After January wildfires, Luskin students help one vulnerable community build resilience

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by Joey Waldinger

This spring, as Los Angeles recovered from wildfires that devastated Altadena and Pacific Palisades, a class of UCLA urban planning graduate students was learning how to help vulnerable neighborhoods prepare for the next one.

In assistant professor Minjee Kim’s Site Planning Studio, students spent the quarter immersed in Solano Canyon, repeatedly visiting the hillside community neighboring Dodger Stadium and meeting with residents to develop practical strategies for wildfire resilience.

The class was a crash-course in the realities of urban planning — unexpected challenges, stakeholder relationships and tight deadlines. But these challenges, Kim said, pushed everyone to grow, creating a deeply fulfilling educational experience and laying the foundation for further research on regional wildfire resilience.

“Working with actual stakeholders who had land ownership, resources or authority over the areas we were proposing ideas for — that level of real-worldness wasn’t something I envisioned,” Kim said. “It made the class really challenging but at the same time really rewarding. I’m so grateful to the entire class for being extremely passionate and dedicated about the project, and to the people of Solano Canyon.”

A service to Los Angeles

Kim was still planning her studio curriculum when the fires broke out in January.

“It seemed like a disservice to the community and the broader L.A. region if I didn’t address the wildfires in some way,” she said.

Not wanting to burden recently affected communities, Kim began researching other communities vulnerable to potential fire events. Through the city of L.A.’s Urban Design Studio, she connected with community organizers in Solano Canyon who were already working to reduce wildfire risks.

Sara Harris Ben-Ari, a co-founder of community group 1866 in Historic Solano Canyon, has lived in Solano Canyon since 2000. Fires have sparked in the neighborhood almost monthly for at least a decade, and Harris Ben-Ari and her neighbors have been working to reduce fire risks for nearly as long. But after the Eaton Fire — when burning embers flew into her yard— she pursued solutions with more urgency.

When Kim reached out to discuss a collaboration, Harris Ben-Ari said it felt like a perfect match.

“It was a godsend to have a group of really smart young students who are working at that level and have that level of training, attention … who really want to learn about landscape design and resiliency and geography as it applies to public planning and policy,” she said.

Planning for equitable fire resilience

Nestled within Elysian Park, vibrant Solano Canyon is the last remaining part of Chavez Ravine, a historic neighborhood razed in 1959 to clear space for a massive public housing project known as Elysian Park Heights, which never materialized, and later Dodger Stadium. Solano Canyon is located in one of the state’s highest fire severity zones, though its density and relative affordability are unique among most communities included in fire resilience discourse.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity for the students to work in a diverse and urban environment that is very different from affluent neighborhoods that already have resources to make their communities more fire resilient,” Kim said.

Students took this opportunity head on. During the first Saturday of the quarter, Harris Ben-Ari and fellow 1866 co-founder Lydia Moreno led the class on a neighborhood tour, pointing out fire hazards such as wooden infrastructure, overgrown grasses and invasive eucalyptus trees. Kim urged the students to revisit the area individually throughout the quarter.

Micah Wilcox, a second-year master’s student, said that as the quarter progressed, the class increasingly resembled a project that professional urban planners would encounter in the field. Working in teams, students presented weekly updates on their projects, honed visual and public-speaking skills, and learned to work as a team under tight deadlines.

“To just get dropped into a group and say, ‘Hey, you have a deadline, you guys need to put this together’ — that’s a foundational skill,” Wilcox said. “That’s what we do in the real world.”

Building community ties

UCLA students present maps and findings at various stations in a room. Credit: Minjee Kim

Community engagement is another foundation of urban planning that was baked into the class. And in the real world, as Kim’s class learned, community engagement is not always easy.

For the midterm, students invited residents to a presentation analyzing the neighborhood’s wildfire risks and vulnerabilities. Presenting to community members instead of engaging with them sparked tension, while concerns about fires started by the neighborhood’s unhoused population complicated things further.

