| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.91 |
| Liaison | Julie Hopper |
| Submission Date | Dec. 20, 2023 |
University of Southern California
EN-10: Community Partnerships
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Gloria
Gonzalez Legal Assistance Specialist Civic Engagement & Economic Partnerships |
Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability :
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? :
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe?:
Which of the following best describes the partnership?:
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? :
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability:
Extreme heat from climate change is a growing concern in Los Angeles. Current predictions suggest that by 2060 the city will see temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher 40 days per year. With higher temperatures come greater risks to human health.
Urban trees, and the shade that they offer, can improve people’s health and well-being. Trees help to reduce risks such as heat stroke, heart attacks, and breathing problems caused by air pollution and excessive heat.
The USC Urban Trees Initiative partners USC experts and students with the City of Los Angeles to guide the growth of an urban forest of shade trees that benefit the health and quality of life for local communities. Using advanced mapping technology, air quality measurements and landscape architecture expertise, the project explores where, how many, and what type of new trees could be added to these neighborhoods to optimize the benefits of urban trees. Working with local community organizations and leaders, the USC Urban Trees Initiative combines scientific analysis with social priorities defined by the needs and preferences of L.A. residents.
In April 2021, the USC Urban Trees Initiative published its first strategic vision for tree planting opportunities in the eastside communities of Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, and Ramona Gardens (Phase 1). From August 2021 to December 2022, USC Trees took a deep dive into the areas of Boyle Heights, University Park, and City Terrace/East L.A. to identify priority planting locations based on the greatest need (Phase 2). Three StoryMaps were produced for each area (see: https://publicexchange.usc.edu/urban-trees-initiative/)
In July, 2023, Dr. John Wilson (Director of the Spatial Science Institute) and Dr. Manuel Pastor (Director of the Equity Research Institute) were awarded a grant for 2.9 million dollars from the Bezos Earth fund. These funds will expand the efforts of the USC Urban Trees Initiative as well as the work by USC Equity Research Institute scholars in producing the National Equity Atlas in collaboration with PolicyLink. The National Equity Atlas provides community leaders and policymakers with national and regional data on demographic change, racial and economic inclusion, and the potential economic gains from racial equity. The grant funds will also aid in cultivating deeper connections among USC and community-based partners like TreePeople and the Atlanta-based Partnership for Southern Equity to accelerate urban greening initiatives. This joint effort by these research teams aims to uplift lives and strengthen communities based on increasing evidence that greening U.S. cities can increase local resilience to extreme weather events, trim energy consumption and improve physical and mental health of individuals in the community.
Trees will be planted in Fall 2024.
Media and Reports:
Executive Summary: https://publicexchange.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Urban-Trees-Initiative-Executive-Summary.pdf
Full Report (2021): https://publicexchange.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Urban-Trees-Initiative-Report-.pdf
https://news.usc.edu/usc-awarded-8-8-million-for-sustainability-research-initiatives/
https://www.miragenews.com/bezos-earth-fund-grants-2-9m-for-usc-urban-1051803/
Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (2nd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (2nd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership’s sustainability focus? (2nd partnership):
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (2nd partnership):
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (2nd partnership):
The USC Good Neighbors Campaign is the university’s premier community outreach initiative providing over $26 million in neighborhood grants. Created in 1993, Good Neighbors was designed to provide financial support to enable collaboration between USC faculty and staff, and local nonprofit organizations that have a visible, positive impact on the neighborhoods surrounding the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.
Good Neighbors is focused on the values and principles of equity, fairness, justice, diversity, and inclusion. Programs that we’ve provided financial support to include science, engineering, math, technology, and the visual and performing arts. We assist professional certificate programs, college pathways, food access and funded good health and fitness initiatives. We are also committed to providing critical COVID-19 non-profit support for our neighbors.
A sample of funded grants that are sustainability-focused include:
Futures in Transportation: $10,000
Held on the USC University Park Campus once a week, 50 students enjoy Futures in Transportation: a 4‐module, integrated, multidisciplinary, and multi‐modal transportation education and career fields and pathways program designed to empower, engage, and motivate first-generation high school youth to pursue post-secondary education and training in transportation-related fields.
