UCLA Luskin

Luskin Formal 2024
2024-04-27 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pauley Pavilion Club
Saturday, April 27th @7:00PM
Purchase your ticket here: https://tinyurl.com/chbmuabw
Get your dancing shoes on and join us for a disco-themed school Formal! It’s time to boogie under the disco ball and have a blast with friends. This event is open to all Luskin School Graduate and Undergraduate students. Don’t miss out on the fun – see you there!
Did you buy a ticket to Super Quiz Bowl? If so, no need to wait in line to get into Formal. Just show us your Quiz Bowl confirmation at the door.
Super Quiz Bowl Registration: https://luskin.ucla.edu/event/super-quiz-bowl-2024
Time: We will begin entry promptly at 7:00pm and end at 10:00pm. Check in will close at 9:00pm.
Dress Code: Semi-Formal
Parking: While rideshares (Zone 4) and carpooling are encouraged, the closest lot is Parking Structure 7. Existing parking permits are valid, otherwise use the Pay-by-space area.
Location: The Pauley Pavilion Club entrance is along Bruin Walk.

ID’s will be checked at the door and those of legal drinking age will receive wristbands.
There will be no ticket purchases at the door.
You may purchase up to 3 tickets at a time for yourself and guests of your choice.

MSW Licensure and Clinical Social Work Alumni Panel
2024-04-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
This panel discussion will feature alumni sharing their insights and reflections on navigating the MSW licensure process, working in clinical social work roles, and how licensure has shaped their career pathways.

Meet and Greet with Jeff Lyu MPP/MBA ’16
2024-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 | 4371 Public Affairs Building, 3250 Public Affairs Bldg, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
This discussion will Jeff Lyu MPP/MBA ’16, Senior Consultant at InfraStrategies LLC, sharing insights and reflections on navigating the MBA/MPP dual degree program. It offers a valuable opportunity for current students, prospective applicants, and fellow alumni to gain firsthand knowledge of the challenges, opportunities, and rewards associated with the program.

Luskin BIPOC Alumni in Consulting
2024-04-24 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual Event
This event aims to highlight the significant contributions of BIPOC professionals in the consulting industry, share insights on navigating the unique challenges they face, and inspire current students and recent graduates by showcasing the paths to success.
Panelists:
Richard Xavier Corral MPP ’02, CEO and Principal Consultant, Corral Consulting
Jennifer S. Payne, Ph.D. Social Welfare ’11, Assistant Professor The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Allison Mannos, B.A., Asian American Studies & Urban Planning ’10, Senior Manager, Transportation Planning, Office of Equity and Race

Navigating the Future: AI and Public Affairs
2024-04-23 12:00 - 13:15 | Virtual, CA, United States
This panel seeks to illuminate AI’s multifaceted impact, discussing its transformative potential and challenges. Luskin alumni connected to this dynamic field will share their experiences and expertise.
Prof. John Villaseñor will be moderating the panel. https://law.ucla.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/john-villasenor
Timothy Papandreou MURP ’04, Emerging Transportation Advisors (ETA) Founder/CEO
Ghislene Adjaoute MSW ’18, Data Scientist at Becton Dickinson
Nisa Gurbuz is a Ph.D. student at USC specializing in digitalization in organizations and Generative AI integration with management. She also works for the USC Price Center for Social Innovation and is a MURP ’21

Driving Change: How UCLA Luskin Alumni Are Shaping Transportation
2024-04-22 12:00 - 13:15 | Room 4357 Public Affairs Building, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
We are thrilled to invite you for an inspiring and insightful panel discussion, “Driving Change: How UCLA Luskin Alumni Are Shaping Transportation.” This event showcases our alums’ remarkable achievements and innovative contributions in the transportation sector. Join us as we delve into the challenges and breakthroughs that underscore our shared journey toward creating a more connected and sustainable world.

