In 2023, CURes reached new heights in our research, partnerships, events, and community involvement. To celebrate our milestones, we have compiled a list of the 23 most noteworthy achievements from 2023.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROJECT
K-12 Restorative Justice Practices Leadership Institute
The CURes RJ Project hosted its inaugural Restorative Justice Practices Leadership Institute, held from July 17 to July 21, 2023. Our facilitators provided administrators and faculty in leadership positions with a deeper understanding of how to align and apply concepts of restorative practices within their roles. The training team presented the group with the integral research, experience, and knowledge gained from years in the academic study and implementation of restorative justice practices. Not only did academic leaders gain valuable knowledge on how to promote systemic transformation within their own roles, but they also participated in restorative circles and activities that offered personal growth and the chance to cultivate a restorative network.
Schoene Mahmood Receives Hidden Hero Award
Each year the Loyola Marymount University Center for Reconciliation and Justice recognizes LMU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners through an award named Hidden Heroes. The individuals and groups who are nominated exemplify justice and reconciliation in their lives and their work. Schoene Mahmood was recognized as a Hidden Hero for overseeing the Restorative Justice Project at the Center for Urban Resilience (CURes) in 2023. Click here to view an interview with Schoene that highlights her journey, work, and achievement in restorative justice.
School Partnerships – Existing/New/Expanded
Across the nation, Restorative Practices implementation on academic campuses has been gaining momentum as a vital contribution to improving social interaction among students, faculty, campus staff, and administrators. The aim is to build and develop stronger relationships amongst all educational institution stakeholders which in turn, positively impacts the academic learning environment. The RJ Project continues to be a trusted partner of academic institutions in training and coaching programs, developing curriculum and pedagogies, as well as facilitating conferences to address incidents of harm. The goal of the RJ project is to build and develop relationships among all institutional stakeholders as a means to foster positive learning environments. The team develops customized services for partnering organizations in both beginner and advanced level trainings introducing skill-building sessions and structured discussions to engage communities in building community and engaging in responses to harm.
We are proud to partner with the Loyola Marymount University to train a cohort of 12 Faculty members. Further, we made innovative strides cultivating the Whole-School Approach to restorative practices implementation at Pasadena Unified School District, Riverside Unified School District, and six New York City Charter Schools.
Southern California RJ Consortium
In its third year, the Southern California RJ Consortium continues to be a vibrant hub for collaboration and innovation, for restorative justice practitioners throughout the region and across the nation. The Consortium consists of 80 + organizations representing academic and nonprofit institutions that meet on a quarterly basis to collaborate on scholarship and lessons learned to build efficacy by creating a strong network.
RESEARCH & PROGRAMS
New Publications
CURes researchers Dr. Strauss and Dr. Romolini authored 4 peer-reviewed journal articles and a book chapter, covering our examinations of urban coyotes and hummingbirds, environmental stewardship organizations, and the urgency of conservation efforts. Dr. Romolini spearheaded and served as lead editor for a collection of 12 articles for a research topic in Frontiers in Sustainable Cities entitled “Supporting the “Virtuous Cycle” in Urban Ecosystems: How Research Can Inform Plans, Policies, and Projects that Impact Urban Resilience.”
University of Maryland Partnership
CURes joined University of Maryland (UM) researchers on their project, entitled “Stakeholder Inclusive Water Management in a Changing Mid-Atlantic: Alternative Water Sources, Related Socioeconomic Factors, and Sustainability.” This transdisciplinary study aims to facilitate the use of nontraditional water sources and implementation of water conservation practices in agriculture. Dr. Romolini is providing social science expertise to better understand stakeholders’ experiences and perceptions regarding freshwater and reusable water resources. She and CURes’ undergraduate research assistants Lily Maddox and Alexa Siglar developed interview protocols and a sampling framework to conduct 17 interviews with agricultural professionals from May-December 2023. Interview analysis is currently underway.
TreePeople Research
Dr. Romolini worked with TreePeople’s research and policy team to develop and implement “SPF 50: Safe and Prosperous Futures: Preparing for the Mid-century Climate Reality.” This CAL FIRE-funded work sought to understand how San Fernando residents perceive and envision climate resilience in their community in the coming decades. Project activities, consisting of individual interviews, a group workshop, and community outreach events, were centered around actively listening to community perspectives and facilitating opportunities for resident-driven dialogue. A report of findings is in progress including resident-identified priorities and opportunities; a locally adapted climate resilience resource guide; and a section describing lessons learned, with broadly applicable guidance for developing locally appropriate climate resilience strategies on the community level.
