CDLS Briefing
Powering an Ecosystem of Emergence, Revival, and Sustainability
The UCLA Center for Diverse Leadership in Science (CDLS) invites you to attend a virtual briefing on its programs, projects, and network impact from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (12:30-2:00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, June 25.
We are appreciative that this virtual briefing is hosted by Lorelle Espinosa from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Alfred Mays from Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Nina Lagpacan from Oceankind, Shomari Lewis-Wilson from the Wellcome Trust, Lauren Bon and Metabolic Studio, and Patrisse Cullors from the Center for Art & Abolition and Climate Resilient Los Angeles.
The briefing will bring together prominent speakers, including Freeman Hrabowski III, President Emeritus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Manuel Pastor from USC; Catherine Flowers from the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice; Patrisse Cullors of Art and Abolition; Nalleli Cobo from the South Central Youth Coalition; Kimberly Morales Johnson from the Gabrielino/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians; Chad English from the Packard Foundation, and our co-hosts, among others.
As you may already be aware, CDLS is a unique and internationally renowned program that emphasizes service leadership, and has been transforming education, research, and workforce development since its inception nearly a decade ago. The Center supports fellows from more than 60 colleges, universities, and community-based organizations across the country, including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, tribal authorities, community housing organizations, and labor organizations. Our shared purpose is to advance high-quality education, encourage innovative research and practice, and support healthier communities, economic opportunity, and sustainability through STEM for all.
Our innovative model is known for being impactful in education - from K-12 to postsecondary, and in research and practice - including in the areas of climate, arts and science, environmental resilience, ocean science, health science, data science, and ethical AI. Since our founding, we have supported more than 500 high school, undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral, and community fellows. The attached slide deck and our recent Impact Report provide an overview of our work.
However, hundreds of CDLS students and fellows are now at risk of losing their support, and dozens of our partners are at risk of losing their funding, after two of our crucial NSF grants were terminated.
We have launched a 90-day campaign to not only showcase the work of the Center, but to ensure that the work can thrive in the months and years ahead. Given all that is happening in the world around us, and in our local communities, the stakes could not be higher.