“We did not realize that [the living quarters of unhoused people] was a major source of fire events in Solano Canyon, and when the community members started bringing up this issue, we didn’t have a good answer,” Kim said.

Kim describes the midterm as a turning point in the class. By the final, the class shifted to a design charette format, where the students created interactive stations that invited participation and input from the residents. She added that students steadfastly advocated for community members to work with their unhoused neighbors in reducing fire ignitions, instead of trying to “sweep away the issue.”

“It wasn’t us presenting information to them. It was more like we are learning from you, and here are some of the ideas and thoughts we can share with you,” Kim said. “So it was very much a cooperative, positive conversation.”

Overall, though, Harris Ben-Ari said the community was impressed by the students’ professionalism and thoughtfulness. The students’ work, she said, stood in stark contrast to what Solano Canyon residents often experience from officials — just holding obligatory meetings without really considering community needs.

“Everybody really felt like they were heard,” she said. “And if they didn’t, they felt like they could explain how they would be better heard and understood.”

What’s next?

Most of Kim’s research focuses on zoning and land use, but her studio class touched off an ongoing project on wildfire resilience. Over the summer, Kim has been working with two graduate students on a report summarizing the class’s recommendations and proposals, and illustrating how Solano Canyon can serve as a model for similarly positioned communities.

“It’s going to be a case study of Solano Canyon, but framed in a way that is helpful for the broader L.A. region in making hillside communities more fire resilient,” she said.

For Harris Ben-Ari and her neighbors, the students’ maps, research and other resources will help them apply for grant funding and push for more support from the city.

“It’s one more very solid tool in the toolbox.”

Shaping Hollywood’s Future: UCLA Luskin Student Mehra Marzbani Champions California’s Creative Workforce

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As an actress and student, what does it mean to you to advocate for reforms that help keep California’s entertainment/creative workforce thriving?

As a California native and a once-little girl who was perpetually glued to the screen, I always knew I wanted to play a role in Hollywood–after all, it is a quintessential part of our state’s identity and legacy. It felt surreal to see the huge Hollywood sign on my way to a TV set for the first time, because it struck me that this truly is where dreams are born and come true. As a student, I want to leverage public policy to keep that magical feeling alive for other emerging creatives and ensure equitable access to innovation and opportunity. And that’s what advocating for reforms that sustain and uplift our creative workforce means to me–it’s cheering on that little TV-obsessed girl who doubted whether or not she had a place in the industry and ensuring future generations that the Hollywood dream will stay here, in California.

What inspired you to focus your policy work on California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, and why is this issue important for the state’s creative economy?

In the conversations I’ve had with filmmakers and others, I’ve been overwhelmed by comments about red tape and permitting costs. It’s impacting not only the scope of productions, but causing more filming out of state and overseas. Now that I’m dabbling in independent production work, I completely understand the struggle; finding a location that’s within our small budget and seamlessly obtaining a permit–all without sacrificing the creative integrity of the project–is a major curveball. California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program does offer strong incentives to reclaim in-state production, but these tax credits should be paired with structural changes to be most effective–and that includes simplifying the permitting process and expanding eligibility to include student and low-budget productions.

Making the investment in California’s entertainment industry and the success of the next generation of creatives here is an investment in California’s economic strength and security. It supports thousands of jobs and livelihoods, attracts tourism, the list goes on. Especially in light of all the recent unprecedented challenges we’ve endured as a state, protecting our creative labor force now is essential.

As you look ahead, how do you hope to use your platform as both an artist and a policymaker to create systemic change or drive social change on a larger scale?

I truly believe in the power of storytelling and would like to continue doing that. Both art and policy tell a story, and the narratives we read and hear can challenge perceptions and spark tangible social change. The tricky part is to understand what makes a story effective for a given audience. Through acting, I’ve learned empathy, and through policymaking, precision. My education has given me the language and tools to translate the creative community’s needs into buzzwords legislative officials can act on, and I see my platform as a bridge–connecting arts workers, young innovators, policymakers, and local leaders to pursue mutually beneficial goals. We’ve all heard the phrase “Lights, Camera, Action,” but the call now is for the entire community to take action together, collectively shaping our dreams for the future.