Stoss School Tour of Ballona Discovery Park and Freshwater Marsh
CURes Environmental Fellow Lisa Fimiani and Dr. Edith Read, Manager of Ballona Discovery Park and Freshwater Marsh, took a group of Harvard Graduate School of Design students on a tour of Ballona Discovery Park and a walk above the Ballona Freshwater Marsh, looking down over the Ballona Wetlands. Chris Reed, Founder and Design Director, Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Professor in Practice of Landscape Architecture and Co-Director, Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design Program, Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), and Nina-Marie Lister, visiting Professor of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University GSD are co-teaching an advanced graduate design studio on urban wildlife habitat and connectivity, with LA as their general site. They are looking through the lenses of various species needs, and as they may intersect with other social and urban agendas. Students will be developing proposals for landscape infrastructure, new or revitalized habitat, etc., and they will be doing so against the backdrop of biodiversity loss, climate change, and rapid urbanization. Click here to view the blog post detailing this event.
Culver City Coyote Research
Dr. Strauss, Dr. Romolini, and former CURes postdoc Dr. Melinda Weaver delivered the culminating public presentation to the City of Culver City describing the findings of our 3-year coyote management project. Lisa Fimiani presented CURes coyote research at the Southern California Academy of Sciences annual meeting in May 2023. Click here to view the report and learn more.
The Nature Conservancy
CURes started a new collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, beginning a 3-year project for Dr. Romolini to serve as the Team Science Lead for implementing the Healthy Trees Healthy Cities project in Baltimore. This 3-year project will explore how art-based engagement, targeted science communication, and partnership with communities may impact urban forestry participation and outcomes.
Oceano Dunes Park Survey
In partnership with California State Parks and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, we collected 1,300 surveys from visitors and local community members regarding the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area to better understand the park users’ activities, perceptions, and knowledge related to the recreational areas. We will be producing a report detailing our findings and recommendations in late 2024.
Gottlieb Native Garden Documentary Film
Dr. Strauss and Lisa Fimiani joined the Gottlieb Native Garden staff as part of a documentary being created about the Gottlieb Native Garden and related native garden projects, including Ballona Discovery Park. In spring 2023, Dr. Strauss was asked to takeover the filming responsibilities and, we received funding from the Foundation to complete a feature length documentary film about the Gottlieb Native Garden. The film will be completed by August 2024 and is in collaboration with Professor Greg Ruzzin from the LMU School of Film and Television.
USDA Forest Service Proposal
CURes worked with long-time collaborators TreePeople, SavaTree Consulting Group, and the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab to prepare and submit a $4 million proposal to the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. While not ultimately funded, this collaboration has renewed momentum to further the work and will pursue other sources of funding in 2024.
BALLONA DISCOVERY PARK AND GREENING PROJECTS
LA Times Festival of Books
In April, Dr. Strauss and Lisa Fimiani participated in the LA Times Festival of Books, where Dr. Strauss was available to sign his book Hummingbirds of the Gottlieb Native Garden and answer questions about our Center and what we do at LMU.
Theodore Payne Garden Tour
In celebration of Earth Day, LMU CURes and Friends of Ballona Wetlands hosted the annual Theodore Payne Foundation Native Plant Garden Tour in Ballona Discovery Park on Saturday, April 15, 2023 where we had over 250 visitors! We were also joined by the artist who created the Tongva Monument, honoring his Gabrielino Tongva people and all of humanity, Robert Dorame and his wife, Jan. Robert also brought a beautiful Coast Live Oak tree to be planted in the Park, as a gift. Click here to view our blog post recapping the event.
LMU Campus Projects
Bluebirds
In August we shared a blog post detailing how our student-named bird couple, Blue Ivy Carter and his lovely spouse Sage, successfully fledged two clutches of Western Bluebirds this summer! In May, Dr. Strauss joined Ian Kimbrey, The Bluebird Whisperer, and Drollinger Environmental Fellow Lisa Fimiani in assessing the first clutch of babies. As a reminder, the LMU Campus is very birdy, and has been designated as an official “hotspot” on eBird , with close to 165 documented species in the years that the birds have been followed by students, professors and visitors alike.
Service and Action: FLSB Spruce up the Slope
Student volunteers from Service and Action helped weed the slope and sow native California plant flowers as part of a day’s service, in partnership with Biology professors Tanya Kuzmenko and Dr. Pippa Drennan who provided oversight on the project. Long term goals are to make the slope green again.
Migration Celebration
Our Center participated in the Friends of Ballona Wetlands hosted Migration Celebration event in Ballona Discovery Park on Saturday, May 20, and had a fabulous time with over 600 visitors to the Park! This is the seventh year the Friends have celebrated Bird Migration through the Ballona Wetlands, offering bird walks, native plants, demonstrations, games, and information booths. Click here to view our blog post recapping the event.
