• INSTITUTE 2016-2026

FIRST DECADE OF THE INSTITUTE

The UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy was launched in 2016 by faculty director, Ananya Roy with the mandate to organize knowledge to challenge inequality. From 2016 to 2026, the Institute undertook research and scholarship in accompaniment of movements and communities on the frontlines of dispossession and displacement in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the world. Led by Professor Ananya Roy and associate faculty directors, Professors Hannah Appel and Kian Goh, such work focused on housing justice, sanctuary spaces, the future of finance, and climate justice, and took the form of insurgent research collectives, reparative public goods, and liberatory knowledge.

HOUSING JUSTICE

Thinking from Los Angeles, and other key global nodes of insurgency, Institute research and scholarship from 2016-2026 revealed the actors, systems, and institutions that perpetuate housing exploitation. Working with tenant movements and unhoused communities, the Institute aimed to dismantle police-property relations and reconstruct housing as a reparative public good.

Learn more about Housing Justice

FUTURE OF FINANCE

Exploitative financial relationships and endless growth subtend trans/national inequities including racial capitalism, imperialism, settler colonialism, and climate catastrophe. Other worlds are possible, and they will require other financial systems, institutions, and relationships. With scholars from social movements and academia, the Institute brought together knowledge producers committed to theorizing and enacting these worlds. During the first decade of the Institute, the Future of Finance convened public programs, sustained scholar-practitioner-activist collaborations, and produced multimedia output including academic publications, films, OpEds, and materials for political education.

Learn more about Future of Finance

SANCTUARY SPACES

Sanctuary Spaces: Reworlding Humanism, a Mellon Foundation Sawyer Seminar awarded in 2019, is concerned with the place of racial others – the border-crosser, the asylum-seeker, the refugee – in liberal democracy. With a critical lens around histories of colonial dispossession and racial capitalism, this project thinks across Europe and the United States to interrogate Western humanism and foreground alternative frameworks of freedom and justice.

Learn more about Sanctuary Spaces

ACTIVIST-IN-RESIDENCE

The UCLA Activist-in-Residence (AIR) program was funded from 2017 through 2026. AIR sought to strengthen the infrastructure of social transformation by supporting local movement leaders, community organizers, and artists with university resources. Conceptualized as a sabbatical, the residency allowed for time and space to reflect upon complex challenges, envision new campaigns and projects, and connect with university faculty, students, and staff. This program provided opportunities for activists to engage with the UCLA community to develop and strengthen their capabilities, work, and commitment towards social justice.

Josiah Edwards

2023 UCLA Activist-in-Residence

Leonardo Vilchis

2020 UCLA Activist-in-Residence

Funmilola Fagbamila

2017 UCLA Activist-in-Residence

Learn more about UCLA Activists-in-Residence

GRADUATE STUDENT WORKING GROUPS (2016 – 2026)

From 2016 until 2026, the Institute supported graduate student working groups that undertook a year-long plan of collective work related to one of the Institute’s key research themes. Working groups focused on speaking to public issues and addressed audiences beyond the university.

