Author Archives: Hon Hoang

True Bruin Traditions Keeper - 2024

We recently recognized 76 graduates who fulfilled all of the True Bruin Traditions Keeper qualifications ahead of their graduation with a special ceremony! The evening honored their program completion, highlighted memories from each tradition and awarded recipients one-of-a-kind medals to be worn at commencement. We can't wait to see their continued involvement as UCLA's newest and most spirited alumni! Learn more about the program here.

Bruins@GoogleNY: Mixer and Alumni Panel

The UCLA Alumni Association held a Bruins@GoogleNY Mixer and Alumni Panel on Tuesday, May 7 2024, at The Studio, Google at Chelsea Market in New York.  The panelists included the following UCLA alumni that work at Google: 1) Elizabeth Borowsky, PhD ’95, Vice President of Data Information retrieval,  2) Tina Weyand ’97, Senior Director of Geo Developer Product Management, and 3) Gbolahan (Femi) Olanubi, PhD ’19, Senior UX Researcher.  The moderator of the panel was Sol Peralta, MBA ’20, Global Product Lead at Google and YouTube Ads.  If you are interested in organizing Bruins within your organization, email ace@support.ucla.edu.

Bruin Business 2024 Recognition Event

The UCLA Alumni Association's Bruin Business 100, presented by Gorilla Marketing, recognizes exceptional alumni entrepreneurs. On May 16, the 2024 cohort was honored at the Bruin Business 100 Reception, where the honorees were celebrated and had the opportunity to build community with one another.

Bruin-Owned Businesses: Fitness and Wellness 3

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n celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month and several national fitness observances in May, we present the third edition of our Bruin-owned series showcasing businesses that strengthen, heal and nourish the mind, body and spirit. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to explore previous fitness and wellness Bruin business listings.

Essential Physical Therapy and Wellness

Owner: Mita Patel ’99

Phone: 424-209-7884

Location: 2001 S. Barrington Ave., Suite 119, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Email: info@essentialptwellness.com

Website: essentialptwellness.com

Social: @essentialptwellness_la

About:

Essential Physical Therapy and Wellness envisions a world where people live healthy vibrant lives. Dialogue about pain, injuries and functional limitations will change. People will know they can improve their physical conditions, heal and live life with more ease, regardless of their condition, pain, level of fitness or age. Its mission is to empower our community to be healthier, happier and stronger - to instill and enhance the overall wellness of the individuals in our community.

Review:

“Mita worked wonders for me. I came to her with pain in my left knee. My orthopedist said it could be an old injury, so we did an MRI. He saw scar tissue and suggested I see a therapist. Mita showed me how my muscles were tight and taught me to watch my IT band. She also showed me how my balance was off. She corrected it in just a few sessions and asked me to stretch post-workouts. And here I was stretching before... She is the perfect blend of educator and therapist.” - Anil P.

Core Conditioning

Co-Owners: Allyson Cabot ’88 and Gabrielle Shrier ʼ91

Phone: 818-907-0008 (Studio City) ǀ 818-333-7281 (Burbank)

Locations: 12930 Ventura Blvd., Suite 226A, Studio City, CA 91604

2104 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506

Email: info@coreconditioningpt.com

Website: coreconditioningpt.com 

Social: @_core_conditioning_

About:

Core Conditioning is a premier rehabilitation, fitness and wellness center. What makes Core Conditioning different from conventional physical therapy clinics is that we integrate the worlds of medical science, whole body fitness and lifetime wellness. Our staff of passionate professionals brings diverse skills and backgrounds, including sports medicine, orthopedics, women’s health, pediatrics, neurological rehabilitation, osteopathic techniques and dance medicine. We are a team of highly trained physical therapists with only one goal: to strengthen your body and condition your life.

Review:

"THIS is how physical therapy should be done! The entire staff, from the front desk to the PT aides, to the trainers, Pilates instructors, and of course, the physical therapists are incredibly friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. They use evidence-based methods combined with innovative techniques to provide a holistic service. The owners, Ally and Gabrielle, are extraordinary PTs that will check in and follow up with you to make sure you're improving and to adjust their treatments as you progress with your injury. I personally had a neck/shoulder that immediately started feeling better after the first session. This is very much a hands-on clinic, unlike many PTs that sit you in a corner to do exercises alone and then come back to check on you." – Conrad S. 

Kenneally Acupuncture & Healing Resource Center

Owner: Kathleen Kenneally ’88

Phone: 661-252-4100

Location: 23542 Lyons Ave., Suite 202, Newhall, CA 91321

Email: acudoctr@sbcglobal.net

Website: kenneallyacupuncture.com

Social: @kenneallyacupuncture

About:

Kenneally Acupuncture is a place of transformation, healing and hope. Here, people are met where they are; we nurture and support our patients on their personal paths of healing and expansion. We embrace our patients with the boundless joy that comes with serving people we love with medicine we love to share. With hearts fully open, we compassionately hold a vision of healing for all who seek it. It is our honor to be part of your journey to wellness.

Review:

“I travel 2 hours for my appointments to see Kathleen - that’s how good she is as an acupuncturist. Kathleen also has a great awareness about her clients and has helped me in numerous positive ways.” - Deanie Z.

4 Sight Academy

Owner: Sean Panado ’20

Phone: 619-800-8382

Location: 7420 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 109, San Diego, CA 92111

Email: 4sightacademy@gmail.com

Website: foursightacademy.com

Social: @4sightAcademy

About:

4sight Academy is where everyone is an athlete. Our state-of-the-art facility offers world-class equipment, training and community to empower your performance and limitless lifestyle. The 4sight Family consists of athletes of different ages, sports and professions. How they impact their communities, teams and organizations differ, but they share the unifying traits of unbreakable integrity, confidence in their self-worth and the ability to uplift others.

Review:

“There is nobody I could recommend more highly in the athletic trainer space than Sean Panado. He takes immense pride in his work, which is evident in the spotless facility and level of detail he puts into making sure each athlete's regimen will ensure their success. Anyone looking to elevate their training and performance is sure to find an incredible coach, mentor and lifelong friend in Sean.” - Jacob Y.