LMU Student Tours of Ballona Discovery Park
Our Center had one of our busiest months ever during the month of August with multiple student events in Ballona Discovery Park and on Campus! Dr. Strauss and Lisa Fimiani led tours of the Park for 100 Honors Program students, focusing on our Native American ancestors, while Restorative Practices facilitators conducted circle shares in the Kiiy. The next day we led over 20 LEAP (Life-Science Early Awareness Program) students on a tour of the Park highlighting all its amenities, as part of the learning, living community welcome events planned by Seaver College. We proudly debuted our new QR Code, which takes viewers into a resource area available on our website for folks to learn more about the Park, the Ballona Wetlands, and LMU’s role in all of it.
Taft Gardens
Our Center participated in month-long festivities in Ojai with our new project partner Taft Gardens and Nature Preserve. During the month of October 2023, CURes staff participated in a series of premier events hosted by Taft Gardens and Nature Preserve in Ojai, California. Known for their magnificent oak trees found in the 15 acres of curated gardens and over 200 acres of protected open space, Jaide Whitman, President and CEO of the non-profit Conservation Endowment Fund (CEF), called together a strategic group of like-minded folks in August to brainstorm on establishing a month-long extravaganza of oak-related celebrations on the property. Click here to view our blog post recapping the event.
Ballona Freshwater Marsh Projects
Ballona Freshwater Marsh Bird Survey
Bob Shanman Returns! Oct. Friends of Ballona Wetlands Board member Emeritus Bob Shanman slipped into retirement by going back into the thing he loves to do best – bird the Ballona Wetlands! Regular Friends of Ballona Wetlands led bird survey volunteers, staff and interns were treated to a special guest accompanying them on Thursday, October 5, 2023, as the recently retired Bob Shanman and expert Ballona Watershed Birder joined the gang for a super day of birding at the Freshwater Marsh! It’s birders like Bob who provide the experience and knowledge necessary for the young birders of today to continue carrying the baton of bird knowledge forward.
Jefferson Trail at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh Gets a Facelift
Dec. Drollinger Environmental Fellow Lisa Fimiani was a Planting Station Leader for Friends of Ballona Wetlands epic replanting day at the Jefferson Trail adjacent to the Ballona Freshwater Marsh. For over four years the trail had been decimated by homeless activity and now that the area has been cleaned up and people are not allowed to park vehicles or pitch tents there anymore, the replanting efforts have begun. Over 100 volunteers put in over 1,000 plants on Saturday, December 2, 2023! Habitat rehabilitation along the trail will give the area a chance to rebound and ensure wildlife may continue to thrive.
OPERATIONS & STAFF MILESTONES
Dr. Michele Romolini Celebrates 10 Years with CURes, Roya Shahnazari Promoted
To celebrate her 10 Year Anniversary with LMU’s Center for Urban Resilience (CURes), we had the honor of interviewing Dr. Michele Romolini, the Managing Director of CURes and Senior Editor of Cities and the Environment Journal (CATE). Her dedication and vision have been instrumental in shaping the course of CURes growth over the past decade. From her start as a postdoc to becoming the Managing Director and Lead Social Scientist, Dr. Romolini’s transformative research work at CURes has been groundbreaking for the past ten years.
Roya Shahnazari, formerly the Center’s Project Specialist, was promoted into her new role as Assistant Director in 2023. In this role, she continues to manage the various projects throughout the arms of CURes, oversee students and consultants, analyze budgets, help grow the restorative justice project, and continue working towards increasing the profile and overall reach of the Center.
CATE Welcomes International Editorial Board Members
The Cities and the Environment (CATE) Journal was proud to welcome Mallika Sardeshpande and Opeyemi Adeyemi (Yemi) to the CATE team as Editorial Board Members for a one-year appointment! As contributors to the editorial board, Mallika and Yemi bring urban social-ecological research expertise, knowledge of academic publishing, and extensive international experiences spanning multiple countries and continents. More information about Mallika and Yemi’s professional backgrounds and biographies can be found on this blog post.
CURes Student Researchers & Interns
Our Center had the pleasure of continuing to work with students Alexa Siglar, our Environmental Science Research Intern and Grace Foreman, our Restorative Justice Project Assistant in 2023, both of which were instrumental in providing support to all projects they assisted with. Additionally, we onboarded Corbin Mason, Communications Assistant, in January 2023, who helped with all marketing initiatives throughout the year and served a critical role in developing our social media presence and spearheading numerous blog posts. Noah Cuevas Kraft and Maya King were brought on in December 2023 to support the CATE Journal in updating the reviewer database and developing new content and new branding for the CATE website, as well as build on the CATE processes.