Centering Youth Voices in Policy: MPP Student Theresa Willmott-McMahon on Her Summer with Young People to the Front

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What organization or agency are you working with this summer, and what are your primary responsibilities day‑to‑day? 

This summer I’m working with Young People to the Front (YP2F), a research and policy lab focused on amplifying youth voices and strengthening systems to make youth homelessness as rare and brief as possible. This internship sits perfectly at the intersection of my career interests, combining policy research with the ways we disseminate and consume information as humans, all centered around a social issue I’m passionate about.

My day-to-day responsibilities span several areas. I primarily work on research and policy reports. This includes writing, creating data visualizations, and implementing creative design that help tell compelling stories with the findings. I also contributed to YP2F’s annual impact report and have taken the lead on creating a zine about the inaugural YP2F Youth Homelessness Research Conference. On the communications side, I support media strategy development that makes YP2F’s work accessible to broader audiences.

headshot of theresa willmott-mcmahon

What’s one insight or perspective you’ve gained that surprised you, shifted your thinking, or changed how you approach public policy? 

Working at YP2F has fundamentally shifted how I think about research communication and approachability in policy work. I’ve learned that sharing research effectively means making it truly accessible and tailored to the communities it aims to serve, especially young people. Rather than relying solely on traditional policy reports, YP2F combines narrative with data, using creative formats like zines, social media, and podcasts.

In an era where data and scientific evidence face constant challenges, we must adapt our communication strategies to maintain the foundation of evidence-based policy. Narrative is the most powerful tool for persuasion and YP2F’s model of weaving youth voices throughout every aspect of the research process, not just as subjects but as collaborators and storytellers, has shown me how policy work can be both rigorous and deeply human.

How has this experience shaped your career goals or next steps at Luskin? Any advice for peers seeking similar internships or research opportunities? 

YP2F represents exactly the kind of organization I want to work with long-term because it uniquely combines research, communications, and advocacy. This integrated and community-forward approach to policy work is what I hope to pursue in my career. I first discovered YP2F through their podcast, Young People to the Front (you should check it out). I continued following their work because their approach to policy aligned so well with my goals. When it was time to find an internship, YP2F hadn’t posted any openings, but I reached out directly to their team, secured external funding, and made it work because I knew it would be an ideal fit.

My advice for peers seeking similar opportunities is to be proactive and strategic. Follow organizations in your areas of interest even when they’re not actively recruiting and don’t limit yourself only to posted internship opportunities. If you find an organization with a mission and approach that resonates with you, reach out directly. In my experience, particularly in LA’s homelessness policy space, the community is incredibly connected and collaborative. People genuinely want to help each other, so even if your first contact doesn’t pan out, they might connect you with other opportunities. The key is demonstrating genuine interest in the work and being willing to take initiative to make connections

Theresa stands in a room speaking in front of a group of colleagues at her summer internship.

Living and Learning in Bali: Anastasia Vanderpool’s Global Internship Journey Anastasia Vanderpool shares how her summer with Bamboo Village Trust gave her hands-on experience in sustainable community development and GIS research.

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Can you tell us about your internship placement in Bali — what kind of work did you do, and how did it align with your academic or career interests?

My internship this summer was with Bamboo Village Trust (BVT), a Bali-based NGO that aims to create sustainable livelihoods and restore degraded ecosystems through the creation of “bamboo villages” across the tropics.

My work with BVT ranged across a few different teams and projects. First, I was in charge of putting together a plan (including a map, sample design, field survey, and overall methodology) for the validation of a mapping model created by the GIS team. Using what we learned from conducting and analyzing the data from this study, I created a document outlining standardized methods for any map validation performed by the organization and its partners moving forward. Another project I worked on entailed analyzing discussions from a workshop hosted by the organization’s Grow Your Own City team and conducting supplementary research related to its central topics. After doing this, I helped write a “white paper” for the organization that describes this information to important stakeholders. Finally, I assisted the communications team at BVT with various smaller tasks, like creating reels for their social media.

