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Book by Kian Goh Honored by Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

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UCLA Luskin’s Kian Goh has been awarded the 2025 Paul Davidoff Book Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

Goh’s book “Form and Flow: The Spatial Politics of Urban Resilience and Climate Justice,” published in 2021 by MIT Press, explores the politics of urban climate change responses in different cities — New York City; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Rotterdam, Netherlands — as well as the emergence of grassroots activism in resistance.

“The study brings both ethnographic depth and impressive critical theory to one of the most important issues of our moment,” the ACSP Award Committee said, praising Goh for skillfully drawing a throughline across disparate geographies in a way that does not feel contrived.

Goh is an associate professor of urban planning at UCLA Luskin and associate faculty director of the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy. Her research focuses on urban ecological design, spatial politics, and social mobilization in the context of climate change and global urbanization.

The Paul Davidoff Book Award recognizes an outstanding book publication regarding participatory planning and positive social change, including opposing poverty and racism and addressing social and place-based inequalities. The award honors the memory of Paul Davidoff, who established the field of advocacy planning and worked toward social equity in the profession.

 

UCLA, Community Partners Help Fire Recovery Through Free Soil Testing

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In an effort to support the region’s recovery in the aftermath of the 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires, a team of UCLA researchers is joining with community partners to test soil samples from neighborhoods hit hard by the blazes.

The fires in the Pacific Palisades-Malibu area and the Altadena-Pasadena communities claimed at least 31 lives and damaged or destroyed more than 18,000 structures, according to county officials.

It also left many residents wondering what was in their soil.

“Soil screening is a necessary first step, but it’s not a solution,” said Kirsten Schwarz, an associate professor of environmental health sciences and urban planning with joint appointments at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

“Fire-impacted communities are eager for actionable solutions and soil amendments, like compost and mulch — low-cost, accessible options that help us manage risk,” she said.

Schwarz and Jennifer Jay, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, co-lead the LA Urban Soil Social Impact Collaborative, which is hosting pop-up soil testing events, workshops and remediation projects across the region.

At an Oct. 4 event at the Washington Park Community Center in Pasadena, the collaborative welcomed more than 80 residents and screened more than 200 soil samples using portable X-ray fluorescence analyzers to detect heavy metals, including lead, a known cause of significant illness. Participants were able to have up to three soil samples screened and received personalized consultations on how to improve soil health and safety in their yards and gardens.

The collaborative, which includes UCLA researchers and community-based, tribal, private, and academic partners from across Los Angeles, is funded by UCLA’s Center for Community Engagement. The group aims to leverage university research and resources and apply local and Indigenous knowledge to advance equitable access to healthy soils.

Read the full story

 

UCLA Report Finds Latino Arrests by ICE Have Skyrocketed Under the Trump Administration’s Second Term

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A new analysis conducted by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ Center for Neighborhood Knowledge (CNK) reveals a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement for the first six months of President Trump’s second administration, targeting Latino communities at unprecedented levels. The report was produced in partnership with Unseen, a new initiative dedicated to illuminating the contributions and challenges of unseen Americans through data analysis and community engagement.

The analysis finds that Latinos accounted for nine out of ten Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests during the first six months of 2025. Arrests nearly doubled during Trump’s first 100 days in office and rose even further after senior advisor Stephen Miller announced a daily target of 3,000 arrests. The dataset used in the report comes from UC Berkeley School of Law’s Deportation Data Project.

“The data reveal a clear and troubling pattern,” said Paul Ong, Director of CNK. “Arrests in Latino communities have increased sharply without any evidence linking many of these arrests to higher crime levels. This indicates that ICE operations during Trump’s second term are largely driven by political and demographic targeting rather than just targeting the ‘worst of the worst’.”

Key findings include:

  • Trump’s first hundred days had an average of 558 Latino arrests per day compared with 276 during the pre-Trump period (January 1, 2024 to January 19, 2025). Arrests were heavily concentrated among individuals from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Venezuela, which experienced the most dramatic increase, with a 361% rise in arrests.
  • Community-based enforcement surged under Trump, growing by 255%, a departure from previous administrations, which focused on deporting incarcerated individuals at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • Enforcement increases were greatest in Texas, Florida, California, Georgia and Virginia

“This research reveals a clear shift toward more expansive, militarized and punitive immigration enforcement.” said Sonja Diaz, Founding Director of the Unseen Initiative. “The preponderance of community-based arrests under the Trump Administration combined with the doubling and even tripling of arrests of people of Mexican, Honduran, and Guatemalan descent undermines public trust in law enforcement and jeopardizes public safety for communities across the U.S., not just immigrant enclaves. ”

The complete report, including methodology, is available here.

