California

In response to the more than 50 million visitors who arrive in Los Angeles each year, the city’s Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD) is working on a master plan for tourism. The first long-term strategic plan around tourism ever undertaken by the city, it addresses infrastructure, capacity, and... Read more

A significant number of the Los Angeles Public Library’s (LAPL’s) more than 1,500 employees are nearing retirement. To prepare for this eventuality, LAPL sought to create a development plan that would foster creative, forward-looking leaders who can leverage new capabilities and improve community responsiveness. To address these goals, FUSE Executive... Read more

To help reduce homelessness and increase affordable housing, the Los Angeles Department of Housing and Community Investment is working to establish a Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to develop its own financial resources. To that end, FUSE Executive Fellow David Spirakis created a business plan and organizational structure for the HFA,... Read more

Racial and ethnic minorities comprise nearly 70 percent of Long Beach residents, and many of them are small business owners. Supporting these entrepreneurs is a critical part of the city’s 10-year economic plan. The Economic Development Department enlisted FUSE executive fellow Daniel Han to help connect minority and women entrepreneurs... Read more

Housing affordability has become increasingly urgent across California. According to recent data, nearly half of all homeowners in Long Beach spend more than 30 percent of their total monthly income on rent or mortgage payments. To ease the pressure on residents, Long Beach engaged FUSE executive fellow Rick Ryba to... Read more

Residents of Long Beach have access to more than 40 programs through the Department of Health and Human Services. These programs address a variety of community health needs, including family planning, HIV care, homelessness, veteran support, and more. But there is no department-wide standard for determining client need or eligibility... Read more

In East Palo Alto, the effects of cut-through traffic, congestion, and parking have had serious consequences on the health, safety, and quality of life for residents. In search of solutions, the city hired consultants to conduct a mobility study that provides short-, mid-, and long-term recommendations addressing these issues. To... Read more

Working alongside Mayor Kevin Johnson, FUSE Executive Fellow Erika Dimmler played a leadership role in executing the Greenwise Action Plan. Erika brought together key stakeholders throughout Sacramento, including Sac High, Sacramento's public schools, and the city of Sacramento, to build a national prototype for a healthy food and jobs program... Read more

Karen worked with state Superintendent Tom Torlakson to pursue better use of technology to transform and improve teaching and learning in California. The primary goal of the effort was re-envisioning Brokers of Expertise to be a sustainable modern online site for educators to share best practices and tools for digital... Read more

Sarah spent her fellowship year championing the Sacramento region as the "Farm to Fork Capital of America.” Mayor Kevin Johnson recognized that few places rival the region's resources - natural, economic, historical and political- and that their synergies give Sacramento an extraordinary comparative advantage in fulfilling this collective identity. In... Read more