After college, I hope to pursue a Masters of Urban Planning and go on to work in the field of sustainable community development. The projects I worked on at BVT gave me direct experience in community development in addition to other necessary skills like GIS, fieldwork, and research.

How has this experience shaped your perspective on public affairs or your role in creating positive change in the world?

My internship and time living in Bali really broadened my perspective on public affairs and the ways we can engage with our work in the field. BVT’s approach to community development is very participatory, meaning that community stakeholders are at the forefront of the process. Observing this further solidified my belief that getting to know the communities you work with and uplifting people’s voices within them is of utmost importance. I think it is also critical to engage with different kinds of communities. Bali is so different from California, where I was born and raised, so I was able to familiarize issues and strategies for addressing them that I otherwise might not have.

Do you have any advice for other students who are considering this Global Internship opportunity next year?

My experience in GIP was life-changing. It was my first time ever traveling outside of the United States and my first on-site internship experience, so it felt like taking a big leap. Getting out of my comfort zone in this way ultimately allowed me to make some of the most incredible memories and to learn so much in just two months.

Though it may sound a bit trite, a big piece of advice I have for anyone looking to participate in the Global Internship Program is to make the absolute most out of your time abroad, both in and outside of your internship. Get to know as much about the local culture as you can, try new things, meet new people, ask a ton of questions at your internship site, learn about your colleagues’ lives/experiences, and spend your off-time exploring! I tried to be very intentional about these things during my time in Bali and  I am more than satisfied with the experiences and knowledge that I gained from the program as a result.

Fiona Lu Reflects on Policy, Tech, and Professional Growth During Her Global Internship in Berlin Fiona Lu shares how her internship gave her hands-on experience, new perspectives, and a clearer vision for her future.

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What inspired you to take part in the Global Internship Program, and how did UCLA Luskin help prepare you for this experience?

Going into my undergrad, studying or working abroad was not initially a part of my plan. However, while I was working in D.C. during the fall quarter of my second year, my internship supervisor on Capitol Hill encouraged me to take advantage of any opportunities to go abroad during my undergrad at UCLA. I quickly started researching, and I eventually decided that working abroad in Berlin over summer would be the perfect experience for me to strengthen my professional portfolio and explore a new living environment. UCLA Luskin has in particular provided me with the opportunity to earn credit for my major through the PUB AFF 195CE class, which allowed me to consistently reflect on my work experience, think about room for growth, and turn my newfound knowledge into academic exploration as well.

Can you tell us about your internship placement in Germany — what kind of work did you do, and how did it align with your academic or career interests?

This summer, I worked at a company that represents a leading online classifieds marketplace, Adevinta. Adevinta represents over 25 digital brands across 10 EU countries, with a total of 120M+ users. In Germany, I worked specifically for the in-house legal team of the German brands mobile.de and Kleinanzeigen, which are second-hand online marketplaces for cars and household items, respectively. In my role, I worked mostly on projects regarding legal compliance and regulatory and public affairs, which was the perfect intersection between the company’s specialty and my background in policy. Although this was one of my first opportunities working in the private sector, it showed me what types of skills are transferable across different industries, and I was able to use my previous public sector experience to succeed.

What were some of the most valuable skills or insights you gained during your internship that you’ll carry into your future studies or career?

As a large online classifieds company, tech has a large presence in Adevinta’s work culture. As a part of my onboarding process for the company, I took multiple courses on AI use and how Adevinta as a company has integrated AI use to create efficiency in its everyday operations. One of my projects even consisted of updating an internal AI chatbot tool to give accurate preliminary legal assessments for company compliance to the EU AI Act, an recently passed AI regulation law. This experience revealed to me how embracing technological advancements can enhance and optimize organizational operations, which is a skill I hope to carry onto future internship opportunities and my career.

