UCLA Extension and The SoLa Foundation announced a new collaboration that will expand access to UCLA Extension programming and connect residents in South L.A. to economic opportunity at the SoLa Foundation’s Crenshaw campus. Launching this fall through UC Excelerator @ UCLA Extension, the partnership will offer workshops and continuing education courses in high-demand fields and topics, including AI, product design, storytelling, entrepreneurship and project management. The partnership aims to equip a new generation of entrepreneurs while also investing in the future of Los Angeles.
In the spirit of the World Cup, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) organized the first month-long 2026 HACLA Youth World Cup Tournament, with children from 10 to 13 years old representing 11 HACLA housing communities across L.A. A central goal of the competition was to expose participants to institutions of higher education by hosting events on college campuses, reinforcing HACLA’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for its residents.
On July 11, the championship finals featured teams from Mar Vista Gardens, Pico Gardens, San Fernando Gardens, and Rancho San Pedro competing for the title at UCLA. Prior to the tournament, the UCLA Community Programs Office offered campus tours to the young people and their families. At the end of the long day, the San Fernando Gardens team, representing Portugal, won. “We are deeply grateful to UCLA for hosting the championship and for welcoming our players and their families with a campus tour. By opening their doors, UCLA gave our youth the chance to see themselves as students someday, reinforcing the importance of higher education and showing them that their dreams are within reach,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, president and CEO of HACLA and a UCLA alum.
The event also honored the legacy of HACLA Community Engagement Manager Eric Washington, whose dedication to youth and community continues to inspire.
Tom Poveromo, UCLA Transportation’s fleet acquisition specialist, has been responsible for procuring nearly 4,000 vehicles for the university over the past 27 years, including police cars, ambulances, and other mobile assets. Now comes the all-electric "preschool on wheels" for UCLA Health Head Start. This 40-foot mobile learning environment serves children ages 3-5 and their parents in the Van Nuys area, providing essential resources and educational opportunities.
In early June, the UC Student and Policy Center convened economists, state leaders, industry representatives, UC scholars, and policymakers to discuss economic issues facing California. The event featured the release of the 2026 UCLA Anderson Economic Forecast, and included panels on the state's budget, energy costs, and future economic prospects.
View the Anderson Forecast presentation here and expert panels here.
A UCLA-led study finds California’s forests are burning more severely than at any point in the last 40 years — a change linked to both climate change and forest management.
A recent study by the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute revealed that immigration enforcement in Los Angeles County significantly harmed small businesses and Latino entrepreneurs. Many entrepreneurs reported fewer customers and financial struggles, with 95% experiencing ongoing financial stress nearly a year later. The study concluded that businesses located near enforcement sites lost around $3.16 million in revenue in just two weeks, suggesting potential countywide losses of up to $114 million. As a result, numerous business owners have reduced their operations, combined locations, or considered closing entirely due to sustained economic pressures.
Billy Mills, a trailblazing civil rights attorney and public servant, played a crucial role in shaping Los Angeles after the Watts uprising in 1965. As one of the first Black members elected to the Los Angeles City Council, he worked alongside future mayor Tom Bradley to enhance community infrastructure in South L.A. Mills served on the Los Angeles Superior Court for more than 20 years after his appointment by Governor Ronald Reagan. A distinguished UCLA alumnus, he received numerous accolades for his commitment to justice, including the UCLA Law Award and the Public Service Award. Mills’ legacy includes scholarships for aspiring lawyers and a lasting impact on the communities he served.
The UCLA Alumni Association board of directors has welcomed three new members and appointed four officers, effective July 1. Cinthia Flores (above) will serve as president, and Devon Dickau will take on the role of vice president. Sonia Das becomes the new secretary, and Chris MacLaughlin fills the treasurer position. The newly elected members include Austin Berke, Sonya Brooks, Ron Yee, and Diana Zschaschel, who bring diverse professional backgrounds to the board, enhancing its commitment to engaging alumni and advancing the association's mission.
A Cyclospora infection occurs when someone consumes food or drinks water contaminated by human feces, often linked to raw fresh produce. Symptoms typically include frequent, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, and fatigue, with some experiencing nausea, weight loss, or low-grade fever. Cooking is the most effective method to eliminate the parasite, so individuals can reduce their risk by opting for cooked vegetables, peeled fruits, and thoroughly washed whole produce.
Plastic. It has become a ubiquitous part of modern life — in water bottles, shopping bags and car dashboards, among myriad other products and uses. But once discarded, it is among the most difficult materials on earth to recycle. A team co-led by researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Ewha Womans University in South Korea has demonstrated a new method that converts a mixture of the three most common plastics into high-purity hydrogen fuel. The process locks carbon dioxide away as a solid mineral, preventing the greenhouse gas from being released into the atmosphere. Once activated, all three plastics decompose efficiently.
Researchers from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have developed a technique to integrate terahertz wave functions onto a single semiconductor chip, showcasing a significant advancement in creating compact devices for high-speed communication, imaging, security screening, and sensing. This innovation leverages quantum well semiconductor structures to efficiently generate and detect terahertz signals, moving away from the traditional bulky systems that rely on multiple components. The ability to scale down these systems could lead to practical terahertz technologies suitable for widespread use in various applications.
From smart grids to public policy to immersive art, UCLA is building a new model of innovation — one rooted in collaboration across disciplines and the real world.
In this UCLA Magazine video spotlight, celebrate more than 30 years of bringing innovative theater to Westwood and its unique bond with UCLA, the Geffen Playhouse continues to enchant.
UCLA Health recently conducted the first transplant of donor lungs using the Transmedics OCS warm perfusion device. This innovative device circulates a partial plasma solution through the lungs during transport, which helps maintain their function and reduces risks of ischemia. Key improvements include the ability to remove excess fluid from lung tissue, enhanced monitoring of lung health, and better design features for drainage and support during transport. These advancements represent a significant step forward in organ transplantation technology.
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 Congo Basin Institute (CBI) is a joint initiative of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and UCLA. IITA and UCLA are leading a multi-institutional initiative to co-create a new model for science in the Congo Basin that is deep, equitable, and permanent — one that harnesses research, partnerships, and community engagement to build lasting solutions for Africa’s people, landscapes, and food systems.
