2024 Community Impact Projects

We’re thrilled to share with you the scope and focus of our current community impact projects that will help shape Pasadena's future.

Affordable Housing Initiatives
The quest for affordable housing is a pressing issue, and our cohort is tackling it head-on. Affordable Domestic Units (ADUs) have emerged as a vital Pasadena strategy to combat homelessness and enhance affordability. The challenge lies in simplifying the process for residents to build ADUs. By examining successful models from other cities, our team, in collaboration with city partners, is identifying and mitigating barriers to make ADUs a more accessible option.

Advancing Sustainability
Pasadena is on a mission to reduce its climate footprint, and there's a wealth of sustainability efforts already underway. The goal of this project is to amplify the city's initiatives and galvanize public support. Working with Pasadena Water & Power, we're exploring effective ways to educate and engage the community in these vital efforts.

Economic Development and the 2028 Olympics
With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Pasadena is poised to host soccer events at the iconic Rose Bowl, presenting a significant economic opportunity. Our cohort is strategizing on how to prepare the community for this global event, support local businesses, and leverage the occasion for lasting economic benefits.

DEIB and Community Building
The construction of the 710 corridor offers Pasadena a unique opportunity to address past injustices and rebuild relationships with marginalized communities. Our team is researching how other cities have successfully reconnected communities divided by highways and how Pasadena can set a national example for creative transformation with the guidance of the City of Pasadena’s Planning Department and members of the 710 Advisory Group.

Public Safety & Health
The Handle with Care (HWC) program is a collaborative effort spearheaded by first responders and aimed at supporting children. This effort informs schools when a child has been exposed to a traumatic event with a single, simple message - handle this child with care. No other details are shared. The effort should help break generational cycles of trauma by supporting children’s education and has shown success in the state of West Virginia and San Diego, California. This complex initiative involves city departments, county agencies, and schools. Our cohort is working to optimize the implementation of HWC in partnership with Young & Healthy and first responders. The Pasadena Unified School District, the Pasadena Police Department, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and the Sierra Madre Police Department are all playing pivotal roles.

These projects are not just plans on paper; they are the embodiment of our commitment to leadership and community service. We invite you to stay engaged and support these transformative endeavors. If you have expertise in any of these areas and want to assist, please email us so we can connect you with the appropriate team leader.

Together we are more than leaders; we are catalysts for positive change in Pasadena.