Was there a moment or project during your internship that felt especially meaningful or eye-opening to you?

One of my favorite experiences throughout my internship was getting to know my colleagues, who were from all over the world. I got along especially well with my colleague Nicolaus, a legal counsel for the Kleinanzeigen branch of Adevinta. As a Berlin local, he gave me lots of recommendations for my time in Germany and also told me many stories about his time in college when he studied law and his experience when he participated in the rotational clerkship program that is mandatory for all prospective lawyers in Germany. We bonded over our shared interest in politics, where we would exchange about the differences between U.S. and German politics and their positioning in the global landscape. Through an interview I conducted with him for my PUB AFF 195CE class, I also got the opportunity to get to know him, his upbringing, and career history and aspirations better. Despite growing up and living in totally different locations, I found it to be extremely meaningful to connect with my colleague on our shared interests and had a lot of fun exchanging our political observations and opinions.

How has this experience shaped your perspective on public affairs or your role in creating positive change in the world?

This internship showed me how deeply intertwined private and public affairs are, and how both private and public affairs can spearhead innovation for the better. For example, using my knowledge of how AI can make company operations more efficient now, I plan on exploring academically and professionally how AI can be used to elevate public sector operations and services.

How did working in a global context (or with an international organization) broaden your understanding of public affairs and the impact of your work?

As a part of my internship with Adevinta, I learned a lot about the EU AI Act, and how it is the most globally comprehensive AI governance regulatory framework at its large scale. Through reading more about this piece of legislation, although it is EU-based, I learned more about how this act has influenced U.S.-based conversations about AI governance as well. This helped me recognize how understanding global current events and political trends can help me strengthen my knowledge of domestic government affairs.

Designing Patient-Centered Care: Jenny Gao’s Policy Internship with Kaiser Permanente

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From classroom to care strategy: A Luskin Public Policy student’s summer at Kaiser Permanente shaping patient-centered health policy.

Where are you working this summer and what are your primary responsibilities or focus areas day-to-day?

I’m working at Kaiser Permanente this summer as a Care Delivery Strategy Intern on the National Clinical Services team. Our team consists of specialists from multiple disciplines to design care that is more personalized, predictive, and coordinated for patients and members. We focus on creating seamless experiences across settings, from prevention and early intervention to acute care and long-term support. Our work spans a range of areas, from kidney care services to national initiatives like improving end-of-life care through the Dignified Journeys program. In my role, I contribute to multiple projects within these portfolios, supporting strategies that advance our goal of ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place.

Have you drawn on any skills, concepts, or lessons from your Luskin coursework in your summer role? If so, how have they come into play?

One of the most valuable skills I’ve been able to apply from my Luskin coursework is stakeholder engagement. At Kaiser, this takes on a unique context because the organization is both the insurance plan and the care provider. My projects have involved collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders that include operations leaders, managerial consultants, project managers, physicians, nurses, and more. Through these projects, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how each stakeholder’s background, training, and responsibilities shape the way they approach challenges. 

Drawing on what I’ve learned at Luskin, I’ve practiced actively listening to their perspectives while identifying common priorities and finding ways to cater towards different viewpoints to move projects forward. I’ve also been able to apply lessons on decision making analysis, particularly around balancing multiple priorities such as efficiency, equity, and cost. Our Luskin coursework has given me the lens to carefully consider how each decision impacts our overall goal of optimizing the quality of care and quality of life for patients and members.

Describe a specific project, interaction, or milestone this summer that made you think, “Yes, this is why I chose this field.” What did you take away from that moment?

