This is the first installment of ESAL Founder & Chair Arti Garg's diary of her participation in a policy innovation workshop on community safety. This post discusses why she believes a community-driven process can provide innovative new solutions.

The BLOCK Project is a grassroots program confronting the challenge of skyrocketing rent and property values. The project builds detached accessory dwelling units in backyards to house people. To date, the project has built 10 homes, with another 5 anticipated within the next year.

Educators Stuart Loebl and Nancy Wright describe the "Science Kits" program they developed for the Hayward Unified School District to facilitate equitable science education during distance learning.

Varsha Chauhan is a physician and computer scientist. Her career trajectory has included leadership roles public health, health IT, and health systems administration. Most recently she was elected Board member of Eden Health District. ESAL interviewed Chauhan to learn more about how she has woven government and community engagement throughout her career.

After the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, many of us are concerned about the state of American democracy. ESAL Founder & Chair Arti Garg shares her thoughts on the importance of election integrity. She suggests steps we can each take to engage with our local governments about this issue.

“Our expertise is science; their expertise is what they need.” This statement by panelist Elina Kostyanovskaya referred to the importance of listening to vulnerable communities. It was one of several key takeaways from the webinar “STEM Students Responding to COVID in their Communities,” which was jointly hosted by ESAL and the National Science Policy Network […]

Vanessa García Polanco is a federal policy associate at the National Young Farmers Coalition, as well as a member of the boards of the Agriculture, Food & Human Values Society and Michigan Food & Farming Systems. ESAL interviewed García Polanco about her trajectory to becoming a recognized activist-scholar for equitable, sustainable agriculture and food supply systems in Michigan and beyond.

Amy J. Wilson’s career in technology, social entrepreneurship, and innovation has taken her from D.C. to Oakland, California, tackling projects ranging from government innovation to local public engagement platforms. ESAL interviewed Wilson to learn more about how city governments can use technology and human-centered design to better respond to their residents’ needs and priorities.

Ashton Powell is a biology instructor at the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics and elected member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education. He spoke with ESAL about how he uses his research and policy background to improve equity and mental health issues in the classroom.