Moderator: Juan Matute MBA/ MURP ’09, Deputy Director of UCLA’s Institute of Transportation
Panelists:
Khristian DeCastro MURP ’21, Principal Transportation Planner at LA METRO
Karishma Shamdasani MPP ’21, Transportation Deputy, Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell
Ryland Lu MURP ’18, Senior Planner at UCLA Transportation

Career Tour: Center for Nonprofit Management
2024-04-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Center for Nonprofit Management, 1000 N Alameda St #250, Los Angeles, 90012, United States
Join the Office of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations to meet with representatives from the Center for Nonprofit Management and their partner organizations in Downtown LA. In this career tour, students will learn more about the type of work being done at different organizations, how the CNM supports this work, and how these professionals got involved in nonprofit work through their career journey.

Luskin Summit 2024: Transformative Action
2024-04-17 07:30 - 14:30 | UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The sixth annual Luskin Summit will take place on the UCLA campus on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. UCLA scholars, government officials, political and business leaders, and difference-makers in the nonprofit and ​philanthropic spheres will come together to explore some of the major issues facing Los Angeles and California.
AGENDA
7:30 a.m. Check-In and Breakfast
8:15 a.m. Opening Remarks
8:30 a.m. Results of the Quality of Life Index
9:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions, Round 1
Track 1: Climate Resilience
Cooling Strategies for an Active L.A.: Schools, LA2028 and Beyond
Track 2: Elections and Governance
Understanding the Diversity of the Los Angeles Electorate
Track 3: Equity in Transportation
Advancing Universal Basic Mobility for Those in Need: L.A.’s Mobility Wallet Pilot
10:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions, Round 2
Track 1: Climate Resilience
Transformative Climate Communities in the L.A. Region
Track 2: Elections and Governance
Los Angeles City Council Considers Major Changes
Track 3: Equity in Transportation
A Capital Improvement Program for Los Angeles
Noon: Keynote Session on Homelessness
1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch
REGISTRATION DETAILS
$50: general admission$15: UCLA students
Please register by April 14, 2024

SPONSORS

Spring Career and Internship Fair
2024-04-16 16:00 - 18:30 | UCLA James West Alumni Center, Los Angeles, United States
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Registration to participate in the Luskin Spring Career & Internship Fair ends on April 13 at 7:00AM. All Luskin students are encouraged to participate. Many of our employers are recruiting for both full-time and internship openings. Click the “Employers” tab to see who is coming and what type of positions they are recruiting for. First year students, this is a great opportunity to network with a future employer. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
EMPLOYERS
You are invited to participate in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Career & Internship Fair on Tuesday, April 16 from 4:00-6:30pm at James West Alumni Center. There is no charge to participate.
The focus will be on full-time positions starting in Summer/Fall 2024, but if you also have internship opportunities available, we welcome you to recruit for those as well since our first year graduate students are also invited to participate in the fair.
At the Luskin Career Fair, you will have the opportunity to speak with Public Policy, Urban and Regional Planning, and Social Welfare graduate students looking for job and internship opportunities. Our graduate students are interested in a variety of fields, including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, public service and private sector establishments, mental health clinics, hospitals, social service agencies.
Please register by Friday, April 5 to reserve your spot.
If you have any questions, please contact Nandini Inmula at ninmula@luskin.ucla.edu.

Senior Fellows in Health Policy/Practice Fields
2024-04-16 12:30 - 13:30 | Room 4357 Public Affairs Building, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Four Senior Fellow Mentors working in health policy/practice fields will serve on a panel to discuss their career paths, their organizations’ work, and their expertise in their respective areas. Light lunch will be served.
Panelists include:
Cathy Choi, Eisner Foundation
Tom Epstein, Blue Shield (Formerly)
Alissa Ko, Health Net
Graduate students RSVP through CareerHub. All other attendees and guests can email Kevin Medina (kmedina@luskin.ucla.edu) to RSVP.

Understanding Social Work Licensure with NASW
2024-04-12 11:30 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join Raquel Ibarra, MSW, PPS (Membership Engagement Manager, NASW-CA) to learn about the process of social work licensure in the State of California. Raquel will introduce NASW-CA and the BBS, provide an overview into the licensure process (describing steps from graduation to sitting for the licensure exam), mention the new Law and Ethics requirement change, review Supervision requirements, and describe licensure related NASW-CA offerings.
Licensure can be daunting and complicated, but this presentation aims to break down the steps in detail so you feel informed and prepared. Following the presentation, Raquel will hold time for Q&A.

Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Graduation Workshops
2024-04-11 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-04-05 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-03-26 15:00 - 16:30 | Zoom
REGISTER HERE!
Are you a Public Affairs major planning to graduate this year? Attend a Luskin Undergraduate Program Graduation Workshop to learn about graduation requirements, commencement logistics, resources for graduating students, and how to prepare for your final quarter at UCLA.
The Spring 2024 Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Graduation Workshop is open only to students who are graduating Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024.
The workshops will be held on the following dates via Zoom:

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 3:00pm-4:30pm
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 10:30am-12:00pm
Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 2:00pm-3:30pm

Register here! Registrants will be emailed the Zoom meeting information.
Website
For detailed information about the Luskin Undergraduate Program commencement ceremony, visit the Luskin Undergraduate Program Graduation & Commencement website.
Questions?
For questions about undergraduate graduation or commencement, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.

Canceled: ComeUnity Reparations Into Land Liberation and Homefulness
2024-04-11 00:00 | Cancelled
Statement from the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy:
UCLA Activist-in-Residence Lisa “Tiny” Gray-Garcia was scheduled to speak at a public event planned for April 11, 2024, 5-7 p.m. Regrettably, the Institute has learned of credible threats of violence against Tiny, and therefore the event is canceled.

San Francisco Alumni Regional Reception
2024-04-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Executive Order Bar and Lounge, 868 Mission St., San Francisco, 94103, United States
Dear alumni,
You are cordially invited to our Luskin Alumni Regional Reception in San Francisco. This networking event brings together alumni from all four departments (Public Policy, Social Welfare, Urban Planning and the Undergraduate Program) that comprise the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Join us on Friday, April 5th, 2024
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Executive Order Bar and Lounge
868 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103
The event offers alumni, faculty, students and staff the opportunity to connect with a vibrant and diverse group of individuals committed to social change, building community and giving back to Luskin.
The evening will include brief remarks from Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris and Director of Alumni Engagement Karina Mascorro. Also speaking will be Sr. Director of Development Ricardo Quintero.
We will have complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. You will have plenty of time to mingle.
The venue is attached to the Westfield SF Centre, with its independent entrance just west of the doors to Bloomingdales.
We recommend public transportation, as parking in SF can be challenging.
The following transit lines have routes that pass near the Westfield SF Centre.
Bus: 14, 5, 91
BART: Blue and Yellow Lines
We look forward to connecting with you!

Washington, D.C., Alumni Regional Reception
2024-03-27 18:00 - 20:00 | BLT Steak DC, 1625 I (Eye) Street NW, Washington DC, 20006
Dear alumni,
You are cordially invited to our Luskin Alumni Regional Reception in Washington, D.C. This networking event brings together alumni from all four departments (Public Policy, Social Welfare, Urban Planning and the Undergraduate Program) that comprise the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Join us on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024
6-8:00 p.m.
BLT Steak-DC
1625 I (Eye) Street NW, Washington D.C. 20006
The event offers alumni, faculty and staff the opportunity to connect with a vibrant and diverse group of individuals committed to social change, building community and giving back to Luskin.
The evening will include brief remarks from our Interim Dean Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris and Director of Alumni Engagement Karina Mascorro. Also speaking will be Senior Director of Development Ricardo Quintero.
We will have complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
We highly recommend that all of our guests take public transportation. The steak house is close to the Ferragut North and Ferragut West Metro Stations.

Winter 2024 Public Affairs Application Major Information Session
2024-03-25 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-03-21 16:00 - 17:00 | 2343 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, United States
REGISTER HERE
Are you applying to the Public Affairs major this year?
Join us at the Public Affairs Major Application Information Session to learn about the major application eligibility criteria and application process! The major application information sessions are open to students who are applying to the Public Affairs major this Winter 2024. All Major Application Information Sessions are the same. Please register to attend the session that best fits your schedule.

