READ OUR SUMMER BLOG POSTSThe transition to a virtual learning environment this summer has been busy for CURes. Check out our blog posts below to stay updated on our projects, statements, and events!
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LMU CURes stands with the Black community and pledges to use our expertise to fight environmental racism.
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Read about our efforts to address the intersections between the global pandemic and its effect on our environment.
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CURes has launched new interactive maps on our website, which show the diverse tree canopy of Los Angeles County.
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CURes brings the joys of nature home to you! Check out our latest post for virtual tours of Lisa Fimiani’s garden and Ballona Discovery Park, as well as valuable resources on sustainable gardening.
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WELCOME NEW INTERNS!
CURes would like to welcome our new interns this semester! Read more about our current student interns here.
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|  | Melinda Saadatnejadi
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS RESEARCH ASSISTANT
| |  | Jules Burke
CULVER CITY COYOTE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
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|  | Gwyneth Garramone
CULVER CITY COYOTE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
| |  | Inde Heuman
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
In April, Dr. Michele Romolini published an article in the BioScience Journal, “Theoretical Perspectives of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study: Conceptual Evolution in a Social–Ecological Research Project”. Alongside 17 scientists studying theories that have been developed at the 20-year urban research site, Dr. Romolini co-authored an article, which examines urban ecology, particularly in relation to the Baltimore Ecology Study. Her contribution focused on work related to institutional networks and governance. Read the full article here.
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New hummingbird book
Dr. Eric Strauss is releasing a new hummingbird book later this year! Collaborating with Dan and Susan Gottlieb on this exploration of the world of hummingbirds was an opportunity for Dr. Eric Strauss to understand and embrace the Gottlieb’s vision and commitment to protecting native plant habitats and the wildlife that depends upon them. Stay tuned for more details!
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culver city coyote project
CURes continues to collect data for the Culver City coyote project and learn where coyotes are traveling and what they are eating. We have collected more than one million images of Culver City coyotes, including this one of an adult and two of her pups. We caught one of these pups and ear tagged it so we can recognize it in future photos. We plan to trap and radio collar an adult in October to track its movements through the city.
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Tree Canopy Prioritization in lynwood
In partnership with TreePeople and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, CURes was awarded California Climate Challenge funding from the Bay Area Council to implement community-based tree canopy prioritization projects in four cities in southeast Los Angeles County. The project is currently underway in Lynwood, where the team will utilize high resolution, high accuracy tree canopy data to engage the community in a process to collectively prioritize where trees should be planted in their city. This work builds on the success of our 2019 project in Commerce, CA and the continued support of our funding partner Edison International.
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| Restorative justice project:
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apply to be a graduate research assistant
The Restorative Justice (RJ) Project is searching for a graduate research assistant to join a developing study on restorative justice organizations throughout Southern California. This is an ideal opportunity for graduate students at the beginning of their program. Apply by e-mailing a personal statement indicating interest and qualifications, a CV, and a writing sample to CURes@lmu.edu. Make sure to include “RJ Fellow Application” in the subject line. The deadline to send in applications is October 20th! For more information, email CURes@lmu.edu or check here for our infographics.
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RESTORATIVE PROJECT AT LMU
Since the campus has been on lock-down, the LMU CURes RJ Project has moved all of its operations online. We have facilitated three Restorative Conferences online to address campus theft incidents and a cultural misappropriation incident referred by the LMU Office of Student Conduct and Community Responsibility (OSCCR). Though not an ideal substitute for in-person meetings, participants in all three Restorative Conferences held a meaningful dialogue and were able to successfully reach resolution.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CONSORTIUM
The RJ Project has partnered with 28 organizations representing four local counties to launch the Southern California RJ Consortium. The participating organizations include the University of San Diego, Los Angeles and San Diego Offices of Education, Occidental College, and Riverside Unified School District, amongst other nonprofit organizations and school districts. The Consortium has held two virtual meetings to address goals including assessing needs and outcomes, sharing experiences, successes, and challenges, exploring financial growth options through joint development work, creating a best practices web page and video, utilizing the infrastructure of the RJ Consortium to support implementation across partner institutions, and holding space for Racial Justice conversations and concerns related to the Covid-19 crisis.