One of my goals this summer has been to connect with colleagues across Kaiser and learn from their career journeys. A memorable conversation I had was with a senior operations leader working on a falls prevention initiative. He shared his journey from starting out as a physical therapist to now leading national research and advocacy efforts to reduce falls, while still working directly with complex case management. Hearing the statistics behind this initiative was compelling, for example, in older adults, a serious fall can increase mortality rates by nearly 50%. In more complex cases, families and clinicians face difficult decisions about whether surgery will improve quality of life, given the risks of recovery. What inspired me was how he balances both the individual impact of serving vulnerable patients with the large scale change of shaping policy and strategy within Kaiser. His work showed me that improving care for vulnerable populations requires both empathy and strategy, understanding lived experiences while building solutions that can optimize their quality of life. Witnessing how much meaning he finds in connecting direct patient care with national strategy deeply inspired me and reinforced why I want to dedicate my career to advancing health policy. 

 

UCLA Student Research Drives Water Resilience and Equitable Solutions in Post-Fire Los Angeles

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A team of UCLA master’s students in urban and regional planning (MURP) has produced an extensive report, “Drought and Climate Resiliency Solutions for Small Water Systems in Los Angeles County,” offering real-world strategies to strengthen water security and climate resilience. 

When the January 2025 wildfires swept through Pacific Palisades, a group of MURP students witnessed the devastation unfold in real time on their first day of class. What started as a class project on water system vulnerabilities quickly became a real-world assignment: students, many personally affected by the fires, sprang into action to research and propose solutions that not only addressed the immediate impacts of the wildfires but also offered long-term strategies to strengthen water security and climate resilience. 

Developed in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and guided by faculty at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, the year-long project examines the vulnerabilities of small water systems, many of which were directly impacted by the L.A. wildfires, and proposes solutions to ensure safe and reliable drinking water for fire-impacted communities across Los Angeles County. 

The twelve-student research team included Alex Sun, Allison Samsel, Aydin Pasebani, Catherine Ren, Chloe Curry, Dana Choi, Emily Cadena, Leo Blain, Leila Moinpour, Nasir Sakandar, Veronica De Santos, and Will Callan. They conducted in-depth analyses on drought risk, wildfire impacts, and system preparedness, culminating in a professional presentation of their findings. Their work is already informing county and state-wide efforts to advance the human right to water and shape long-term climate resilience strategies. 

“This work by our student team will serve to directly inform real-time L.A. County and California state agency efforts to ensure a human right to water in the region,” said Greg Pierce, UCLA professor of urban planning, Luskin Center for Innovation senior director, and director of the Human Rights to Water Solutions Lab who co-advised the report. “The methodologies developed on drought water shortage risk and fire vulnerability also have wide applicability well beyond the county.”  

Edith de Guzman, adjunct professor of urban planning and water equity and adaptation policy cooperative extension specialist at Luskin Center for Innovation was another co-advisor on the project and underscored the importance of the students’ work. “This project benefited greatly from the hard work, diligence, and nimbleness of a dozen MURP students,” de Guzman said. “In the end, the result is an impressive suite of actionable assessments, analyses, and findings — all painstakingly documented.”  

A key emphasis of the report is the feasibility of water system consolidation, an approach that can improve technical and financial stability for struggling utilities. Alongside consolidation, the report also considers alternative strategies such as water conservation, new well development, and recycling projects. 

“This suite of outcomes contributes innovative new guidance in understudied and largely unregulated spaces — including community water system fire risk and preparedness,” said de Guzman. 

Pierce praised the students’ work following the capstone presentation: “You did amazing work that culminated in a professional presentation that demonstrates real solutions for climate resiliency in small water systems. But at its core, this report is about water access as a human right. You should all be very proud.” 

The findings are a partial preview of the Southern California Community Water Systems Guide, which will be released by Luskin Center for Innovation in late Summer 2025. This guide will present performance data on all community water systems in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties, building on analyses completed in 2015 and 2020, which focused only on Los Angeles County.  

Jennifer Gorman MPP ’26 Drives Hydrogen Innovation at Honda As a summer intern on Honda’s Hydrogen Solutions Team, Gorman conducted market research, regulatory analysis, and workforce planning.