Mission Oaks Counseling & Wellness Center

Owner: Michelle Wonders ’88

Phone: 805-419-0449

Location: 1100 Flynn Road, Suite 201, Camarillo, CA 93012

Email: contact@mocwc.com

Website: mocwc.com

Social: @mocwc

About:

Mission Oaks is an organization for healing that provides the tools for revitalization of the mind, body and spirit. Our treatment philosophy considers all layers of a person to ensure overall wellness and vitality: the psychological, the physical, the spiritual, the social and the intellectual. MOCWC is staffed by professional and licensed practitioners who utilize healing modalities that support a nurturing environment for adults, adolescents, children, couples and families.

Review:

“MOCW is an asset to our community. I came to the center with my youngest child who was dealing with anxiety. Working with Ann, we were able to do some exercises that helped resolve it and continue to address it through the home program. I also love the meditation programs and the variety of classes they offer outside of the counseling programs! I highly recommend the center!" - Maggie R.

Aviara Acupuncture & Integrative Health

Co-Founder: Nenita McElroy ’93

Phone: 760-814-8196

Location: 6120 Paseo Del Norte, Suite L-1, Carlsbad, CA 92011

Website: aviaraacupuncture.com

Social: @aviaraacupuncture

About:

Aviara Acupuncture & Integrative Health delivers quality, compassionate and superior patient care using a time-tested, holistic healing system. You benefit from receiving a customized treatment plan based on your specific health needs in a caring and professional setting. In addition to acupuncture, we implement herbal therapy and other East Asian modalities such as Tui na therapeutic massage, nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.

Review:

“I am so happy I found Nenita. I came to her after years of unresolved symptoms with insatiable hunger. My doctors were unable to treat me successfully, which led me to go to Nenita with a list of strange symptoms that most doctors dismissed as "stress-related." She confidently knew that my condition was treatable, which gave me hope. Her warm and caring manner made me look forward to returning each week. I swear, I've never felt so relaxed! After a handful of sessions, I feel awesome. Just make an appointment. You will not regret it!” - Alisha B.

Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition

Owner: Dr. Ben Weitz ’83

Phone: 310-395-3111

Location: 1448 15th St., Suite 201, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Email: patients.weitzchiro@gmail.com

Website: drweitz.com

Social: @weitzchiro

About:

Quality chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sports injuries, elbow pain, wrist pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, foot pain, whiplash, headache, migraine, soft tissue injuries, muscle injuries and joint injuries. Dr. Weitz has over 27 years of experience as a sports chiropractor, rehabilitation expert and functional medicine nutritionist.

Review:

“Dr. Weitz has been my chiropractor for about three years and I'd highly recommend him! I began working with Dr. Weitz due to my lower back pain. Over the years, he has helped me resolve several issues with his precise diagnoses and adjustments. I feel a surge of energy and a sense of well-being after each session. My entire body feels connected and even my mind is sharper. The atmosphere in the office is peaceful and inviting. His staff is very personable and caring. Dr. Weitz is an excellent chiropractor who also has a great podcast, "Rational Wellness," addressing a variety of topics with top experts in each field.” - Jana H.

Village Health Foundation

CEO/Founder: Jewel Thais-Williams ʼ71

Phone: 323-733-0471

Location: 4077 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019

Email: villagehealthfdn@aol.com

Website: villagehealthfoundation.org

Social: @villagehealthfdn

About:

Our main mission is to provide affordable, accessible and effective professional services in complementary medicine to the community. We originally began as a natural healthcare clinic offering nontoxic treatments for people with HIV/AIDS. Our activities have expanded to include treatments for a wide range of diseases. We treat clients who are at risk for, or who have already developed diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, arthritis, heart disease, chronic diseases and have any variety of pain issues.

Review:

“This place is a 'jewel' in the community (no pun intended.) I was treated by Jewel who is thoughtful, patient, warm and kind... not to mention extremely knowledgeable and experienced. If you are interested in beginning or maintaining a holistic health and wellness regime while supporting an amazing community resource without breaking your pockets, the Village Health Foundation is your place!” - Lena H.

The Lunch MOB

Co-Owner: Jonathan Bonuan ’94

Phone: 949-415-9529

Location: 23552 Commerce Center Drive, Suite D, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Email: thelunchmob.co/contact

Website: thelunchmob.co

Social: @thelunchmob

About:

It was 2014 when new dad Jonathan started preparing lunches for his then rambunctious toddlers, Jonah and Liam, to take to daycare. At first, he was happy-go-lucky, but then happy-go-lucky became a boring routine after noticing he was packing the same three to five "vanilla" meals each week. More importantly, he became increasingly concerned about his boys' nutritional needs, leading him to explore a variety of tastier and more health-conscious meals.

Review:

“Thank you, Lunch Mob, for the high quality, interestingly conceived lunches you provide to schools. Our child has not only been enjoying your meals but has also had the opportunity to develop a more adventurous palate due to being less resistant to trying new foods at school than at home. We appreciate the daily variety of options to choose from, the different portion sizes that you make available, the nutritional value of the food and the reasonable cost. Keep up the good work!” - Dan R.

Perfect Body Incorporated

Owner: Shawn Phillips ’98

Phone: 310-720-8125

Location: 11567 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Email: holisticbodytrainer@gmail.com

Website: shawnphillipstraining.com

Social: @shawnphillipstraining

About:

As a personal trainer in the Los Angeles area, I believe that in order to reach your highest achievement in life you must optimize your body so that this optimal state enhances your ability to express all of your gifts, talents, skills, abilities and attributes. Health and wellness is the foundation and platform of all expression and action in life. With an optimized body, you will begin to create and design the life that you want! By using an integrative approach to health, holistic fitness allows you to focus on various aspects of health which can optimize hormonal and neurotransmitter function, allowing you to have more energy, think more clearly, be assertive and look great.

