research laboratories, causing disruptions to student services, patient care, and research activities. This measure sets a dangerous precedent by turning narrow and specific arbitration rulings into a blanket prohibition on service contracts at a UC campus or medical facility. Under the framework proposed by AB 1582, if a UC campus or medical center commits a minor technical infraction, such as an administrative failure to
provide notice within a specific timeframe, that mistake could be used to block that location from using essential service agreements in perpetuity.
A new data brief from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute warns that the smoke advisory zone following the Lineage Logistics warehouse fire in Boyle Heights affects tens of thousands of residents and workers, 81% of whom are Latino. The findings reveal significant economic vulnerabilities, showing many workers earn below the very-low-income threshold and lack adequate access to paid leave and health coverage. The impacts of the fire, which burned for a week before being extinguished on June 24, extend beyond Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, disrupting the lives of those commuting into the area for work in essential industries. The research emphasizes the need for coordinated relief efforts that address the needs of both residents and workers.
On June 3, leaders from business, government, and academia gathered in downtown Los Angeles for America at 250: Mexican-American Leadership and the Future of the U.S.–Mexico Partnership, an event organized by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the American Mexican Leadership Council. The meeting focused on the economic, cultural, and civic connections between the U.S. and Mexico. Presentations included insights on reframing U.S.-Mexico relations as an economic partnership rather than a foreign policy challenge, plans for supporting Latino small businesses in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the role of representation in media.
Recent research from UCLA reveals that forest fires in California now burn significantly more acreage than in previous decades, with high-severity fires becoming the predominant type. The study identifies two main causes for this shift: the accumulation of fuel in densely forested areas due to fire prevention efforts and increasing environmental dryness. As a result, California's forests face a transformation toward grass and shrub ecosystems, jeopardizing the numerous ecological and economic benefits that forests provide. High-severity fires not only cause extensive tree death but also generate air pollution and increase flood risks, compounding challenges for water management amid ongoing drought conditions.
Extreme heat has become California's deadliest climate risk, generating an additional 1,500 emergency room visits daily in Los Angeles County during significant heat waves. In response, UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, alongside the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, leads the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative: Heat Education, Ambassadors, and Training (LARC-HEAT) initiative, which trains community health workers to educate residents about the dangers of heat exposure, while local governments provide cooling centers and shade infrastructure.
California State Controller Malia Cohen appointed Jerry Nickelsburg, economist at UCLA Anderson School of Management, as chair of the newly formed Council of Economic Advisors. In this role, Dr. Nickelsburg is charged with delivering evidence-based insights and practical policy recommendations on issues that shape the state’s fiscal health. The Council consists of Dr. Nickelsburg and six additional experts who analyze California’s economic performance across regions and industries, then provide data-driven solutions to key challenges in affordability, tax policy, healthcare, education, small business development, workforce development, and equitable growth.
Tanya Petrossian used her UCLA education in biochemistry and molecular biology to develop a new treatment for endometriosis that targets the disease itself instead of only managing symptoms.
From Capitol Hill to UCLA community partnerships, join our network of advocates driving change. Hit follow to get the latest on UCLA's impact and how you can get involved.
In this podcast episode, CRSHE Associate Director Stephanie Kiesow-Edoh and Dr. Amander Clark discuss the connections between science, education, and their impact on reproductive health.
Dr. Nima Nassiri, a urologic transplant surgeon at UCLA Health, successfully performed the first human bladder transplant in May 2025 on cancer survivor Oscar Larrainzar, who now has full use of his new bladder. Larrainzar achieved normal bladder capacity after six months, and Nassiri has identified two additional candidates for bladder transplants in his ongoing clinical trial. The possibility of re-transplanting in cases of failure suggests advancements in treating end-stage bladder disease.
Together, UCLA and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles form the IMPACT-LA site, one of 12 initial sites worldwide chosen to accelerate clinical trial readiness and implementation for autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions. This initiative targets children from birth to 18 years old and involves collecting comprehensive data to support the development of better treatments. With a goal of promoting inclusive research, the program will enhance collaboration between institutions and strengthen autism research efforts across the L.A. region.
Supporting Communities: UCLA's Impact
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles throughUCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS)supports innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship about Southeast Asia, and serves as an important resource for those whose research and interests intersect with this region. Designated as a National Resource Center for Southeast Asia, CSEAS also hosts public programming, organizes teacher training programs, and develops curricular materials accessible to K-12 schoolteachers.