University Partner: USC METRANS Transportation Consortium, Marlon Boarnet
Community Partner: USC Hybrid High College Prep, Sarah Batizy
Website: metrans.org
South Central Growers and Harvesters Network: $8,000
The South Central Growers and Harvesters Network (SCGHN) supports South Central residents in hopes that they will utilize the land that they have access to in order to create urban agriculture micro-enterprises that will increase their economic security and mobility and enhance access to high-quality, organic, and culturally appropriate produce for residents. SCGHN also assists in developing solutions that build community resiliency in response to trends in climate change, increased economic disparities, and economic development that do not serve current residents.
University Partner: USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, Francois Bar
Community Partner: Community Services Unlimited Inc., Heather Fenney
Website: http://csuinc.org/programs/south-central-growers-a
Youth Artists as Civic Leaders: $12,030
Youth Artists as Civic Leaders increases the civic leadership capacity of youth around the University Park Campus by training participants to expand their knowledge of local community issues as they relate to environmental sustainability and climate change while engaging fellow community members in the creation of a major public artwork.
University Partner: USC Community & Local Government Partnerships, David Galaviz
Community Partner: LA Commons, Karen Mack
Website: www.lacommons.org
For more information visit: https://sites.usc.edu/goodneighbors/
Also, please see the attached extended report which includes more Good Neighbor Campaigns as they relate to the UN SDGs.
Name of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
Does the institution provide financial or material support for the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership timeframe? (3rd partnership):
Which of the following best describes the partnership? (3rd partnership):
Are underrepresented groups and/or vulnerable populations engaged as equal partners? (3rd partnership):
A brief description of the institution’s formal community partnership to advance sustainability (3rd partnership):
USC Educational Partnerships program leads grant and philanthropic funded K-12 programs including McMorrow NAI, Family of Schools, Kinder2College, and KidWatch. Through these programs that reinforce our commitment to higher education, USC strives to decrease the high-school dropout rate and increase the college graduation rate.
A sustainability-focused program within USC Educational Partnerships includes:
Kinder2College
Kinder2College supports an inclusive and equitable quality education to promote lifelong learning opportunities for young boys to excel in literature while young girls focus on STEM education on Saturdays. We provide these scholars with literature on environmentally sustainable practices including “Environmental Heroes” throughout the world. Scholars leave Saturday Academy understanding how their actions can make a larger impact at USC as well as their community.
Sustainability-related programs within USC Educational Partnerships includes:
USC McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative - Family Development Institute
Students are more likely to succeed in school when their parents or caregivers are involved in their education, the NAI Family Development Institute offers seminars for parents and guardians or advocates of NAI scholars. Topics are developed with input from parents, staff and teachers, and have included adolescent/child development, effective communication, creating a positive learning environment in the home, fostering educational success and conflict resolution, in addition to issues of special concern to parents of seniors, such as the college application process and financial aid. https://communities.usc.edu/educational-partnerships/nai/
USC Mental Health Component
The USC Mental Health component seeks to address the achievement gap by: 1) providing psychoeducational workshops to inform and empower neighborhood families about mental health 2) providing individual, family, group and couples counseling to community participants in the programs 3) Conduct a Wellness Fair that incorporates all elements of wellness including environmental wellness via information booths, resources, etc. from USC & community partners
Community Computer Center (CCC)
The Community Computer Center provides computer literacy classes which enhance and promotes technology usage for non-literate and semi-literate members within the USC communities. The USC Family of Schools (FOS) recruits participants from both the University Park Campus (UPC) and Health Science Campus and surrounding communities. Additional associated programs are the Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI), Family Development Initiative (FDI), Kinder 2 College (K2C), KidWatch Health and Safety Ambassadors (KW), and Safety Task Force (STF) Ambassadors which contain additional community participants. Website:www.universityparkfamily.com/profile/ccc-usc
A brief description of the institution’s other community partnerships to advance sustainability:
See attachment for a full catalogue of USC-community partnerships.
Website URL where information about the institution’s community partnerships to advance sustainability is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data current as of 11/06/23.
Data current as of 11/06/23.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.