UEPI Programs: Centers & Projects

The Urban & Environmental Policy Institute operates as an umbrella for a number of projects and programs. In response to political changes, community interests, program innovations and research developments, our projects are continually changing, evolving and re-inventing themselves.

The Center for Food & Justice (CFJ) works to improve access to fresh and healthy foods in all communities, particularly those where access is most limited, and to facilitate environmental, health promotion, community development, social justice, and land use strategies that empower local communities and strengthen the capacity of small regional farmers.

To that end, CFJ works to connect local farmers with various institutions in an innovative and mutually beneficial manner:

• The National Farm to School Network, a collaborative project of UEPI and the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) with the overarching objective to create a viable and sustainable structure to promote, institutionalize and catalyze farm to school programs as viable models for improving the economic viability of family-scale farmers and child nutrition.
• California Farm to School assists school administrators, food service personnel, farmers, parents, teachers, and community members to establish farm to school programs in California by providing training and technical assistance, disseminating informational resources, and promoting collaboration.
• Farm to Preschool aims to influence early childhood eating habits, bring farm fresh food to under served preschool programs in the Los Angeles area, improve menu options at school-provided meals and snacks, and organize community demand for better access to healthy foods for all residents.
• Farm to Institution Distribution looks at ways to mainstream the ordering process for local food distribution, developing a greater variety of consistent, verifiable and robust models of procuring and distributing locally grown foods to schools, institutions, and communities in need.
• Farm to Hospital builds on the health focus and prevention messages advocated by hospitals and clinics, helping them partner with local farmers to improve patient and cafeteria food, host farmers’ markets on hospital grounds and engage in community health promotion activities.

Other food justice programs include:

• The Healthy School Food Coalition is a group of committed parents, teachers, students and community members working to develop comprehensive food and nutrition policies in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
• Project CAFE (Community Action on Food Environments) was a five year school and community-directed project to conduct a community food assessment and to design, develop, and implement community-directed activities related to food and health in low-income, communities of color in Los Angeles.
• Project GROW: Gardens for Respect, Opportunity and Wellness pilot program, 1999-2001, explored the potential link between improving community food security and access to healthier food and addressing the issues and impacts from domestic violence.
• The Food and Transportation project identifies transportation strategies for bringing healthy food to people who live, work, and eat in South Los Angeles and taking people to affordable sources of healthy food. 
• Edible Landscaping identifies and advocates policies and best practices to help make affordable housing developments sites for edible landscaping and innovative urban agriculture and food access programs.
• The Grocery Accountability Project (GAP) engages in research, policy development, and coalition-building work to ratchet up the performance and accountability of food retail corporations in five critical areas: food access, labor standards, environment and health, supply chain and labeling.

The Pollution Prevention Center undertakes research and provides education and technical assistance to reduce or eliminate the use of toxic substances, improve human and environmental health, and conserve resources. Among other accomplishments, PPC has become one of the leading experts on pollution prevention issues in the garment care industry.

The Migration Policy and Resource Center combines the need for research, educational programs, and policy analysis and development in collaboration with community-based organizations in the area of immigration reform and immigrant rights.

The LA Bike Summit provides a venue to create a shared vision among bike riders and bike advocates to not only strengthen the presence of biking as an alternative to driving and a source of physical activity, but to help to create a more livable and sustainable region. More information and the second annual summit in Spring 2010 coming soon!

Environmental Justice and Growth strives to frame problems and issues with an environmental justice framework to ensure that urban development and growth meet simultaneous environmental, economic and social goals set by communities. 

The Media Democracy project works for a media system that is just, equitable and accessible. Through a partnership with California Common Cause, UEPI co-hosts the annual summit, Local Media for Social Change.

Action Research Books is a collaboration between UEPI and MIT Press, with the goal of creating a space for dialog between academics, community organizations, students, experts, activists and others regarding the interconnectedness of the social and environmental issues we face today.

Trade, Health & Environment Impact Project (THE Impact Project) is a community-academic action research partnership focused on reducing international trade's impacts on health and community life. The collaborative consists of four community-based organizations based near the ports or along key trade corridors in southern California and two academic institutions.

Launched in 1998, the Progressive Los Angeles Network (PLAN) brought together a broad cross section of progressive community organizers, advocates, researchers, and policy practitioners to forge a community-based public policy agenda and action plan for the LA region.

Sustainable Oxy works to make Occidental College a more environmentally sustainable place by partnering with students, faculty, staff, and administrators to help form a campus-wide Sustainability Committee, create a Renewable Energy & Sustainability Fund, start a student-run organic garden, and explore projects to build solar panels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote biking

On Sunday, June 15, 2003 people from across Southern California came together for ArroyoFest, an opportunity to bike and walk ON the 110 freeway to show their support for stronger neighborhoods, cleaner water and air, more parks and open space, better transportation and greater appreciation of history.

In 1999 and 2000, UEPI hosted the year-long Re-Envisioning the LA River series of 40 different events and activities with the goal of transforming the discourse around the River and the urban environment of Los Angeles and to encourage actions for community and ecological revitalization.

Urban Nature ?

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