Information Session #1:

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm (PT)
Location: 2343 Public Affairs Building
Register here

Information Session #2:

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm (PT)
Location: Zoom
Register here

Information Session #3:

Date: Monday, March 25, 2024
Time: 11:00am-12:00pm (PT)
Location: Zoom
Register here

Registration
Register here to attend. If you are registering for the online session, you will receive the Zoom meeting link to your information session after you register.
Application Materials
You can access the major application materials on the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program “apply to the major” website.
Questions?
For questions, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.

UCLA ITS Downtown LA Forum: Transforming Transportation
2024-03-21 09:00 - 16:00 | The California Endowment, 1000 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA, 90012, United States
Recent UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies activities have explored the dynamics between yearning for change within the transportation system and the challenges posed by unwillingness or inability to implement necessary changes. Launched in January 2023, TRACtion is a collaborative effort between community-based advocates and UCLA researchers, aiming to craft a comprehensive agenda that tackles barriers to achieving sustainable and just transportation in Los Angeles. Also last year, the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Symposium discussed many of the same themes.
Join professionals, researchers, community activists, and students at UCLA ITS’ first downtown symposium since 2019! This in-person event will focus on an exciting release of the TRACton: Transforming Transportation report at The California Endowment. Speakers will discuss in-depth themes from the report and the 2023 UCLA Arrowhead Symposium, including:

Internal Capacity of Government Agencies
Inter-Agency Coordination
Pilot Projects for Learning and Demonstration
Decision-making
Reconsidering the Status Quo
Managing Multiple People in the Public Sector
Visioning and Planning
Inclusion and Diversity
Public Engagement

Register Here
Registration fee covers access to full programming and materials, breakfast, lunch and reception.
Schedule

9:30 AM
Welcome
Juan Matute welcomes attendees and introduces the TRACtion process and its recommendations for researchers and policymakers in Los Angeles.

10 AM
Session 1 TRACtion: A community-engaged research agenda for transportation sustainability and justice
TRACtion participants Oscar Zarate (community organizer), Andres Ramirez (mobility justice advocate), and Tierra Bills (Assistant Professor at UCLA) discuss the importance of partnering with communities to produce knowledge.

11:15 AM
Session 2 TRACtion Research in Action
Researchers present work related to the TRACtion research agenda.
In researching California’s transit labor recruitment and retention challenges, Jacob Wasserman and the research team found that pay raises are necessary but not sufficient to address labor shortages that impair services and ridership. Wasserman will discuss what else agencies should be doing.
Manos Proussaloglou will present recent research into freeway planning choices made in California during the 1960s that displaced people of color and continue to reverberate today.
Qiao Yu will share recent research on EV adoption in California that found improvements to air quality for everyone but have less impact in areas with existing environmental injustices.

12:15 PM
Lunch
Lunch is provided and attendees are invited to network and engage in discussions.

1:30 PM
Session 3 Lessons Learned from Transforming Transportation: 2023 UCLA Arrowhead Symposium
Attendees of the 2023 UCLA Arrowhead Symposium on Transforming Transportation share key messages and lessons learned.

3 PM
Keynote Speaker
California State Transportation Undersecretary Mark Tollefson discusses the objectives for California’s Transit Transformation Task Force, initiated by the 2022 budget cycle to rethink funding and policies to set transit up for success well into the future.

3:45 PM
Closing Remarks
UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies Director Brian Taylor offers closing remarks.

4 PM
Reception
Attendees will gather in the outdoor courtyard with appetizers and beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Sweeping Stolen Streets
2024-03-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Room 2355 Public Affairs Building, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Sweeping Stolen Streets: Hygienic Metaphors, The Violence of Exposure, and the Lie of Safety is part 1 of 2 featuring fellow poverty, disability, indigenous skolaz and co-authors from POOR Magazine/Homefulness.
In this urgently needed two-part presentation, UCLA Activist-in-Residence, Tiny (Lisa) Gray-Garcia aka PovertySkola, will walk, pray, vision, spit poetry and talk-story us through how housed people with race, class or formal education privilege can linguistically liberate, lift up, honor, and radically share with houseless/ poor/ criminalized, disabled, youth, and elder “poverty skolaz” so that we can all be safe.

