News
Read the latest news about the Institute from the UC Santa Cruz newscenter and hear about how we’re driving social transformation in California and across the world. Plus, explore our Institute Updates that include interviews with changemakers and showcases our impact through our affiliated projects, partnerships, centers, and team support.
Institute updates
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Partner Q&A: The James Irvine Foundation
Since the Institute’s founding, the Irvine Foundation has been a vital partner and funder, supporting our work in equitable economic development. The UC Santa Cruz news team sat down with Jessica Kaczmarek, Priority Communities Initiative Director at the foundation, to learn more about how and why her organization has chosen to fund the Institute for Social…
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Supporting innovative climate change research
This past year, the institute has been supporting five major research projects across campus that received a combined $9.5 million in California Climate Action Grants funding. The projects cover topics like farmworker health and safety, composting, connections between the housing crisis and climate impacts, the new Pajaro River levee system, and the use of art…
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Organizing for inclusive economic development
As part of the state-wide Community Economic Mobilization Initiative (CEMI), the institute’s staff have led technical assistance, training, and capacity-building this past year for nonprofits from underserved communities that are leading inclusive economic development efforts. Our team conducted needs assessments of 50+ nonprofits, developed online resources, and hosted workshops, a conference, and five cohort-based learning…
From the newscenter
Ensuring equitable technological transitions: AI use in the workforce
While much of the public conversation about generative AI and work focuses on job replacement or increased productivity, Chris Benner’s research is taking clues from prior technological transitions to understand what other improvements are possible.
Transformative gifts will help students find their paths as changemakers
Experiential learning programs at the Institute for Social Transformation recently received $1.2 million in new funding to support the next generation of social impact leaders.
Empowering community organizations to lead on economic development
The Institute for Social Transformation organized a recent statewide gathering that brought together partners from the Community Economic Mobilization Initiative.
Institute for Social Transformation awarded $700k grant to support inclusive economic development throughout Central California
The James Irvine Foundation has awarded the institute a two-year community-level learning partner grant as part of its Priority Communities initiatives, which seeks to strengthen regional economies by empowering low-wage workers, families, and organizations to drive economic change.
Lessons from a historic quest to heal spider bites are helping to fight neglected tropical diseases today
Associate Professor Lily Balloffet’s latest research traces successful early efforts to produce new antivenoms in Latin America and explores implications for modern public health issues, like snakebite and Chagas disease
Can oil extraction fuel sustainable development in Guyana? Beware the resource curse.
Environmental studies and Latin American and Latino studies major Chris Mathura won the dean’s award for his research examining early impacts of oil drilling off the coast of Guyana in South America.
Horse teeth hold historical clues about military power and trade in Western Africa
Undergraduate Elyse Venerable won the Chancellor’s Award and Dean’s Award for her research using strontium isotope analysis to uncover the origins of Oyo Empire war horses.
Research uncovers local labor issues that may be driving increased unionization
Surveys show young workers suffer from scheduling instability, and those who are LGBTQ+ are more likely to experience wage theft and workplace injuries. Meanwhile, census data show a harmful pay gap for Latina workers.
Global premiere of “Power in the Desert” illuminates the human side of the lithium boom
New documentary inspired by Professor Chris Benner’s co-authored book “Charging Forward” explores environmental justice across Argentina, Chile, and California.