Review:

“Wow! After working with many trainers over the years, Shawn is absolutely unique and the best. He takes a holistic approach to training, not just focusing on pumping iron or cardio till you drop. A tailored nutrition plan and a balanced life are key ingredients. After 4 weeks with Shawn, I've lost 7 pounds and 2 inches in my waist! Amazingly, with less pain and body aches than in my past training experiences. His approach works, I'm lucky to be working with him!” - Robin H.

Balance Chiropractic

Owner: Amy Yang ’00

Phone: 626-357-2222

Location: 120 W. Olive Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016

Email: info@bal-chiropractic.com

Website: bal-chiropractic.com

Social: @bal.chiropractic

About:

At Balance Chiropractic, we are committed to relieving our patients' body pain and improving their overall health and well-being using the principles of chiropractic care. We are results-oriented professionals who provide a step-by-step treatment program to help our patients achieve their goals, whether they are to alleviate pain, optimize mobility and comfort, improve posture, speed up recovery time or increase performance in their daily lives.

Review:

“This place is great! Dr. Amy Yang is kind, courteous and an amazing doctor. My lawyer sent me here after my car accident in February. My neck was feeling sore and painful, but she was able to relieve my pain and discomfort. If you are looking for an awesome chiropractor, look no further. She is a rock star! Thank you very much for such great care.” - Yasmin C.

Imbody Wellness

Founder: Isabella Bablumian ’04

Phone: +55-21-99832-1907

Location: Online

Email: hello@imbodywellness.com

Website: imbodywellness.com

Social: @imbodywellness

About:

Isabella’s passion is helping people find their unique path to vitality and pleasurable wellness. She has a passion for living with the Sensefulness Method for activating body wisdom, self-awareness and embodiment. This unique interdisciplinary approach was born in Brazil, inspired by the Afro-Brazilian traditions that celebrate life on earth as the culmination of our spiritual embodiment, based on the latest research in behavioral change, nutrition and fitness, positive psychology, and neurolinguistic programming. It infuses sexual energy activation practices and other healing modalities from the ancient Taoism.

Review:

“I would like to thank Imbody for the workshops and talks that opened my eyes to new ways of being, bringing quality of life, knowledge and the desire to continue improving. The little droplets of wisdom I learned from the Institute brought big changes to my inner world and my day-to-day. Despite the simple approach of workshops and talks, the experiences I had with Imbody were transformative and memorable, burning wellness directly into my soul's blueprint. As a result, I continue discovering the best version for myself, while the benefits I learned are perpetuated in me and my future generation. My eternal gratitude to Bella.” - Isabella R.

9Round Fitness

Owner: Chris Borgia ’10

Phone: 310-986-3910

Location: 1109 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Website: 9round.com

Social: @9round_hermosabeach_aviation

About:

Get fit and have fun with 9Round Kickboxing Fitness, the premier kickboxing fitness studio in Hermosa Beach. The 30-minute, circuit-style workouts are the perfect solution for busy schedules, with no class times and a new session starting every three minutes.

Review:

“I have been going to 9Round for about three months now and I have never felt better. Chris and Barbara are amazing! They inspire me every time I come to work out harder. In just three months, I have seen results - I am healthier, stronger and happier. I had a hard time finding a safe gym during the COVID pandemic until I found 9Round in Hermosa. I love that you can show up whenever to start your workout and you really get a one-on-one training experience. The workouts also change every day so you never get bored. So happy to be a member of this gym.” - Brenda L.

Artemis Yoga

Co-Founder: Elizabeth Padula, MBA ’99

Phone: 617-393-3590

Location: 639 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472

Email: info@artemisyoga.com

Website: artemisyoga.com

Social: @artemisyoga

About:

Based in Watertown, Massachusetts, Artemis Yoga is an independent yoga studio offering more than 30 classes weekly in studio or online. The schedule is flexible for studio or home practice. Artemis Yoga is known for its welcoming community where anyone can learn and practice yoga to strengthen the body and relax the mind.

Review:

“Can I do 10 stars? I've been practicing Iyengar yoga for nearly 30 years, and Artemis is simply superb, a warm and welcoming studio and a true community. The space is bright and spotless. The teachers are top-flight, attentive and careful, modifying poses to suit individual abilities. The range of classes and educational sessions are impressive. Oh, and they have lovely front-of-house staff plus easy parking. Hats off to owner Liz Padula for creating and nurturing this gem of a yoga studio!” - Cynthia B.

Sculpt Fitness

Owner: David Minishian ’15

Phone: 562-470-6466

Location: 3255 E. South St. Suite K202, Long Beach, CA 90805

Email: longbeach.sculptfitness@gmail.com

Website: sculptfitnessla.com

Social: @sculptfitnessla

About:

We help clients create sustainable lifestyles to build the body they want. We don't push supplements or promote restrictive diets. We believe in finding a flexible approach to your health and fitness. Our training programs include our small group boot camp, semi-private training and personal training. Our coaches specialize in weight management and fat loss, muscle building and strength training, aerobic conditioning, sports performance, mobility and sustainable nutrition coaching. We also provide meal prep and food delivery services with our private chef to make nutrition simple and convenient.

Review:

“I have been part of the Sculpt Fitness family for over 5 years, I have contemplated going elsewhere only to realize Sculpt is my forever home. Sculpt is the only place I have ever felt comfortable. The coaches at Sculpt believe in their clients and will go over and beyond to provide the best experience possible. The atmosphere is clean, safe and definitely worth checking out” - Liz. V.

LA Sports Acupuncture

Founder: Jorga Houy ’93

Phone: 323-739-4333

Location: 5619 N. Figueroa St., Unit 221, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Email: jorga@lasportsacupuncture.com

Website: lasportsacupuncture.com

Social: @lasportsacupuncture

About:

At LA Sports Acupuncture, we specialize in sports medicine: the prevention and treatment of injuries and pain. Acute traumatic injuries require rapid response and are usually resolved rather quickly; old chronic injuries usually take longer to treat. Combining traditional knowledge of acupuncture, acupressure and herbal medicine with orthopedics and sports medicine. Chinese medicine regards the highest class of medicine to be prevention and the pursuit of longevity. By adopting many of the lifestyle choices offered by the philosophy of Chinese medicine, we can live long and healthy lives.