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Jennifer Gorman MPP ’26 reflects on her summer with American Honda Motor Co.’s Hydrogen Solutions Team, where she gained firsthand insight into how corporations, policymakers, and implementers collaborate to advance clean energy solutions.

Where are you working this summer and what are your primary responsibilities or focus areas day-to-day? 

This summer I interned at American Honda Motor Co. on their Hydrogen Solutions Team within the Sustainable Business Development Unit. One of my main projects was a market validation analysis, where I mapped regulatory requirements, reviewed decarbonization plans across California, and interviewed potential public sector offtakers to help Honda assess fuel cell market demand and shape its commercialization strategy. I also created a workforce development strategy for internal use to guide the company’s efforts to build a skilled workforce capable of servicing its fuel cells. Together, these projects helped Honda better understand where demand for fuel cells is strongest and how to support the workforce needed to scale its hydrogen business. 

What’s one insight or perspective you’ve gained that surprised you, shifted your thinking, or changed how you approach public policy? 

Through conversations with transit agencies, cities, and energy service providers, I realized how critical it is to include implementers in policy design. Too often, policies are developed at a high level without fully accounting for the realities faced by those responsible for executing them. For instance, California’s Innovative Clean Transit rule requires transit agencies to purchase 100% zero-emissions buses by 2029, but currently, only one zero-emissions bus model meets the range needed for most routes. Engaging implementers can reveal practical challenges and opportunities that aren’t apparent from a pure policy or analytical perspective. Policymaking must be a collaborative process that integrates the expertise of those who will bring policies to life on the ground.  

As a policy student, what insights have you gained about how large companies like Honda navigate government regulations, environmental standards, or energy policy? 

Working at Honda showed me that corporate sustainability strategy isn’t just about following regulations; it’s also about anticipating policy trends to guide strategic planning and investments. Companies actively advocate for policies and programs that align with their business goals, monitor emerging standards, evaluate potential market opportunities, and plan technology and workforce development accordingly. This experience gave me a new perspective on how policy impacts real-world outcomes: it shapes the pace of innovation, and the practical steps companies take to implement cleaner energy solutions.  

Any advice for peers seeking similar internships or career paths? 

Don’t be afraid to explore careers or internships beyond the traditional government or nonprofit paths. The private sector plays a critical role as both an advocate and implementer in policy processes. Experiencing policy from this perspective can reveal how decisions are put into practice, how incentives shape behavior, and ultimately how change happens. These insights can help you become a more thoughtful and effective policy practitioner in any context. 

UCLA MSW Student Francisco Villarruel’s Summer in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office Francisco Villarruel applied his social work training to policy and community engagement at his summer internship.

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by Francisco Villarruel

This summer, I had the privilege of serving as an intern at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic and Opportunity, under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Brenda Shockley. My primary role was to oversee the Early Childhood Education Student Advancement Program (ECE-SAP) for participants aged 50 and older. This work encompassed recruitment, outreach, data tracking, and cross-sector collaboration with both public and private partners. One highlight was coordinating the culmination ceremony for a graduating cohort—a celebration of perseverance and community impact.

The Mayor’s Office provided me with a front-row seat to the intersection of policy, systems thinking, and social work. Much of our work involves analyzing how local, national, and global models—such as theories of change and return on investment (ROI)—can be adapted to Los Angeles. A defining moment this summer was engaging in critical discussions about how to improve employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, including the push to revitalize California’s Clean Slate Act (SB 731). Another milestone was attending an all-staff meeting with Mayor Karen Bass, whose passion for defending democracy and serving Angelenos reaffirmed why I chose this field.

Beyond Los Angeles, I had the honor of representing UCLA Luskin’s MSW program at a global gathering in New York. Meeting delegates from across the world provided fresh perspectives and long-lasting connections. It was striking to hear how leaders from other countries view the challenges facing the United States, and how our own struggles compare with nations still ravaged by war.