Graduate Student Working Groups 2025-26

    • Connor Castillo, Jessica Iniguez, Glafira Lopez – Urban Planning. Sowing Resilience: Wildfire Adaptation Strategies for LA’s Immigrant and Farming Communities
    • Ashley Elias, Leonardo Vilchis-Zarate – Urban Planning, Chicana/o & Central American Studies. Planting Seeds Against Displacement
    • Jack Fukushima, Maxwell Hellmann, Matthew Hing, Cristian Yanes – Anthropology, Medicine. Health Autonomy Within Housing & Spatial Justice
    • Sridha Hordagoda – Social Welfare. Abolitionist & Intersectional Justice Graduate Student Working Group
    • Gabby Gonzalez, Athena Lewin, Sadaf Maleki , Zinnia Moreno – Social Science Interdepartmental Program, Social Welfare, Information Studies. Social Workers for Disability Justice
    • Tiana Mastrella, Misaki Mizutani, Margaux Stanitsas – Public Health, Social Welfare. Harbor UCLA Free Clinic Social Work Team
  • Alex Ferrer, Chelsea Kirk – Geography, Urban Planning. The Rent Brigade
  • Andrew Guerrero, Michael Griggs, Abdullah Puckett, Javier Rodriguez – Anthropology, Education, Law, Social Welfare. Big Brother Little Brother Mentorship Program
  • Maxwell Hellman, Matthew Hing, Natalie Marshall – Anthropology, Medicine. Health Through Mutual Aid: Democratizing and Communalizing Care with Unhoused Residents
  • Chelsea Kirk, Allison Kirste, Laura Yau – Urban Planning. Mutual Aid LA Network – Hygiene Hello!
  • Kathleen Craig, Shira Gratch, Nirel JonesMitchell – Social Welfare. Power Mapping: A Curriculum Supplement to (En)Camping
  • Jack Fukushima, Maxwell Hellmann, Matthew Hing, Daniel Kennedy, Jordan Wynne – Anthropology, Medicine, Urban Planning. Universal Access Center
  • Lucy Briggs, Madalyn Bryant, Chandi Gordon, Alejandra Rios Gutierrez, Isis Haynes, Jessica Lopez, Ina Morton, Ariella Ventura – Urban Planning. Abolition Course Working Group 
  • Wesleigh Gates, Anna Robinson-Sweet, Matt Schneider – Anthropology, Information Studies, World Arts & Cultures/Dance. Academic Complicity with Policing
  • Nohely Guzmán Narváez, Andrew Malmuth, Benjamin Weinger – Geography, Sociology. Critical Climate Adaptation Working Group
  • Maxwell Hellman, Matthew Hing, Natalie Marshall – Anthropology. Health Through Mutual Aid: Creating a “Community Pharmacy” with Unhoused Residents
  • Samyuktha Comandur, Erin Mauffray, Bineh Ndefru – Materials Science & Engineering, Political Science, Spanish & Portuguese. Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA-LA)
  • Mariam Khan, Chris Martinez, Adbullah Puckett, Rasheed Shabazz – Anthropology, History, Medicine and Public Health, Urban Planning. Planning for Reentry Working Group
  • Shaellen Franco, Nils Jepson, Ina Morton, Rebecca Swint – Urban Planning. PRAXIS
  • Claire Nelischer, Andrés F. Ramirez, Gus Wendel – Urban Planning. Reclaim the Music! Reclaim the Station!
  • Alejandra Rios Gutierrez, Lillian Liang, Kevin Liu, Lindsey Morris, Leslie Velasquez – Sociology, Urban Planning. Abolition and Planning Praxis Course Group 
  • Jeremy Abbott, Olivia Arena, Megan Riley, Doga Tekin, Emma Tran – Community Health Sciences, Information Studies, Urban Planning. Decarcerating Public Libraries: Pedagogy & Praxis
  • Katherine Hernandez, Sedonna Goeman-Shulsky, Juan Felipe Riano Landazabal, Sebastian Solarte – IoES, Geography. Environmental Justice Working Group
  • Emma French, Andrew Malmuth, Nick Tinoco – Sociology, Urban Planning. Housing Justice and Climate Adaptation
  • Abhilasha Bhola, Keenan Do, Alex Ferrer, Jhorna Islam – Public Policy, Social Welfare, Urban Planning. PRAXIS: A Socialist & Abolitionist Organization at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
  • Olivia Arena, Christine Bustillos, Estefany Garcia, Audrey Jang, Lindsey Morris, Nathaniel Myman, Hannah Schwartz – Law, Urban Planning. Students for Community Land Ownership
  • Aziz Fellague Ariouat, Michael Criste, Andrew Jarnagin, Jessica Martin, Haley Roeser, Yassaman Sarvian, Sara Tohamy – Urban Planning. Black Reconstruction Summer Seminar
  • Sam Lutzker, Andrew Malmuth, Hilary Malson, Kate Smock, Victoria Tran – Sociology, Urban Planning. Housing Justice Public Scholarship
  • Tracey Beltran, Alexander Ferrer, Sam Lutzker, Jessica Melendez, Haley Roeser – Sociology, Urban Planning. Informal Tenancy Working Group
  • Rebecca Escoto, Marium Navid, Alexandra Prescott, Priscilla Vazquez – Public Policy, Social Welfare. Luskin Mutual Aid Fund
  • Aziz Fellague Ariouat, Michael Criste, Alexander Ferrer, Harper Lauren, Rachel Lu, Antara Murshed, Nataly Rios, Haley Roser – Urban Planning. Planning Abolitionist Futures: Theory and Praxis