Review:

“It's truly amazing how a single session can address issues you've been grappling with for years. Over the past 15 years, I consistently experienced hip clicking and tight hip flexors on my right side, particularly during exercise. I used to attribute this to my body's natural asymmetry, believing I had to just deal with it. I tried various remedies such as stretches and trigger point balls, but they only offered minimal relief. Then, about five years ago, I began to develop lower back pain on the right side, and I soon realized the connection between my right hip clicking and this discomfort. Following just one session with Jorga, the hip clicking disappeared, and I immediately noticed an improvement in my core strength, as I could perform leg lifts without any clicking. Even my back pain seems to have improved significantly. I can't help but regret not seeing Jorga sooner.” - Sylvia S.

NutriFit

Founder: Jackie Keller, Ext. Cert. ’88

Phone: 310-473-2989

Location: 11692 Gateway Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

Email: info@nutrifitonline.com

Website: nutrifitonline.com

Social: @nutrifitonline

About:

NutriFit specializes in crafting fresh, personalized meal plans that are delivered to your doorstep. We also offer full-service nutritional support, biometric testing, wellness coaching and health-related products. Since 1987 we have been providing custom solutions that help our clients achieve optimal health and well-being. It’s our mission to help our clients live longer and healthier lives.

Review:

“I can't recommend Nutrifit enough. From day one my experience has been amazing. I met with Jackie to discuss my weight loss needs due to high blood pressure and pre-diabetes concerns. She put me on a plan that not only helped me lose the weight, but got me off all the medication I was on. In addition to health benefits, she opened my eyes to foods I had never had before. The food is absolutely amazing! I look forward to every delivery to see what 'goodies' I have for the day.” – Tara M.

Wonderwell Creative

Founder and CEO: Kate Bone ’00

Location: Online

Email: hello@wonderwellcreative.com   

Website: wonderwellcreative.com

Social: @wonderwell.creative

About:

Creativity is your nature. Everyone and everything is creative, and you were born to create. Here at Wonderwell, we take a holistic and nature-based approach to the creative process. We tend to our projects as if we were tending to a garden. Through our educational programs, community circles and private mentorship, we help creators ground into your body, clarify your vision and develop nourishing structures to bring your dreams into reality. The best part? You don't have to do it alone. We're cultivating a global creative community of multi-passionate creatives to encourage and inspire you every step of the way.

Review:

"This is a space I have been looking for my whole life. The space you've created is conscious, buoyant and extremely loving. I am beyond grateful to share space and learn from you and the beautiful community that has formed." – Hannah B.

Happy Camper Play Therapy

Owner and Founder: Renee Holdo ’86

Phone: 404-731-8621

Location: 707 Whitlock Ave., Building D-34, Marietta, GA 30064

Email: ​happycamperplaytherapy@gmail.com

Website: happycamperplaytherapy.com

About:

At Happy Camper Play Therapy and Expressive Arts, we specialize in individual, and family play therapy, as well as child-centered play therapy and adolescent counseling. Additionally, we offer group work, workshops and seminars. Our clinicians are available to present on a variety of topics. Throughout the therapeutic process, the client is encouraged to take an active role in his or her treatment with the support of the therapist. Our goal is the client's goal. We utilize a variety of techniques to assist the client in achieving greater self-awareness, more positive relationships while increasing their capacity to experience and express their feelings. Clients of all ages, couples and families can reconnect with their inner values and sense of self-worth enabling them to find their way to move forward. When you play more, you feel better.

LushNature Wellness

Founder: James Aliberti ’87

Phone: 415-999-1554

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Email: ​jamesalushnature@gmail.com

Website: golushnature.com

About:

LushNature Wellness offers guided forays, bird walks and outdoor team-building exercises to stave off chronic illness and isolation, and improve employee satisfaction and retention, benefitting present and future generations. With deep connections to the transformative properties of nature and the inhabitants of the wilds of the San Francisco Bay Area, sustainably promoting constructive partnerships with local organizations and beyond, we foster change by empowering thousands of participants to pursue interests in science, education and other positive quality of life enhancements.

Review:

"After my LushNature experience, I started looking at my challenges in the lab from more of what you'd call 'a bugs eye-view,' and it helped my project progress profusely.​ So many of the things the naturalist said super-resonated with me." - Kara P. 

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To submit a Bruin-owned business for future consideration, please send a note to connectfeedback@alumni.ucla.edu.

All Bruin-Owned Business Articles

• Bruin-Owned Restaurants Part 4
• Bruin-Led Businesses: Nonprofits
• Books by Bruins: Summer Reading
• Books by Bruins - LGBTQ Stories
• Books by Bruins - Health and Wellness
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Tech
• Books by Bruins - Stories About Women
• Books by Bruins - L.A. Stories
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 4
• Books by Bruins - Vol. II
• Bruin-Owned Beverage Businesses 2
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Fitness and Wellness 3
• Books by Bruins
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 3
• Bruin-Owned Restaurants Part 3
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Fitness and Wellness 2
• Bruin-Owned Photography Part Two
• Bruin-Owned Businesses: Gift Ideas 2
• Bruin-Owned Photography
• Bruin-Owned Art Galleries and Collectives
• Bruin-Owned Restaurants Part 2

• Bruin-Owned Gift Ideas
• Bruin-Owned Fitness and Wellness Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Event-Planning Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Apparel Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Beverage Businesses
• Bruin-Owned Restaurants

Recent Articles

Bruin Shelter Seeks Help Providing Students’ Basic Needs

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recent UCLA survey found that 5% to 20% of California’s public college and university students experience homelessness. Bruin Shelter is a student-led organization that relies on donations to provide “a safe and supportive environment for all, providing basic resources, and helping students pursue their academic goals.”

Emerald Wong Exp. ’24 and Rachel Xu Exp. ’25 are Bruin Shelter student volunteers who believe there is an urgent need to address this important issue. Xu says, “Something that we try to emphasize is that the residents are just students. If you're sitting in a 300-person lecture hall, one of every 20 students in that lecture with you is facing housing insecurity.”

