Community Scholars: Organizing for Schools and Democracy in Los Angeles

The UCLA Community Scholars program is offered through UCLA Labor Studies housed in the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment and is co-sponsored by the UCLA Labor Center.  This annual program provides an opportunity for advocates, community partners and organizers to work on a unique applied research project that furthers the goals of progressive community partnerships in Los Angeles. Every year, Community Scholars work with graduate and undergraduate students to address an important policy challenge and formulate a response that furthers a social justice agenda. 

The 2020 Program: Community Scholars: Organizing for Schools and Democracy in Los Angeles

The 2020 UCLA Community Scholars, in partnership with the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and the Center for Community Learning, will explore the practice and meaning of community schools in Los Angeles. The recent teachers’ strikes resulted in a commitment from the district to establish a set of community schools. The movement for community schools envisions educators joining together with youth and community members to identify and address their shared needs and democratically determine their collective future. Los Angeles requires such collective public action now more than ever because unbridled market forces, and anti-democratic national leadership combine to threaten immigrant families, weaken neighborhoods, and create new strains on critical social institutions. 

Seminar participants will include: UCLA graduate, undergraduate students, teachers, organizers, parents, as well as members of organized labor, civic associations, and community-based organizations who work for democracy and educational justice in greater Los Angeles.

Apply today & join us on this exciting journey!

Program Information & Take Aways:

  • The Community Scholars Program is free to participants but you must apply (link to form below)
  • Dinner will be provided during each class session 
  • Community Scholars receive free access to UCLA resources, including certain courses, library privileges as well as access to UCLA facilities
  • Courses will be taught by UCLA professors, John Rogers & Lorena Guillen & Community Scholars instructor, Rudy Gonzalves (Education, Director at LAANE) 
  • Community Scholars receive formal recognition for advanced research work in the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.
  • Community Scholars collaborate with community advocates and activists from across Los Angeles 

Past Projects:

Application:

Apply to the 2020 Community Scholars Program.  For any further questions please feel free to contact Eddie Lopez at elow@g.ucla.edu or Rudy Gonzalves at rgonzalves@laane.org. 

Calendar & Schedule:

Deadline for Community Scholar Applications November 27, 2019
Community Scholar Notification of Acceptance December 11, 2019
Winter Quarter dates 

Spring Quarter dates

 January 8- March 18, 2020

April 1- June 10, 2020
Awards and Celebration Date & Time TBA
Day, Time & Location Wednesdays, 6:00 – 9:00 PM 

UCLA Downtown Labor Center 

675 S. Parkview Street, LA 90057