Thursday, March 14, 2024
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Discussion (pizza served)

UCLA Luskin Iftar
2024-03-14 | UCLA James West Alumni Center, Los Angeles, United States
Celebrate Ramadan with fellow UCLA students and alumni and learn about the holy month’s importance to our Muslim colleagues at a commemoration coordinated by the UCLA Grad Student Muslim Student Association and UCLA Muslim Alumni Association in partnership with the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Members of the UCLA community are invited to observe a day of fasting on Thursday, March 14, followed by a communal Iftar at 6 p.m. featuring speakers, friends and great food. Please bring your own water bottle as this is a green event.
For those interested in fasting, an info session/workshop will take place Monday, March 11, from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. via Zoom.RSVP to reserve your spot at the Iftar.

Public Affairs Major Application Information Session
2024-03-13 16:00 | 2343 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, United States

The UCLA Luskin Lawmakers
2024-03-07 17:30 - 20:00 | Legacy Room, Luskin Conference Center at UCLA, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
How 3 alums — one from each UCLA Luskin master’s program — are making a difference in California policymaking. Lourdes Castro Ramírez MA UP ’96, L.A.’s chief housing and homelessness officer, will provide a housing perspective rooted in her experience as a policymaker and practitioner at the federal, state and local level, then discuss current and future efforts to bring people inside and build more affordable housing. This will segue into a conversation about housing with Caroline Menjivar MSW ’18 of the state Senate and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan MPP ’18.

Thursday, March 7, 2024
5:30 pm – Check-In and Reception
6:30 pm – Lecture and Panel Discussion
Learn more and register

Architecture’s Promise: Designing Equitable Futures
2024-03-07 14:30 - 17:30 | UCLA Schoenberg Hall, 445 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Dana Cuff, professor of urban planning and architecture and urban design, will deliver the 135th UCLA Faculty Research Lecture, focusing on architecture’s limits and potential in fulfilling promises of sustainability and equity. Cuff will explore the democratization of good design, demonstrating that small acts of research-based architecture can create powerful new forms of buildings and cities.
Cuff is director of UCLA’s cityLAB and founder and director of UCLA’s Urban Humanities Initiative, a collaboration of the School of the Arts and Architecture, the Luskin School of Public Affairs and the UCLA College Humanities Division.
Her lecture will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Ananya Roy, professor of urban planning, social welfare and geography and director of the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. Visit the website to register in advance, or register before the March 7 event in the lobby of Schoenberg Hall starting at 2:30 p.m.

EVENT AGENDA
2:30 p.m. — Registration opens in the lobby of Schoenberg Hall
3:00 – 4:15 p.m. — Lecture and Q&A at Schoenberg Hall (live recorded)
4:15 – 5:30 p.m. — Reception at Schoenberg Terrace

Pizza & Pie Resource Fair
2024-03-05 12:00 - 13:30 | 3rd Floor Commons, 337 Charles E. Young Drive East, 3383 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The resource fair aims to provide valuable information, services, and opportunities to the Luskin student body. Having access to the support services will enhance your academic journey and overall well-being. Your participation will be greatly appreciated. Registration is required this year. This quarter’s event will feature Pizza & Pies!

A Global Perspective: Meet and Greet with International MURP '10 Alumnus Ramiro Alberto Ríos
2024-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Ramiro Alberto Ríos is a seasoned urban mobility and transport consultant with 15 years of urban mobility and transport expertise. His diverse portfolio ranges from bike-share systems to urban rail and Bus Rapid Transit project implementation. Ramiro played a key role in expanding JUMP e-bikes at Uber and led sustainable transport initiatives at the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. With a background spanning public and private sectors, NGOs, and municipal government, he oversees projects across Europe, Latin America, and the United States from his base in Brussels, Belgium. Ramiro is also the Founder and Director at reHabitar, a Mexican startup specializing in revitalizing abandoned historic properties in Guadalajara’s Historic Center.
Ramiro earned his master’s in urban planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs in 2010, specializing in transport and urban mobility. At Luskin, his research focus encompassed the impact of mobility on well-being in urban and rural Mexico and Latin America. Ramiro actively contributed to advancing low-carbon urban transport, critically examining the shortcomings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and its transport projects. During his Master’s, he produced over 10,000 GIS maps, illustrating migration routes from nearly 2,500 Mexican municipalities and correlating them with their destinations in the United States. We are excited to announce a special event for our community – a Meet and Greet session with a distinguished alumnus from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) Class of 2010.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our current students, faculty, and staff to connect with an accomplished professional who once walked the same halls and shared similar experiences. Our esteemed alumnus has graciously agreed to share insights into their post-graduation journey, professional experiences, and the impact of their MURP education on their career. Gain practical knowledge, network with Ramiro Alberto Rios and discover the keys to thriving in a globalized world.

