The semester’s end is in sight! Just a few more caffeine-fueled nights and essay-filled days until the sweet, sweet respite of winter break.

In this issue, find out how low-income L.A. neighborhoods are getting some much needed shade, discover why USC students are teaching yoga to elementary schoolers, learn about the impact of the opioid crisis on children and more.

Also: A big, exciting change for this year’s Dornsife commencement ceremony!

The Urban Trees Initiative, spearheaded by Public Exchange, is planting and maintaining trees in the Los Angeles neighborhoods that need them most — low-income communities.

Why it matters: Low-income communities often lack greenery and miss out on the benefits that trees offer like providing shade, boosting air flow and filtering out pollutants.

Tree shade can reduce temperatures by up to 15 degrees, making hot summer days more bearable and helping to prevent heat-related illnesses like heat stroke.

USC Dornsife’s Public Exchange pinpointed the city’s most vulnerable areas and collaborated with community partners to plant and maintain trees there.

The big picture: The Urban Trees Initiative highlights how the Public Exchange uses academic scholarship to tackle complex social issues.

In her words: “[This] is a great example of what we can do when we work together — and just the beginning of our work to protect residents from rising temperatures and improve quality of life,” says Kate Weber, executive director of Public Exchange.

Schools nationwide increasingly are embracing mindfulness practices, but USC Dornsife’s Little Yoginis program has been introducing yoga and children’s literature to students in inner-city elementary schools for more than a decade.

Why it matters: Mental health challenges among students in the United States continue to rise, and mindfulness practices can help support their mental well-being.

How it works: USC students enroll in a class offered through a collaboration between USC Dornsife’s Department of Physical Education & Mind Body Health and Joint Educational Project (JEP) to learn yoga practices and principles, and how to lead yoga sessions in elementary classrooms.

In her words: “We focus on helping … students develop a sense of calm and control in their daily lives. Through yoga and breathing techniques, we help them learn skills to center themselves, become more focused and build confidence,” explains JEP’s Tina Koneazny, who developed the program.

Service learning is the core of the Little Yoginis program — USC students apply academic skills to community service, benefiting both university and elementary students.

Says Koneazny: “It’s a two-way street. Our USC students teach, but they also grow through their connections with these young students. It’s a deeply rewarding experience on both sides.”

2,000

The number of students participating in the Joint Educational Project each year.

The opioid crisis has led to 1.4 million U.S. children losing an immediate family member to a drug overdose, according to a study by USC Dornsife and Penn State.

Why it matters: Losing a family member can cause trauma and long-term challenges for children.

The big picture: Since 2006, opioid-related deaths have been rising faster than those caused by other substances.

By the numbers: The researchers found that the opioid crisis has had a stunning impact on children across the U.S.

What else: The sharp rise in overdose deaths between 2020 and 2023, not covered by the study, suggests that researcher’s estimates may understate the full scope of the crisis.

For the first time, the USC Dornsife Academic School Ceremony will take place at the Coliseum.

There will be one ceremony on May 16 for all majors, departments and programs.

Details and registration information will be emailed in early Feb. 2025.

Submit your film or media art for the 2025 USC Eco Film + Media Arts Festival. Topics should address the climate crisis, environmental justice, sustainability or environmental science. All film and media art and all skill levels welcome.
Deadline: Jan. 19, 2025.

Interested in how the USC Dornsife community responded to the USC Culture Survey? Check out the university-wide findings, then join a discussion via Zoom to learn more and contribute your thoughts and opinions related to the values of Open Communication, Accountability and Integrity. 

Discussion session details:

7. 🎈Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

6. 🏈 Football

5. 📺 Classic Thanksgiving movie

4. 🛍️ Black Friday shopping

3. 🥧 Pumpkin pie

2. 🦃 Turkey dinner

🥁 Drum Roll 🥁

🎉🎉 1. 🥡 Leftovers 

It looks like good food still prevails.

🙌 They’re great! I make them every year.

👍 They’re fun, but I don’t take them too seriously.

🤷 Meh, don’t care for them personally.

🗓️ Why wait for New Years? Goal setting is good year round.

Poll results will be published in next month’s issue of Dornsife Connect.

The MS in Mathematical Data Science at USC Dornsife offers rare advanced training and unparalleled, hands-on experience in an ever-expanding field. From AI to finance, health care to sustainability, nearly every industry relies on data for strategic advantage.

This guided gratitude meditation is here to help you find calm and center yourself. Whether you’re on campus or far from USC, take a deep breath and join us in a few mindful moments of thanks.

Discover UCLA professor David Kim’s insights into the writings of German-American philosopher Hannah Arendt on school desegregation in Little Rock, Ark.

Explore AI’s impact on education, research and human nature, highlighting its benefits, challenges and ethical implications.

USC students who are going out of town during winter recess can receive free and secure parking on campus.