  • Akua Agyen, Alex Bowen, Audrey Comber, Nour Elgezawi, Rebecca Escoto, Kristen Gast, Kevin Nguyen, Priscilla Vazquez – Social Welfare. Reimagining Social Welfare Collective
  • Ben Bressette, Alexander Ferrer, Tiffany Green, Kristin Gunther, Andrew Jarnagin, Nathan Keibler, Casey Leedom, Jessica Martin, Aurelia Mora, Sara Tohamy, Audrey Younsook – Urban Planning. Students for Community Land Ownership
  • Evan Bruetsch, Emmanuel Proussaloglou, Chris Rancourt, Gabe Saltzman – Architecture and Urban Design, Urban Planning. Wasted Space(s): Reimagining Unused Parking Structures as Decommodified Housing
  • Lupe Cazares-Meyers, Nathan Cheung, Paola Lopez – Latin American Studies. Hand in Hand LA
  • Ary Hansen, Sam Lutzker, Kartik Raj – Sociology, Law. Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA-LA)
  • Thabisile Griffin, LeighAnna Hidalgo, Rosanna Simons – Chicana/o Studies, Central American Studies. People 4 People/Gente por Gente
  • Cynthia Bourjac, Irene Farr, Alejandro Gonzalez, Andres Gonzalez, Demetria Murphy – Urban Planning. Planners of Color for Social Equity
  • Bernice López, Jodi E. Scofield, Stephanie Ruiz – Social Welfare. Reimagining Social Welfare Collective: An Abolitionist Framework
  • Yamillet Brizuela, Sami Bhusal, Laura Daza Garcia, Spike Friedman, Olivia Miller, Breigh Montgomery, Alicia Morales Perez, Amy Young, Amy Zhou – Public Policy, Social Welfare, Urban Planning. UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy Student Advisory Board
  • Carlie Domingues, AnMarie Mendoza, Carolyn Rodriguez –American Indian Studies. California Indian Graduate Student Working Group
  • Maritza Geronimo, Lauren Ilano, Kimberly Miranda – Chicana/o Studies, Education and Information Studies, Geography. Contra Mapping: A Series on Decolonizing Cartography for Community Resistance
  • Dian Tri Irawaty, Fernanda Jahn-Verri, Jaehyeon Park – Geography, Urban Planning. Discussing Land Titling and Property Rights in the Global South
  • Jason Anthony Plummer, Marcel Roman, Tye Rush – Political Science, Social Welfare. Divesting in Communities of Color: The Long-Term Effects of Redlining on Political Capital and Community Development
  • Naveen Agrawal, Spike Friedman, Dickran Jebejian, Samantha Meyer, Andrew Miller – Geography, Urban Planning. (No) Vacancy: How Can A Vacancy Tax Mitigate Los Angeles’ Housing Crisis?
  • Clementine Bordeaux, Viki Eagle, Jessica Fremland, Renee White Eyes – Anthropology, Education, Gender Studies, World Arts and Cultures/Dance. Owášte Optáya
  • Dian Tri Irawaty, Fernanda Jahn-Verri, Jaehyeon Park – Geography, Urban Planning. Discussing Landscapes of Property
  • Travis Bott, Alexis Coopersmith, Joel Herrera, Nihal Kayali – Geography, Sociology. Political Sociology and the Global South
  • Lorraine Perales, Samantha Piedra – Social Welfare, Public Policy. Reanalyzing the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
  • Christina Chica, Emma Colven, Matías Fernández, Joel Herrera – Sociology, Geography. Political Sociology and the Global South
  • Skye Allmang, Rebecca Crane, Feliz Quinones – Social Welfare, Urban Planning, Education and Information Studies. Resistance through Research: Graduate Student Working Group on Social Justice + Activism in the Trump Era
  • C. Aujean Lee, Rachel Wells, Silvia Gonzalez – Urban Planning, Social Welfare. Social Protections in the New Administration: Nonprofit Responses Amidst Political Changes
  • Eve Bachrach, Gina Charusombat, Amman Desai, Julia Heidelman, Lawrence Lan, Jacklyn Oh, Xochitl Ortiz, Carolyn Vera, Estefania Zavala – Urban Planning, Asian American Studies. Our Hoods, Our Stories: Documenting Displacement in Boyle Heights and Chinatown
  • Kenton Card, Matías Fernández, Andrew N. Le – Urban Planning, Sociology. Political Sociology and the Global South Working Group
  • Hannah Carlan, Nafis Hasan, Tanya Matthan, Nivedita Nath, Gabriel Locke Suchodolski – Anthropology, History, Sociology. Welfare Workings: Popular Politics and the Public in Contemporary India

INEQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY FELLOWSHIP (2020 – 2021)

From 2020 until 2021, the Institute supported research fellowships for UCLA Luskin graduate and doctoral students. The Inequality and Democracy Fellowship provided students with the opportunity to conduct research and gain invaluable experience in partnership with movement-based organizations with whom the Institute has longstanding relationships. The fellowship aimed to broaden and deepen student’s research skills, while also supporting the urgent, but severely underresourced research needs of our partner organizations who lead critical work on the front lines of our communities and cities.

Fellows & Research Projects