Emerald Wong is Bruin Shelter’s current vice president. She is majoring in human biology and society and minoring in public health, and plans to apply to medical school after a gap year working as a clinical research coordinator. She says, “We believe that there should be no barriers to higher education, especially housing. I’ve learned how we as students can mobilize to create change on our campus, especially ethical, long term, sustainable change.”

Rachel Xu is the shelter’s co-director of staff and will be next year's incoming president. She is a human biology and society major with plans to apply to medical school and become a physician. She says, “I've come to really feel so passionately about securing basic needs for students. Seeing how food, access to medical care and housing are so intertwined has given me a more comprehensive view of healthcare and basic needs.”

Bruin Shelter was founded in 2016 by Louis Tse, M.S. ’14, Ph.D. ’16, and Luke Shaw to address the lasting economic impact of the 2008 recession. At that time, the estimated cost of running the 10-bed shelter was $25,000 per year. Since then, the shelter located in Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Santa Monica has housed a total of 51 Los Angeles college students. 

More information on the shelter’s history can be found in our 2016 story on the founding of Bruin Shelter. The nonprofit organization Students4Students (S4S) oversaw shelter operations, and expanded to include Trojan Shelter at USC and Aggie House at UC Davis.

Bruin Shelter pairs students facing a lack of housing with case managers recruited from the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Luskin School of Social Work who connect them with resources to find permanent supportive housing, employment opportunities and health care. Xu says, “I think when you have access to basic needs, it goes unnoticed and taken for granted. But having secure access to basic needs is so important, especially on college campuses.” 

In 2020, the shelter paused operations as a result of unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although they couldn’t house students, volunteers launched a remote case management program to connect students experiencing housing insecurity with available resources. They also created a basic needs resource guide, which they provide to all applicants. Following the pandemic, as the shelter prepared to reopen, S4S let them know that they were facing financial challenges and chose to dissolve their organization. Seeking a solution, Bruin Shelter volunteers reached out to founder Louis Tse, who now runs the nonprofit organization, Student MOJO. Student MOJO accepted it as a project under their fiscal sponsorship.

Student-volunteers are searching for a new shelter location, and continue to provide essential services and resources. Wong says, “We really want to emphasize that we're looking for a new space to accommodate us and our mission.” Xu continues, “It's always been our priority to make sure we can offer housing free of cost. We're looking for financial support and job opportunities for our service recipients. These students have bright futures ahead of them, and they need housing to get there.”

In the absence of a physical shelter, volunteers have focused on initiatives to help students in other ways. In 2023, they raised nearly $6,000 in a UCLA SPARK campaign to continue their efforts to provide basic needs for unhoused college students. As part of their food resource program, volunteers shop for and deliver groceries to Los Angeles college students facing food insecurity and assemble backpacks containing hygiene, clothing and medical items which they donate to organizations that serve Los Angeles’ unhoused community. They also attend research conferences and share their mission through presentations and events. 

Bruin Shelter partnered with other service-oriented student groups to create a Community Service Commission of the Undergraduate Students Association Council. The group successfully advocated for UCLA to eliminate dining hall restriction for students with overdue tuition fees.

UCLA students Wong and Xu have come away from this experience with a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding housing insecurity and the importance of addressing basic needs for their peers, along with the power of getting involved and working for a better world.

Xu says, “I've been able to see these tangible changes that we've made, and it reminds you that as a student, you have so much power to effect change in your community. No action is too small and we should all use that to our advantage to create a more equitable environment.”

Wong says, “You are only in college for such a short time, I think you should really spend that time doing something that is both impactful to the broader community and meaningful to you. As students, we have so much more power than we realize; what you do really matters to other people.”

Donations to Bruin Shelter go towards providing basic needs to students experiencing housing insecurity, including hygiene and first aid products, groceries, clothing and school supplies. They are seeking a new shelter location, and in the meantime, they are working to connect college students with rent-free and supportive housing options. If you would like to donate, please click here and be sure to indicate your donation is on behalf of Bruin Shelter.

Recent Articles

A Fitness Examination of Sound Body Sound Mind

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t started as a nonprofit organization in 1998 founded by Cindy and Bill Simon with a focus on supporting public schools. Their first installation was a fitness center at Palisades High School under the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). They immediately saw a change in students’ attitudes towards exercise, which snowballed into a mission to open more fitness centers across the city. Bill Simon, an assistant adjunct professor in both the UCLA Department of Economics and the UCLA School of Law, and recipient of the Marty Sklar My Last Lecture Award, told UCLA, “Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity, knowledge and tools to pursue a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness.”

Since its creation, Sound Body Sound Mind (SBSM) has grown to 152 centers and impacts nearly 200,000 students each year. Along with the fitness center, SBSM develops an exercise curriculum and provides professional development training.

Its mission: “To promote self-confidence and healthy lifestyle choices among today’s youth.” Amelia Sherman, manager of communications and programming at SBSM, is deeply connected to this mission. She attended an LAUSD school, and although she didn’t know it at the time, her school’s fitness center was one of SBSM’s first.

The organization merged under the UCLA Health Foundation in 2020. Since the transition coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sherman says there were adjustments to how the organization partnered with schools, pivoting from “opening as many fitness centers as possible” to “nurturing current schools and setting up the foundation to grow.”

Now in their 25^th year, they are pushing to revamp their current fitness centers. Sherman and her colleague recently visited all the 152 schools in SBSM’s network and determined the state of each of the centers. They are working to review the currently active programs and ensure that their funding dollars go to the sources that need it the most. They use metrics, derived from Health and Human Services and CDC data, to see the areas where the health disparities are the greatest, so they can focus their funding there. Since the program has been in existence at some of these schools for close to 25 years, Sherman says, “UCLA plans to repair any equipment or train new teachers and make sure that they have the knowledge of the science behind the fitness centers.”

Sherman explained how SBSM uses state-mandated physical fitness tests as beginning and end markers to determine if the program is successful. According to the SBSM website, “Since 2017, across 30 schools that completed data collection, the average FitnessGram pass rate before our program was 39%. After implementing our program for an eight-week period, passing rates improved to 59%.” This data shows the correlation between the centers and curriculum that Sound Body Sound Mind implements.