About the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge The UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge conducts rigorous research on urban inequality, housing, immigration, and demographic change to inform policy and promote social justice.

About Unseen Unseen is a research and advocacy initiative dedicated to making visible the contributions and challenges of Americans hidden in plain sight through data-driven analysis and community engagement.

UCLA Analysis Finds Altadena Faces Uneven Wildfire Recovery

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Nine months after the Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena, a new factsheet by UCLA Luskin researchers highlights deep racial and ethnic disparities in how homeowners are recovering.

The analysis from UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Institute and Center for Neighborhood Knowledge shows that while only a small number of families have sold or listed their homes, nearly 7 in 10 severely fire-damaged homes show no progress toward rebuilding. In addition, investors have purchased two-thirds of the homes that have changed hands, raising concerns about displacement and affordability.

The factsheet also shows that nearly six in ten Black-owned homes suffered severe damage — the highest rate of any group. Yet roughly 70% of all severely damaged homes show no visible steps toward recovery, with Black (73%) and Asian (71%) homeowners slightly more likely to remain stalled.

At the same time, Latino homeowners have filed rebuilding permits at the highest rate (30%), an early sign that some families are trying to move forward despite widespread underinsurance, soaring construction costs and complex permitting requirements.

“Altadena already had infrastructure limitations before the fire, and many families are now taking a wait-and-see approach: Many are waiting to see if their neighbors rebuild, some want to know if local businesses and services will return, and most are stuck figuring out how to pay for rebuilding because of financial barriers like underinsurance, little to no government support or the high cost of construction,” said Lori Gay, president and CEO at Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County.

Read the factsheet and full article.

 

UCLA Housing Voice Podcast Celebrates 100 Episodes Hosted by Shane Phillips, the podcast continues to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world housing solutions.

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The UCLA Housing Voice Podcast, produced by the Randall Lewis Housing Initiative at the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, will release its 100th episode on October 22. The podcast, a biweekly program managed by Shane Phillips and joined by UCLA Luskin professors Michael Lens, Paavo Monkkonen, and Mike Manville as occasional co-hosts, aims to translate emerging housing research into practical insights for practitioners, policymakers, and the broader public.

Each episode features conversations with housing researchers on topics such as affordability, displacement, land-use policy, and tenant protections. The Randall Lewis Housing Initiative supports this work by producing research and public programming to shape public discourse. 

As a recent review from HousingForward Virginia put it, “What makes this podcast particularly valuable is how Phillips and his co-hosts translate academic jargon into practical insights. They don’t just present findings—they dig into what the research means for practitioners, policymakers, and communities.” 

Since its debut, the podcast has explored a wide range of topics, from California’s Senate Bill 9 duplex law and inclusionary zoning policies to comparative housing laws in countries such as Japan and New Zealand. Across its first 99 episodes, the series has traced the evolving global conversation on housing equity and policy innovation. 

The 100th episode will be available October 22 on all major podcast platforms. 

David C. Turner III Receives 2025 Marie O. Weil Best Article Award Award recognizes Turner’s research on the lived experiences of Black youth and systems of punishment.

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David C. Turner III is an Assistant Professor of Black Life and Racial Justice in the Department of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He is also a faculty affiliate with the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, and the faculty director of the Million Dollar Hoods Project on campus. Turner is this year’s winner of the Marie O. Weil Outstanding Scholarship Award, co-sponsored by the Association of Community Organizations and Social Administration (ACOSA) and Taylor & Francis Publishing.  

Turner’s article, “To Me, it Kind of Felt Normal”-Defining the Normalcy of Carcerality with Black Men, Boys, and Youth Workers,” draws on dozens of interviews with Black male youth activists and examines how Black boys and young men experience the normalcy of carcerality—the everyday presence of carceral power and control in their lives. 

Headshot of assistant professor David C. Turner III“This award is an incredible honor and a testament to the value of community-driven research. I’d like to thank the selection committee, and I’d especially like to thank the young people and community partners who participated in this project. Oftentimes, the experiences of Black male youth are told through the lens of others, especially with a framing that positions them as just “receiving” the impact of social institutions. This article, and my work more broadly, speaks to how important agency is in transforming the punishment-driven conditions that Black boys and young men who work to change their communities have declared as normal. Those young people and their peers are unnormalizing carceral culture every day.” 

The Marie O. Weil Outstanding Scholarship Award recognizes outstanding scholarship published in the Journal of Community Practice and is based on contributions to the field, scholarly approach, and promotion of macro practice values. 

