Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

USC has a long history of supporting and collaborating with the surrounding communities in Los Angeles. From the Good Neighbors Campaign — funded by donations from USC faculty and staff supporting university and community partnerships — to the Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative — a college access and success program operated by USC Educational Partnerships

Trojans have created a visible, positive impact on the neighborhoods near the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. Here are five innovative efforts USC spearheaded in the past year. LILLEDESHAN BOSE

Where Students

The USC Joint Educational Project (JEP) was ceived in 1972 a way for USC students to volunteer in neighboring schools as mentors — and more than 2,000 Trojans participate annually. Last JEP released a series of children’s books on science, technology, neering, arts and math subjects.

Home Care

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology works with the nonprofit Rebuilding Together, providing home repairs to help community members stay in their homes. In 2022, the program worked with partners retailer Lowe’s to prohome improvements for 16 Los families.

Path To College

Track students of graduate. location

USC to ensure that from three local Dorsey, LA Promise and Crenshaw — tioned to earn a

READING, WRITING, MOTIVATING

After teaching writing classes through the USC Dornsife Prison Education Project, Keziah Poole ’21 started the USC PEP Readers’ Circle in 2022. Volunteer USC faculty members and students assist prisoners in writing projects by typing handwritten work, copyediting or giving feedback on manuscripts.

Care For Luxury Bones

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC has provided lo no-cost care to residents California for decades, serving more than 380,000 patients. The USC Mobile Dental Clinic, operated third- and fourth-year dental students under USC faculty supervision, has the largest mobile dental fleet the country apart from the U.S. military.