Along with the physical testing, they also have students complete a wellness survey which asks about resources and support within their community regarding physical education awareness and their attitudes towards it. Both the fitness tests and the surveys are used to measure the effectiveness of the centers and the organization’s partnership with the schools.

Since SBSM works with local public schools, they often face the problem of overextended administrators and teaching staff. Even after they partner with a school, the staff may not be able to fully utilize the resources provided to them, leaving the resource untouched. Sherman explains, “Before initiating the program, [SBSM] trains all PE teachers. Teachers are the stewards of the program to promote healthy lifestyles with their students. They are the ones receiving the resources, so it is beneficial when they completely understand how to use them.” She says, “Once we give a fitness center to a school, it is the responsibility of the school site to maintain and repair it, but it's often forgotten, unfortunately. So we see a lot of schools that don't receive the best care.”

Another challenge the organization has faced is the long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She says, “We see in the data that student fitness levels have taken a nosedive after the pandemic.” Sherman explains that it is beyond the control of just one program, but she hopes that based on their positive results, SBSM can help students return to a stable baseline.

The name Sound Body Sound Mind was based on research that showed “if you exercise more, you feel better.” In 2021, the organization created a mindfulness education curriculum with the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Despite the curriculum’s proven benefits, it was difficult to implement because the video lessons required students to lose their exercise period. However, they have used this challenge to refocus on physical education and its benefits to mental and physical health.

Sherman shares a similar sentiment regarding the current state of fitness education across Los Angeles. “Going to all these schools, going to different neighborhoods, you can really see the divide in the resources that each school site has.” She says, “It's so important that students have the ability to walk into a room and feel confident in a gym setting so they can have lifelong fitness.”

Having grown up in Los Angeles, Sherman enjoys the close connection she has to the program and sees it as a “legacy of giving back to her community.” She says many UCLA alumni attended SBSM schools and now have a chance to make a difference for the future. “If alumni want to give back to their community, they can make a contribution. But on a personal level, they can always just get out and keep moving.”

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To learn more about Sound Body Sound Mind and ways to help, visit https://www.uclahealth.org/programs/soundbodysoundmind. 

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Bruins in NYC: Networking Mixer and Alumni Panel

The UCLA Alumni Association, in collaboration with the UCLA Chancellor’s Society and the UCLA Alumni New York Tri-State Network, brought the spirit of Westwood to Manhattan, New York City on May 8th, 2024 with a networking mixer and alumni panel in a gorgeous venue.  The panelists included: Tamara Lazzarotto '12, Head of Business Development, Emerging Brands & Strategic Partnerships at Amazon, Samuel Lee '15 Vice President, Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, and Angélica S. Gutiérrez, Ph.D. '00, PhD '12 Business Professor at Loyola Marymount University, Contributing Writer at Inc. Magazine, and Visiting Professor/Renwick Faculty Fellow at NYU Stern School of Business.

The Classroom Q&A With Amy

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n 2023, a Forage study found that “nearly half of college students don’t feel career-ready.” Many of the students surveyed didn’t feel confident they had the skills and resources to land their first job.

 At UCLA, the Alumni Office of Professional Programs and Services is trying to change this deficiency with the advent of The Classroom. Created and led by veteran executive recruiter Amy Rueda, The Classroom is a two-part virtual six-week course, tailored specifically for the graduating Class of 2024.

In this interview with Rueda, we sought to understand what makes this course unique and beneficial for this year’s newest crop of job-seekers.

Can you tell us about your background and your role at UCLA?

I was an executive recruiter for 15 years and used to work for large search firms. I have a specialty in higher education and have placed lots of executives, including university presidents, deans, faculty, CFOs, CEOs, etc. I helped placed six of the UC chancellors, including our very own, Chancellor Block. I have a passion for education and wanted to have an impact on an institution. And what better place than UCLA?

I came to UCLA in 2008 and helped place development officers for the Centennial Campaign. Once that campaign concluded, I joined Alumni Affairs and have focused on providing products and services for Bruins across the career spectrum, ranging from recent grads all the way to C-suite alumni. I am currently the executive director of the UCLA Alumni Office of Professional Programs and Services.

How did the concept of The Classroom come about?

I developed The Classroom for a couple of reasons.

First, the marketplace was describing a lot of the behaviors and attitudes of Gen Z in their transition into the workforce. What I quickly realized is their philosophies could at times be incomplete with the realities of the workforce, and it was really important to me that we spend some time with them, post-graduation, to help them learn how to compete for jobs and how to proceed in career management throughout the course of their professional endeavors.

The second motivator was there were some articles released by various universities where their students said that they learn their subject matter well, but there were no classes to actually prepare them to transition into the workforce. That was very alarming to me. After researching some of the country's top universities, I could not find one that offered post-graduation career management courses. It seems that students are left on their own to navigate this very complicated process that can be very discouraging at times.

We also learned that alumni are applying for hundreds of jobs and not really finding a lot of success. This told me they may not be focusing their efforts in a really productive way. So I wanted to curtail that process for them and help them focus on what it is they're trying to achieve, the kind of work-life balance they hope to find and ways in which they could advocate for themselves as they move through their career.

What’s the difference with this upcoming Classroom course versus previous ones?

We learned a lot from our first course. The audience was a group of alumni who were looking to transition into the C-suite. Because I specialize in that I could actually describe, explain and help them strategize how to enter, navigate and succeed in the executive search process.

The next one was a specific audience of former student athletes. What we learned is their whole experience at a university is very much curated for their sports activities, as well as their learning efforts. What we also found is they're the most motivated, the most dedicated, the most focused and they make some of the best leaders in the workforce. That was a group that was very interesting to learn from. They were inspiring as well because they had the intellect, the discipline, the desire and the ambition to achieve their goals.

Gen Z is really important to me, because they’re the future. Without teaching them how to make good, proper business philosophical decisions, they might inadvertently derail their career. And if they’re not particularly focused they could miss out on some really important opportunities.

