Luskin School of Public Affairs: Dean’s Innovation Fund

Scholarship Meets the Streets

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs is where scholarship meets the streets. Our “Complete Streets” initiative, for instance, works to make streets more vibrant and livable. Parklets — tiny parks created from traffic triangles and surplus parking spots — are a good example, bringing neighborhoods new spots for relaxation and active recreation.

UCLA Luskin helped design and install two parklets on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. But our involvement didn’t end with the ribbon cutting. We monitor the effect of parklets on the neighborhood: pedestrian and bike traffic, use of public space and patronage of local businesses. And we distribute a Parklet Toolkit, so other neighborhoods and cities share our know-how. São Paulo, Brazil, has already put the toolkit to use.

Demonstration projects like the parklets show another UCLA Luskin hallmark: We like to pair our rigorous scholarship with real-world experience and accountability, putting our ideas to work. That’s why a team of Public Policy graduate students evaluated a school bonus system in Rio. Social Welfare researchers map the connections between alcohol outlets and violent crimes like assault and domestic abuse. And Urban Planning professors analyze the impact of Metro stations on low-income neighborhoods.

We partner with government, with community groups, with business. Scholars from all three Luskin School departments — Social Welfare, Public Policy and Urban Planning — work across disciplines to tackle pressing problems like education, transportation, juvenile justice and community development. At UCLA Luskin, we are changing the world at street level: one person, one project, one place at a time.

We will put your gift to work to expand existing projects or seed new efforts.