MSW Resume Workshop
2024-02-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
As you prepare to submit your choices for MSW placements and reach out to agencies, join us to go over tips for social welfare specific resumes. This important marketing document should always be geared to your specific audience and describe the relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments that qualify you for the position for which you’re applying. Creating a clear and impactful social work resume is essential for your job search!

Paving the Way: Luskin LGBTQ+ Alumni in Government
2024-02-22 12:00 - 13:00 | 5391 Public Affairs, Los Angeles, CA, United States
This event aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements and experiences of our LGBTQ+ alums who have made significant contributions to the field of government.
Panelists:
Jenny Delwood, BA ’06 International Development and Sociology, Minor in Public Affairs, Deputy Chief of Staff Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Aaron Ordower, MURP ’15, Environment Deputy, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath
Micah Peterson, MPP ’09, City Legislative Affairs Director for NYC Public Schools

Planners are Creative: Art, Culture and Imagination in Planning
2024-02-21 17:45 - 19:45 | UCLA Kerckhoff Hall Grand Salon, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095
A UC Regents Lecture by Mallory Rukhsana Nezam
This lecture is open to the public. Admission is free, but registration is required for each attendee. RSVP HERE
5:45 p.m. Check-in & Reception
6:30 p.m. Lecture
Arts and culture strategies in urban planning are evident around the country, with creative placemaking becoming a buzzed-about practice. Planning activities like cultural planning and cultural economic development similarly interact with art and culture, especially when produced in collaboration with creative people embedded in communities who help translate complex information in culturally relevant ways. Planners themselves bring so much creativity, and this talk will explore this context, focusing on how planners and planning departments may evolve their practices around creativity and imagination to deepen their work and foster equity.
About the Speaker
Mallory Rukhsana Nezam is a cross-sector culture-maker who loves cities and believes they have the tools to become more just and joyful. Her practice, Justice + Joy, engages stakeholders across sectors to de-silo the way cities are run and build new models for creative, interdisciplinary collaboration. Rukhsana Nezam earned a master’s of design from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, where she began research on artist residencies in government. She is co-founder of a lab focusing on embedding artists in government, CAIR Lab (Civic Artists in Residence), and is currently a senior cultural policy fellow with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, exploring a national platform for collaboration between the public sector and the arts. She has helped build arts and culture teams at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council of Boston, Transportation for America and PolicyLink. Raised in Missouri, she is the founding director of St. Louis Improv Anywhere, a performance art collective.
Part of the Transformative Action series:
Information is powerful only when it’s in a form that can guide achievable change. This year, the Luskin School is highlighting innovators — here and elsewhere — turning vision into reality and producing Transformative Action.
PARKING and TRANSIT
Public transportation: Big Blue Bus (Routes 2 and 17), Culver CityBus (Line 6), Metro
Ride hailing locations: Gateway Plaza, Luskin Conference Center
Lot 8 Parking: Self-parking is available in UCLA Parking Structure 8, Level 4, directly across the street from the center: 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
Parking Rates at Pay-By-Space stations – All day: $15, After 4pm: $3-5 (1-2 hours), $10 (all night)
Pay-By-Space only has a limited number of stalls available.
Land and Labor Acknowledgement
As a land grant institution, UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands) and are grateful to have the opportunity to work for the taraaxotam (Indigenous peoples) in this place. We pay our respects to Honuukvetam (Ancestors), elders, and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
We hold sacred the labor of enslaved Africans and immigrants, often exploited, indentured and underpaid, that built and continue to serve our institutions of higher education. We honor the labor and resistance of these ancestors, acknowledge that we benefit from this land and labor, and strive to work towards liberation for all.