But we also wanted to extend some grace to them, because coming into your early professional career, you don't know anything. You're learning and you're finding yourself. You're finding your work style and you're learning how to narrate your work, its progress and its impact. So teaching them how to advocate for themselves is another portion of this program.

The difference with this course is for the first time students can make the decision to make an investment and participate in the class in real time. They'll have direct access to the instructors, to the guest speakers and to the energy of their peers. Then the very next day after each class, we will release the recorded version of the class for free on our website. It was very important for us to make sure that this was affordable and accessible to students. Most importantly, once a Bruin, always a Bruin; we will always be accessible to them and help them achieve their professional goals.

What is the cost of The Classroom?

Class 1

Before June 26 - $20.24

After June 26 - $30

Class 2

Before Aug. 16 - $20.24

After Aug. 16 - $30

Registering for both Class 1 and Class 2 before June 26 will cost only $15 each or $30 total.

What are the topics that will be discussed during the course?

Each course consists of six weekly sessions. For the first course, we are going to bring in The Classroom alumni from the Class of 2023 to talk about the impact the class had on them in terms of their job search. We’re going to talk about the process. Their experience is shooting out a bunch of résumés, but not getting a ton of responses. We’re going to help them compose their résumés and cover letters in a way that narrates their academic experience and any work experience they gained while at UCLA. We'll focus on the anatomy of the job description and how important it is to match those skill sets.

We will focus on job search and networking, which is really important because it expands their knowledge of our overall offerings. Our Alumni Career Engagement team (ACE) offers a ton of supplemental offerings. They have a mentorship program. They have a national and international database of Bruins in UCLA ONE. They have guest speakers that can come and talk about various professions. We're not just focused on this part of their career management; we will be with them throughout their career and share multiple offerings through the Alumni Association.

We’ll also discuss interviewing strategies. The etiquette of interviewing is one that you don't know until you're in the interview. You can make some accidental mistakes or not feel prepared to answer really difficult questions. We’ll discuss those questions they fear most and practice how to answer them.

We’ll talk about salary negotiations. I was surprised to learn they didn’t know what an exempt or non-exempt employee was, or the difference between paid time off and vacation time. It will be hard for them to understand their job offer unless we break it down for them. What’s in a comprehensive package? They should be aware of things that are not included in a comprehensive job offer so it helps them make more informed decisions.  

We’ll also offer a mental health component. What we’ve found is that Gen Z struggles with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). They’re also dealing with the pressures from home to hurry up and land a job. But the truth of the matter is, this is not a market that’s particularly friendly to this generation. At the moment they’re going through an economic transition and finding their place in the workforce will be a little bit challenging for them. We’ll help them learn how to get motivated and manage their emotional stress, how to give them themselves some grace during their search process, and some space to learn about themselves and what kinds of jobs are going to be of greater interest to them, where they think they'll succeed.

In the second course, we’ll cover when is the right time to leave or not to leave a job? How can they advocate for themselves when seeking promotions and raises? We’re teaching them language and concepts that they can use from their first job and throughout the rest of their career.

What is the advantage of participating in the class in real time versus watching it the following day?

They will experience the energy of the class in real time. They’ll go into breakout rooms and meet their peers. Those relationships will end up being the start of their network. They’ll start sharing with each other and learning about job openings at different places because now they’re interacting with active job seekers.

They will also have access to the guest speakers where any question they ask is valid. Those same questions may be on the minds of participants who only watch the free video the next day, but being there in real time is going to give them the best access to the information.

We will also have what I call “after school” where students have the opportunity to stay online after class to ask the questions they weren’t able to ask during the hour-long class. That’s another benefit of participating in real time. In addition to this we’ll offer office hours for 30 minutes each week where we can cover anything they want to talk about.

What can participants in The Classroom expect from your style of teaching?

My teaching style tends to be interactive, informative and comprehensive. I bring my background to this class in helping them understand every stage of the search that they're going to navigate. I'm direct in providing real life examples, not just philosophical concepts. What are the issues they will face in landing a job? I want to focus on practical solutions as well as help them understand a philosophical perspective to some of the decisions they will face.

What can participants expect to take away from the course when it’s all done?

I think one of the things that’s very apparent is how scared they are and how they lack confidence. They don’t understand the impact of getting into UCLA, graduating from UCLA and the way in which they’re going to be pursued in the marketplace. When we put that out there, they start to understand how they can be competitive compared to everyone else in the marketplace. They’re getting knowledge and information no one else is getting. Instilling that level of confidence is one of the most important takeaways because without feeling secure in their decisions and the way in which they want to succeed, it’s going to be really hard to find a career path that’s going to make them happy.

We’re also teaching them a clear sense of what work expectations are and how they’re going to be perceived; how they should navigate political situations and stay out of them. They’ll learn about workplace etiquette and the hazards of participating in office gossip. What does office politics look like and how should they behave when faced with a difficult situation like that for the first time? In employee evaluations, how can they best present their accomplishments and how much progress they’ve made? There’s also no shame in stating your mistakes so long as you learn from them because it show accountability. Everyone throughout every stage of their career is going to face that.

Is there any follow-up with participants after the course is completed?

The best part about this class is their access to experts during the course and after it's done. But it’s up to each student to be motivated to learn more and seek out the information. Through office hours, we are making ourselves available throughout the day and up to one year after the course is completed. That’s like having access to a career coach at no additional charge.

Plus, we’ll be sharing helpful career articles and inviting them to career events for alumni for years to come. We’re not going to abandon them. We’re going to stay with the Class of 2024 long after they graduate.

***

To learn more about The Classroom, visit the website at https://alumni.ucla.edu/the-classroom/. Registration for this course only be available to the Class of 2024 and is not active at this time.

Read Amy Rueda’s other career-related advice columns in https://alumni.ucla.edu/career-engineering/.   

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Blue and Gold Make Green – Sustainability Throughout Westwood and the World

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n its 105-year history, UCLA has grown from being a small, Southern Branch of the University of California in then-rural Los Angeles to a sprawling 40-plus acre campus consisting of approximately 200 buildings amid one of the world’s largest cities. This growth provides UCLA with multiple environmental challenges as it welcomes an estimated half-million people to its campus each year. But with these challenges come opportunities for UCLA and its alumni to be leaders in environmental sustainability.

