This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Next City. Three years ago, the federal government created Opportunity Zones as a way to encourage private investors to bring an influx of money to struggling urban and rural neighborhoods through tax incentives. The promise of Opportunity Zones to communities? Add affordable housing, boost small businesses owned by Black … Continued
As 2020 comes to a close, America stands at a crossroads following the results of a presidential election, the worldwide impact of COVID-19, and the racial justice reckoning and movement. At a time when public service is critical to change, our fall fellows are embarking on their journeys to make a difference in local communities … Continued
As a FUSE executive fellow, Michael Lim helped Los Angeles develop a business plan that addressed the need for investment in autonomous vehicles and the infrastructure to support them. Since his fellowship, Michael has co-founded Xtelligent, a transportation technology venture developing Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems that use traffic signal technology to govern movement, including of … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Next City. The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting has the not-so-small task of maintaining more than 223,000 lights throughout city neighborhoods and streets, contributing to the safety and well-being of four million residents. For more than a decade, it has been transitioning to new technologies — converting … Continued
As a FUSE executive fellow with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, Kim Bowman Jr. has been working since the fall of 2018 to bring community voice and leadership into governmental processes, while strengthening the strategic visioning and management practices of the world’s largest probation department. By bolstering leadership and increasing community engagement, Kim is … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on CityLab. Since the Covid-19 pandemic swept through the U.S., the effects have been swift and devastating. As sections of the country have shut down to stem transmission of the virus, so have entire economies. But the impact goes way beyond businesses and corporations. Cities and counties are suffering … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Yes! Magazine. Seville Dry Cleaners is located in Huntington Park, a working class, heavily Latinx neighborhood in Los Angeles County. A hair salon and a dental clinic sit on either side of the building, and across the street is a large United States post office. Pre-COVID-19, these businesses … Continued
This article was originally published on Apolitical. Changing legacy government processes is no mean feat. I learned this in my role as a FUSE executive fellow with L.A. County Child Support Services (CSS), an organization which employs 1,450 people and is responsible for managing around 230,000 child support cases. In 2018, CSS brought me in … Continued
This FUSE-produced story was originally published on Next City. International Boulevard in Oakland, California, is an iconic corridor that begins in the city’s quickly gentrifying Lake Merritt neighborhood. This nine-mile stretch, home to many of Oakland’s Black- and immigrant-owned restaurants, hair salons, clothing boutiques, and more, also runs through the city’s struggling east side. Along … Continued