A Part of the Community
USC is a respectful neighbor and a thoughtful partner, and our research, outreach and policy advice make a difference in the daily lives of people near and far. That includes teaching high schoolers affected by the Eaton and Pacific Palisades wildfires how to capture their communities’ stories.
(Photo/Courtesy of the USC Annenberg Wildfire Youth Media Initiative)
Top Headlines
The “Freedom Plane National Tour,” which includes a rare, engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence, will visit Los Angeles as part of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Underground heat and sediment patterns control how earthquakes behave along one of the most dangerous faults in the eastern Mediterranean.
USC officially welcomes new undergraduate, graduate and transfer students with inspiring words and a heavy dose of Trojan tradition.
“I was trying to get to know a place through its remains,” says one student.
Citizenship in the Community
USC doesn’t take its position as a leading institution in Los Angeles lightly. Every day, Trojans offer a helping hand in countless ways that make our community better, including business advice, health services, financial support and more.
Good Advice from a Good Neighbor
USC experts offer well-considered guidance to help elected officials and other policymakers make decisions that improve their communities.
Urban AI UnLocked project to promote equitable adoption of AI in urban K-12 schools nationwide
The EdPolicy Hub at USC Rossier will launch the project with $200,000 in funding from Google.org.
Have a heart: USC’s Chuck Murry gives third-graders a science lesson that’s either ‘cool’ or ‘eew, gross’
The head of USC’s stem cell program visits Vermont Avenue Elementary with heart in hand — literally.
At 50, USC Dornsife’s Joint Educational Project shapes multiple generations of local families — and Trojans, too
JEP is one of the university’s most enduring initiatives, educating Trojans and serving community members for more than half a century.
Inspiring first-generation students through math, college immersion
USC Rossier welcomes first group of students in its TOMMY (Teaching Outstanding Math to Migrant Youth) program.
‘Altadena: After the Fires’ podcast series gives Trojans unforgettable experience in compassionate storytelling
“I was trying to get to know a place through its remains,” says one student.
Community, Powered by USC
From civic dialogue and youth learning to data on affordability and new partnerships, these stories show how Trojans turn knowledge into impactful action across Los Angeles and beyond.
JEP’s Ripple Effect, Service That Spans Generations
USC Dornsife’s Joint Educational Project is creating a multigenerational ripple effect, with local families and Trojan volunteers returning to JEP across decades. The story highlights JEP House and programs such as WonderKids and Little Yoginis at the James A. Foshay Learning Center near USC.
New Funding Advances Equitable AI Integration in K–12 Schools
USC Rossier’s EdPolicy Hub received $200,000 from Google.org to launch Urban AI UnLocked, a research and capacity-building project focused on equitable AI adoption in urban K–12 schools. The project includes a national survey and engagement with educators, administrators and families.
Across the Aisle, A Practical Model for Civil Dialogue
USC’s Center for the Political Future promotes respectful, fact-based dialogue and civic participation across differences. Founded in 2018 by Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy, the center connects academic life with practical politics and prepares students to engage diverse viewpoints with integrity and empathy.
Public Exchange Expands to Washington University in St. Louis
USC and Washington University in St. Louis are expanding Public Exchange, a model created at USC in 2020 to connect academic research with city leaders, nonprofits and businesses tackling urgent community issues. The partnership will support solutions-focused collaborations on challenges such as disaster recovery, food insecurity and climate resilience.
Young Angelenos Revisit Bunker Hill’s Lost History Through Zines
Funded by USC’s Arts in Action, the program brought together young people to explore the history of Bunker Hill, a vibrant Los Angeles neighborhood razed by the Community Redevelopment Agency in the 1950s and 1960s. Led by Dr. Meredith Drake Reitan with USC Libraries staff and Los Angeles Public Library collaborators, students recruited through USC and LAPL, including participants from USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative, created zines that bring this history back into public view.
LABarometer Tracks How L.A. Residents Experience Livability and Affordability
LABarometer released new results from its Livability and Affordability survey, tracking Los Angeles County residents’ well-being since 2019, including housing, safety, access to services and participation in public life. The most recent wave was fielded from late August through mid-November 2025 and is administered to a probability-based panel of nearly 2,000 adults in English and Spanish.
Spotlight: USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts is the nation’s premier institution for film, television and interactive media education. With world-renowned faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and deep ties to the entertainment industry, USC’s film school empowers students and alumni to shape the future of storytelling across platforms.
Around the University
45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
The USC community gathers for its 45th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, organized by the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs and the USC Black Staff and Faculty Caucus. The program features discussions, songs, poems and more honoring King’s legacy, and takes place in Room 450 (The Forum) at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Admission is free and open to the USC community.
Friday, Jan. 23
2 p.m.
LA28 Impact and Sustainability: Advancing a More Sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Legacy
Join the USC Trojan Sustainability Network and the USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communications for a virtual TSN Talk on LA28’s environmental and social legacy. The conversation highlights opportunities to accelerate climate action, strengthen community resilience and
Wednesday, Jan. 21
Noon-1 p.m.
After the Fires: Voices from Black Altadena, One Year Later
In this virtual webinar, historian Robin D.G. Kelley and Shimica Gaskins (president and CEO, End Child Poverty, CA) reflect one year after the Eaton Fire, exploring Black Altadena’s legacy of homeownership and what it will take to rebuild with equity and resilience. The event is sponsored by the USC Dornsife Black Studies Center and the USC Equity Research Institute.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
4-5:15 p.m.