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RESTORATIVE PRACTICES WITH THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVEIn partnership with the Catholic Schools Collaborative, the RJ Project has re-designed the Restorative Practices implementation training for online learning to help serve administrators from 18 primary and secondary schools where 70% of families qualify for the free or reduced lunch program. The trainings equip school stakeholders with foundational information on the rationale and impact, how to utilize Restorative Language in the classroom, and methodologies to facilitate restorative conversations.
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GET INVOLVED WITH RJ
For information on how to get involved with the RJ Project, please contact Schoene Mahmood at (310) 591-4785 or at Schoene.Mahmood@lmu.edu.
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| Recent and UPCOMING EVENTS:
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gng film festival returns
The GNG Green Earth Film Festival is back and virtually premiering on November 16! Expect future updates, teasers, and more from CURes and our partners, the Gottlieb Native Garden and LMU's School of Film and Television.
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support ballona restoration
Did you know the last remaining wetland in LA County is located at the base of the LMU Westchester Campus Bluffs? The Ballona Wetlands needs YOUR help right now. The Ballona Wetlands are deteriorating and it's important now more than ever to address environmental issues. Inaction will only deprive the next generations from accessing their Wetlands - especially the Indigenous people of California and underserved communities. What can you do? Sign this support letter from the Friends of Ballona Wetlands and the Wetlands Restoration Principles Coalition and be part of the solution to Bring Back Ballona!
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SOAKING UP SUCCESS: A SYMPOSIUM SERIES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
CURes’ Managing Director Dr. Michele Romolini recently participated on Panel #2, “Green Infrastructure - Collaborating & Coordinating with Communities” last Thursday, October 15. She spoke about CURes’ tree canopy research and community-based prioritization projects, sharing the virtual stage with experts from the City of Los Angeles, Nature for All, the Trust for Public Land, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership and the symposium host, Council for Watershed Health. For more information, visit the symposium website.
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GROW NATIVE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
THURS. OCTOBER 22, 6:00 - 7:00 PM PST
Learn about the importance of gardening with California native plants and get started on your very own patch of wildlife habitat! We will discuss some of the best plants for new gardeners, DIY garden design basics, and helpful books. During this workshop you can create a plant shopping list to take to Theodore Payne Foundation’s Fall Plant sale in November to kickstart your sustainable wildlife-friendly garden! You can even send us your plant list after the workshop to get feedback from a Master Gardener! Register here.
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REFLECTIONS ON JUSTICE: CALIFORNIA PRISONS ALTERNATIVE BREAK
WED. OCTOBER 28, 6:45 - 8 PM PST
Join students and alumni panelists as they share perspectives on their LMU’s Center for Service & Action Alternative Break California Prisons trip experience, where students were immersed in diverse contexts with concrete challenges that heighten social awareness and inspire lifelong social action. In a panel moderated by Julia Wade, LMU Associate Director for Restorative Practices, panelists will share how their trip experience impacted their views on incarceration and justice. Attendees will engage in breakout room discussions. Register here.
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HARM, Healing, and Human Dignity: An All-Virtual Catholic Conference on Restorative JusticeOctober 27, 29, and 31 The CURes RJ Project will be presenting as part of the Restorative Justice Network of Catholic Campuses (RJNCC) at this virtual, highly-interactive Restorative Justice (RJ) conference. This experience is an opportunity for participants to learn, network, and grow together in Catholic community. Speakers will highlight national examples of RJ applied in criminal justice ministry and Catholic education. Informed by faith-based, secular, and collaborative efforts, the conference will foster formation, story-sharing, and network-building among Catholic individuals. Learn more about the conference and register here.
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LOS AnGELES BIODIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM
NOVEMBER 16-20
Our very own Dr. Eric Strauss is participating in the Los Angeles Biodiversity Symposium in November, where he will be speaking about sustainable solutions to protecting biodiversity within the Los Angeles ecosystem! Register for this event here.
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