Programs That Make a Difference

• The Neighborhood Participation Project is a research initiative of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development that helps foster civic participation through neighborhood involvement. Since 1996, NPP has been researching neighborhood political participation in Los Angeles, has documented the growing neighborhood council movement, and is working to identify and disseminate findings on best practices in neighborhood council organization.
• The Urban Leadership Forum brings together some of USC's best Ph.D. students with interdisciplinary interests to examine a specific urban challenge. In 2005, the Forum was focused on developing a 10-year plan to end homelessness. Students meet monthly with leading professionals, politicians and faculty in the field.
• The Urban Initiative and the Southern California Association of Governments have begun to identify best practices for a globally competitive development strategy for the Southern California region that is both equitable and environmentally sustainable.
• The Community Based Learning Collaborative seeks to increase awareness among students, faculty and community members about opportunities for civic engagement and to facilitate the development of innovative and interdisciplinary community-based learning projects.
• The Public Policy Briefing Series informs regional and national policymakers and practitioners on pressing public policy issues. The series has received national recognition for USC’s scholarship on complex urban problem-solving in areas such as immigration, civic engagement, housing and the environment.