Expanding access to "green"

From the LA Times:

"Green revolution comes to urban neighborhoods

Low-income can also be environmentally friendly, with a little help."

excerpt: 

"There's a tendency to not seek out communities like these," said Jeffrey Richardson, chief executive of solar installer Imani Energy Inc., one of the few companies that have been actively working on projects in South Los Angeles. "There's the idea that people here don't get it, don't want to get it and can't get it when it comes to green."

Read the article here.

Santa Monica Daily Press: Developer skips out on affordable housing

No housing here, folks.

Really interesting case of affordable housing requirements not being fulfilled by the developer despite a relatively good track record. How easy it is to let relationships between government and developers cloud implementing affordable housing policy.

Sustainability Poster Session, Thurs. June 3rd

Food 2.0

(Heard about this from Heart Beet Gardening but haven't found anything else about it)
Food 2.0, a symposium on Sustainable Agriculture, Social Entrepreneurship and the Future of Food at UCLA on May 5th. Food 2.0 is a first of its kind, this path-breaking event will cast a spotlight on the thought leaders and social entrepreneurs who are reinventing the food we eat, the beverages we drink and the systems that nourish our communities. It is a rare opportunity to explore the connection between profits and purpose and how we can strengthen community through sustainable business.

More details to come (please post 'em if you've got 'em), at least two panels mentioned: "The Future of Food", and Sustainable Food Initiatives on the LA food Scene.

When & Where: May 5th from 4-8pm at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in Westwood, California. Panel events will be held in Korn Hall and the Farmer's Market will take place just outside Korn Hall in Alumni Plaza.

March 4: UC Day of Action

On March 4, the UC Day of Action will organize students throughout the UC system against the fee hikes.  More information is available at the March 4 Strike Blog.  Here is the schedule for the Day of Action:

• 11:30am-Noon Campus-wide: Any students still stuck in class are encouraged to WALKOUT! 
• Noon-1pm  ALL OUT TO BRUIN PLAZA!  Rally followed by March around UCLA campus; Speakers, media coverage, chanting, opportunities for circulating petitions, etc.
• 1-3pm Bruin Plaza and Campus Wide Revolution Dance Party- DJ, musical acts, hip-hop artists, student-led teach-ins, etc.
• 3-4pm Bruin Plaza:  Teach-in with various faculty members.
• 4:30-5:30pm Bruin Plaza:  Rally; Speakers, media coverage, chanting, petitioning, etc.  UTLA, CFT, CTA, LAUSD, Community Colleges, and California State Universities join.

Last week, the Social Sciences Council (which includes your Urban Planning Reps) passed a resolution in support of the Day of Action, which you can read after the break...

GIS Enthusiasts, Please Read.

The Revolution Will Be Mapped

http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture_society/the-revolution-will-be-mapped-1650

UCLA Planners at Student of Color Conference 2009

This quarter UCLA Graduate Student Association (GSA) sent a delegation of graduate/professional students to the UC-wide Student of Color Conference at UC San Diego. This year’s theme, Building Our Leaders with Purpose: Activism, Wellness, and Reclaiming Education, engaged undergraduate and graduate students to be effective leaders, activists, and balanced individuals. The conference consisted of a diverse array of programming that aimed to encourage graduate and undergraduate students to intermingle with each other, despite campus affiliations. Five Urban Planning students were part of the UCLA delegation.

The Critical Race Studies Working Group at UCLA facilitated a workshop called "Critical Race Studies: A Way To Reclaim Our Space"

Cheye-Ann (pictured on the left), second year Urban Planning student was one of the facilitators.