Two New Faculty Members Join UCLA Luskin Department of Public Policy

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This fall, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs welcomes two new assistant professors to its Department of Public Policy: Isaac Opper and Carlo Medici. Both scholars are economists who use empirical research and data-driven methods to explore policy-relevant questions that shape education, labor markets, and public institutions.

“We are excited to have recruited two extremely talented economists who we expect will not only contribute to scholarly research but also contribute to informing policy,” says Robert Fairlie, professor and chair of the public policy department. “They are both studying topics of utmost relevance. Students in our program and more broadly at UCLA will benefit from their expertise in microeconomics, statistics, and policy topics around immigration, labor, education, and other topics.”

Isaac Opper, an applied microeconomist, focuses on education policy and the statistical methods used to evaluate its effectiveness. “My largest body of work studies how education policy can be designed to improve student outcomes,” he said. This year, he will teach required statistics courses for both undergraduate Public Affairs and Master of Public Policy students. Opper added that he’s eager to “move from evaluating specific policy interventions to thinking more broadly about public policy,” continuing a career devoted to evidence-based reform. 

Carlo Medici, whose expertise spans labor economics, political economy, and economic history, studies the interaction between immigration, labor markets, and institutions. “I’m especially looking forward to working with colleagues and students who are passionate about how institutions and policies shape the economy,” Medici said. His research draws on both contemporary and historical data to illuminate the roots of modern policy challenges. 

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Donald Shoup Hundreds gather to honor the visionary urban planner whose groundbreaking ideas on parking reform transformed cities worldwide.

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The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ Department of Urban Planning and the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies welcomed hundreds of attendees to the Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center to celebrate the life and legacy of Distinguished Professor Donald Shoup.

The Oct. 3 event was filled to capacity — standing room only — as current students, alumni, faculty, staff, community activists, and parking enthusiasts gathered to honor one of the most influential figures in urban planning, who passed away in February.

The afternoon began with a book talk on “The Shoup Doctrine: Essays Celebrating Donald Shoup and Parking Reforms” and the official launch of the UCLA Center for Parking Policy. This new center, inspired by Shoup’s groundbreaking work on parking reform, will serve as a hub for research, education, and policy innovation.

Later in the day, speakers took the stage in the Centennial Ballroom to share their stories about his legendary wit and his uncanny ability to steer nearly any conversation toward parking — always with humor, insight, and enthusiasm. Many reflected on his hallmark humility and kindness. Their heartfelt tributes reflected the lasting influence of a scholar whose groundbreaking work on parking reform inspired generations of “Shoupistas” and reshaped urban policy around the world.

An endowment for the UCLA Center for Parking Policy will help ensure that Shoup’s ideas continue to influence urban policy and guide the next generation of planners and scholars. To date, more than $29,000 has been raised toward the endowment’s $100,000 goal, including a $10,000 matching gift from Shoup’s wife, Pat Shoup, which has now been fully met.

More information about Shoup’s life, accomplishments, and tributes from around the world can be found on this UCLA Luskin tribute page. To view photos from the event, please visit our Flickr page.

 

Closing Gaps in Mental Health Care: Tamika Lewis MSW ’05 on Creating Healing Spaces for Women of Color UCLA Luskin alumna transforms personal loss into a mission-driven practice to empower women.

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by Peaches Chung

Walking into Women of Color Therapy (WOC Therapy), you feel a sense of peace, as if you’ve arrived somewhere that knows you. The living spaces, infused with color, texture and life, mirror the holistic approach Tamika Lewis MSW ’05 brings to her work: healing that honors both mind and soul, culture and community. 

Walk up the brick pathway and into a charming home, where a spacious living room centers around a grand fireplace. Colorful artwork adorns the walls, paying homage to ancestral heritage and healing. In the backyard, the garden serves as a gathering place for yoga retreats and healing workshops. 

This is WOC Therapy, the intentional, communal wellness center founded by Tamika Lewis. 

Women sit on the floor in the back garden of WOC Therapy and Wellness center, having a meditation session in the outdoor spaces.

As the founder and clinical director, Lewis leads a holistic practice dedicated to providing culturally competent mental health care for women and teens of color. Her approach blends evidence-based modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR and Somatic Therapy with ancestral healing, storytelling and movement. For Lewis, the mission of WOC Therapy is deeply personal.  

“The inspiration for WOC Therapy came from my own personal struggles with mental health,” Lewis says. “In college, two of my closest friends died by suicide. One of those students was Jennifer Paek, a fellow MSW student at UCLA. The grief of losing her made me ask hard questions.” 