I was particularly inspired by conversations about Mexico City’s innovative approach to reducing cartel recruitment. Before becoming President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo served as Mayor of Mexico City, leading policies that offered annual scholarships to students for each grade completed. This strategy dramatically decreased cartel recruitment among youth. As mayor, she also lowered the city’s homeless population to roughly 30,000—remarkable progress for a city of over 20 million residents. In contrast, Los Angeles, with a population of 3 million, faces over 43,000 unhoused individuals in the city and more than 72,000 across the county. These comparisons highlight the potential of evidence-based, people-centered policy to create lasting change.

This summer deepened my belief in being a multi-layered professional—combining policy work, community engagement, and future aspirations in clinical social work, forensic gang expertise, and global consulting. Whether in Los Angeles, New York, or learning from Mexico, the mission remains the same: to foster systems that uplift communities, dismantle barriers, and create sustainable opportunities for all.

Planning for Recovery: Kenyah Kerilus’ Summer with ICF Disaster Management

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This summer, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning student Kenyah Kerilus applied her skills in disaster management as a housing and urban development intern with ICF, helping wildfire-impacted communities in Oregon rebuild and recover.

Where are you working this summer and what are your primary responsibilities or focus areas day-to-day?
I am working at ICF consulting firm as a housing and urban development intern assisting with a disaster management relief project, ReOregon. This project addresses the series of Oregon wildfires that occurred in 2020. There are 8 counties that were the most distressed/impacted and the goal is to aid those residents to reestablish their housing whether its through reimbursement, reconstruction, or relocation. I specifically worked with the construction team where we streamline the process of an applicant going through any of those paths. My main responsibilities were to determine what inspections each home/case needed and assigning them out, keeping applicant documents/records updated as they move through the process, and analyzing the cost differences between our pricing and the applicants’ contractors. The construction team itself does a lot and works with many different people (the applicant, construction advisors, outside contractors, etc.) and my main focus was to help move things along efficiently while working under the construction manager. 

Describe a specific project, interaction, or milestone this summer that made you think, “Yes, this is why I chose this field.” What did you take away from that moment?
An interaction that made me think “yes, this is why I chose this field,” occurred during my halfway checkpoint. My manager thanked me for my contributions and explained how the work I had done actually made a difference within the team, bringing us closer to achieving our deadline goals. As an intern, I think it’s easy to feel like the tasks you are doing are just busy work and don’t mean much, especially with this internship being fully remote. Hearing exactly how I had made a difference—and knowing that people who had been waiting far too long were closer to receiving the housing or reimbursement they deserved—made me genuinely happy.

How has this experience shaped your career goals or next steps at Luskin? Any advice for peers seeking similar internships or research opportunities?
This experience has taught me to be more open-minded to new experiences and reaffirmed for me that I would like to work in the disaster management field. I think that I was very stuck in how a job title sounded or what I thought I liked/didn’t like, that it stopped me from trying new things to actually find out. I would not have expected to enjoy working at a consulting firm had I not decided to take the chance to intern at ICF. My advice to peers would be to not limit yourself in what you think you like and to look deeper into roles because the day-to-day may be completely different than what you imagined. Take those chances now, while we are still in school!

How has this experience informed or shifted your vision for the kind of urban planning work you hope to pursue after graduation?
This experience reaffirmed my desire to work in disaster management, but it also showed me that there isn’t just one way to contribute in this field. I had a very specific idea of what disaster management would involve, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about policy, federal funding, and state programs through the guidance of my wonderful coworkers, managers, and mentors. While I’m not yet certain which area of urban planning I will pursue after graduation, whether in government, non-profit, or consulting, I’m excited to know that the skills I’m developing now can be applied across a variety of contexts.

What planning tools, mapping skills, or community engagement strategies have you found most valuable in your day-to-day work so far?
Knowing how to analyze data has been a skill I use almost everyday and helps when I create my reports! Also, a lot of the information I learned in the ‘Law & Quality of Urban Life’ course was very helpful. Having that background knowledge in zoning and land use regulations helped me catch on quickly working with the construction team.