USC and the Community
Across USC, staff, faculty and students are listening to and partnering with their neighbors in Los Angeles. Perhaps some of the most significant evidence of these relationships comes in the form of the Department of Public Safety Community Advisory Board, which issued recommendations this summer to improve safety hand in hand with L.A. residents. See more about USC’s partnerships with the community below.
Community input helps shape advisory board recommendations to enhance public safety at USC
The report from the Department of Public Safety Community Advisory Board recommends steps aimed at strengthening trust between the university, DPS and the broader community and making security more equitable.
Trojan Shop Local campaign encourages USC family to support businesses
The effort includes a scavenger hunt for students to spur them to visit and frequent nearby shops and cafes.
How a student project led to autism training at USC’s Department of Public Safety
Master’s students Monica Caris and Riley McGuire just wanted to educate people about autism, but already their capstone project has become part of yearly officer training.
Local students got summer jobs at USC
Over 50 local high school and community college students were placed at USC’s campuses through the City of LA’s Hire LA’s Youth program. The program is a first-time job experience for many of the students.
Students knit caps for premature babies
Kathryn Huang and her family didn’t realize that the simple act of learning to knit would ultimately lead to an organization devoted to keeping babies warm in the neonatal ICU.
South LA pastors partner with USC and other agencies to encourage vaccination
The VaccinateLA health campaign connects community organizations in South and East Los Angeles with vaccines, doctors and other resources.
In-person learning returns as USC’s School for Early Childhood Education launches summer program
Kids and teachers reunite with smaller classes that will allow faculty and staff to focus on safety protocols in advance of a full fall return.
Street Medicine team reaches out to people experiencing homelessness
The Street Medicine team, part of Keck Medicine of USC and the Keck School of Medicine of USC, administers COVID vaccinations to the homeless, sometimes going directly to campsites or nearby meeting points outside of their clinic.
Staff member and alum brings STEM to kids
Darin Gray left a successful engineering career to inspire children and teens. He’s helping neighborhood kids gain confidence in science, math and tech.