That moment of loss became a catalyst for Lewis’ work. What was an experience of profound grief transformed into a calling.  

“I felt driven to create a space where women of color could put down the facade of perfection and show up authentically,” she says. “How can I be honest with myself about the mental health challenges I battled in secret? Why aren’t we talking about mental health in our communities?” 

Those questions became the framework for her work at WOC Therapy, located in the San Fernando Valley. “WOC Therapy was my answer to that gap — a space rooted in clinical excellence, as well as cultural wisdom, community and joy.”  

The wellness center feels more like a home than a clinic, where each room has been thoughtfully transformed into a space for conversation and community. Gone are the sterile walls of a traditional counseling office; in their place is a setting that feels familiar, inviting and safe. 

“Imagine being able to heal and release trauma that no longer belongs to you,” says Lewis — a guiding vision that shapes every corner of her practice. 

Headshot of Tamika Lewis MSW Alumna

Lewis’ path to social work began at Westmont College, where she studied English and sociology, and continued through her master’s in social work at UCLA. At UCLA Luskin, she was recognized with the National Association of Social Workers Student Award and the UCLA MSW Excellence Award, honors that highlighted both her academic dedication and her commitment to social equity.  

“My experience as an MSW student at UCLA shaped so much of who I am today,” she says. “I felt at home among my peers and professors, who welcomed my ambitious ideas and desire to drive change in my community. It was an empowering experience.” 

Launching her own wellness center, however, was not without challenges. Stepping away from a stable job as a school counselor, Lewis navigated the uncertainties of entrepreneurship while being a single mom. She credits the “Tiny Moves” approach — the focus of her upcoming book “Tiny Moves: The Defining Moments that Change Us” — for helping her make small, consistent steps toward her goals. “Success isn’t always about big leaps. It’s about staying true to your vision and action, even when fear is present.”

To current social work students at Luskin dreaming of creating community-centered practices, she advises: “Trust your body wisdom. Those quiet nudges you feel are often the beginnings of your most powerful work. Don’t wait until everything feels perfect — take tiny moves in the direction of your vision.” 

For Lewis, social work is not just a career but a responsibility — to her community and to the future of mental health equity. Through WOC Therapy, she has turned personal pain into a powerful purpose, proving that even in the wake of incredible loss, healing and hope are possible. 

Building Resilient Utilities: UCLA Issues Report on Key Water and Power Infrastructure Needs

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More than 100 engineers, utility leaders, scientists and public officials came together in the wake of January’s catastrophic Los Angeles firestorms to identify innovative strategies and emerging technologies that could build more resilient infrastructure, recognizing the broader challenges of growing climate and disaster risks.

The intensive June 9 workshop — commissioned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and developed, organized and hosted by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation with programmatic and logistical support from the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLAGC) — created a unique opportunity for decision-makers to talk frankly and collaboratively to advance broader industry knowledge and capacity.

The resulting report, “Innovation Opportunities for a Resilient L.A.,” emphasizes that no single strategy is sufficient. Instead, Los Angeles must pursue a mix of approaches, from upgrading infrastructure to improving coordination across agencies.

“Our partnership with UCLA is helping drive innovation that will help all utilities adapt to the challenges of climate change and shape future resilience policies and strategies,” said LADWP CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones.

Four areas of innovation

The workshop and report synthesize ideas and pilot concepts in these areas:

  • Undergrounding power lines: Moving utility lines below ground can reduce wildfire ignition risk and improve reliability. Participants weighed the benefits against high costs, earthquake vulnerabilities and permitting challenges, emphasizing the need for clear goals, cost-sharing strategies and strong community engagement.
  • Strengthening water infrastructure: While water systems alone cannot stop wildfires, they play a critical role in emergency response. Experts considered potential upgrades such as fire-hardened valves, backup reservoirs, the use of “smart hydrants” to better deploy resources in real time and even drawing on ocean water in coastal areas. Collaboration with fire departments and better communication during emergencies were key themes.
  • Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI): Smart meters give utilities and customers real-time data on energy and water use. During disasters, AMI can support outage tracking and grid management. LADWP plans to deploy 1.5 million smart energy meters by 2031, aiming to modernize service and align with California’s clean energy transition.
  • Wildfire risk assessment and detection: The January 2025 fires exposed limits in existing risk management tools. Participants called for advanced modeling, real-time monitoring and risk-based prioritization to help utilities target investments in grid hardening, vegetation management and emergency planning.

Learn more about the Luskin Center for Innovation’s research on water and fire, and UCLA’s partnership with LADWP, stewarded by SLAGC.