USC Program Trains Residents to Shape Community Policy

The USC Dornsife Agents of Change program teaches regular community members, especially people from underrepresented groups, how to research and influence public policy decisions that affect their daily lives. Based in Los Angeles, this university initiative focuses on helping residents become active participants in local government and policy-making. The program offers training in three main areas: policy education that teaches people to use data and storytelling to advocate for change, a resident researcher model that gives community members tools to study problems in their neighborhoods, and civic engagement activities that help low-income and BIPOC communities get involved in public systems. Participants learn how to collect and analyze data about issues in their areas, then use that information to push for policy changes. The program specifically aims to give more power to regular citizens who often don't have a voice in government decisions. This initiative supports grassroots participation and helps build civic infrastructure from the neighborhood level up, making policy research and advocacy more accessible to everyday people in Los Angeles communities.

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