Nurit Katz, MBA ’08, M.P.P. ’08, UCLA’s Chief Sustainability Officer, recognizes this.

“A lot of the work that we and many of our alumni do is centered around thinking about how we can do sustainability in a smarter way?” Katz said in a recent forum at UCLA.  “There is a lot of pollution and traffic when pursuing sustainability in urban settings, and we’ve been working on these issues in L.A. and around the world.”

Katz has led this “smarter way” with the development of UCLA’s first comprehensive sustainability plan, which encourages collaboration across the leading public universities to advance sustainability through education, research, operations and community partnerships.

A notable step in achieving sustainability that both Katz and UCLA have recently taken is highlighted in UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, which is “an interdisciplinary university-wide initiative aimed at applying UCLA research, expertise and education to help transform Los Angeles into the world’s most sustainable megacity by 2050 — making it the most livable, equitable, resilient, clean and healthy megacity, and an example for the world.”

Since its launch in 2013, over 250 UCLA faculty, researchers and scholars have helped bring some of the goals of the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge to fruition.

“The biggest impact we have as a university is through our thought leadership, education and research,” said Katz. “But we also see our physical campus as a ‘Living Laboratory for Sustainability.’ We want to make sure that we are practicing what we teach as a lot of our work in sustainability at UCLA is about that: creating a demonstration for our region and for the world.”

One active component of being a “Living Laboratory for Sustainability” can be found on top of Parking Structure 9. A solar microgrid was recently installed there that connects solar panels to smart EV charging stations and to battery banks at the bottom of the structure. This microgrid ultimately utilizes electronic vehicles to serve as supplementary storage for the grid during peak times.

“Being able to create electric vehicle charging for students, staff and faculty while also doing cutting edge research that can translate into real policy and real programs is what we’re all about,” said Katz.

UCLA’s landscape has also been changing in light of the University’s sustainability goals…literally.

In 2022, UCLA released a landscape plan that has since transformed areas of campus that used to consist of decorative grass and repurposed them into beautiful areas filled with native plants, encouraging biodiversity to flourish in an urban setting. This plan has also taken out ivy and replaced it with a variety of pollinator plants.

“We have some amazing wildlife on our campus, including horned owls that can be seen nesting on one of our buildings,” said Katz. “Our students are also creating a hummingbird garden on campus. Sustainability is in our hands, and making these kinds of changes helps support a meaningful transformation for our faculty, staff, students and wildlife.”

Other campus changes include a state-funded decarbonization study on its cogenerate power plant, which aims to further advance the future of energy. Also, a wastewater treatment plant that will include a laboratory and research components is currently being developed.

Outside of Westwood, UCLA has been actively making a global impact on sustainability through its alumni.

One such alumna who has been leading the charge in sustainability is Jaime Nack ’98, M.P.P. ’02. Nack is the president and founder of Three Squares Inc. (TSI), “an award-winning environmental consulting firm that designs sustainability into the DNA of organizations.”

Since 2008, the Santa Monica-based TSI has been a global leader in developing and implementing sustainability strategies for complex, high-profile projects involving governments, corporations, investors and industry groups. The 100% woman-owned Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) firm has worked on all seven continents and communicated in 13 languages.

“ESG is a relatively recent acronym,” said Nack at the same UCLA forum last March. “However, it’s long-standing criteria, or performance criteria, for investors and other stakeholders to rate the performance of companies across three spheres — Environment, Social and Governance. It's a great way to not only just look at the financial performance of companies, but also see how they are having a positive or negative impact on society, on the environment and how they govern their operations.” 

TSI carries an extensive list of clients such as United Airlines, Surf Air, Honda, Lamborghini, Nike, Louis Vuitton, Guici, Disney, Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, AEG, Live Nation, Coachella, Stagecoach, the Oscars, the Emmys, the Television Academy and the Los Angeles Marathon.

“We are truly industry agnostic as we work across competitors in a variety of industries,” said Nack. “Sustainability is a way to bridge the gap where competitors usually don't speak or don't work together. However, we're able to both work with them individually and in some cases pull them together to work together.”

Elsewhere, Nack and TSI help educate influencers and Hollywood A-List celebrities on how they can help bring awareness to climate change and other environmental issues.

“I have a relationship with the World Economic Forum and a community called Young Global Leaders,” said Nack. “Every year I co-host an Arctic expedition with a diverse group of 20 people - 50% male, 50% female - up to Greenland. We talk about how they can apply a climate-action lens to their countries and their work.”

According to Nack, her team educates attendees so that they can understand the background of climate, climate science and where it stands today. Expeditions often include journeys to glaciers like the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the world.

“We have to get there by helicopter,” said Nack. “When we land, it looks like you're landing on the moon. There are these two research pods by NASA where we can learn more about the environment and climate.”  

Reflecting on her time in Westwood, Nack, who was a two-term board member of the UCLA Alumni Association, attributes much of her success today and experience in running a company to her time as a student. During her time with USAC student government, Nack helped organize the Jazz Reggae Festival and saw it grow from a 5,000-person festival to a 30,000-person festival over three years.

“I learned a lot about how to run an operation and how to run a business,” she said. “I credit those years and those lessons learned the hard way. UCLA allowed me to learn those lessons, which have played a key role in my success today as a business owner.”

In 2011, Nack was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She also received an appointment under the Obama administration to serve on the National Women’s Business Council, an advisory council to the President and the federal government on economic issues of importance to women business owners. Currently, Nack also serves as one of former Vice President Al Gore’s presenters for The Climate Reality Project.

Despite her outstanding accomplishments, Nack ultimately knows that it will take more than herself and her firm to help achieve sustainability in Westwood and throughout the world.

“We are extremely focused on achieving sustainability,” said Nack. “You don't have to be a climate scientist, a chief sustainability officer, or the head of a consulting firm to make a difference and include sustainability in your work. That's really what we want to share. We’re very open to connecting with folks and helping them figure out ways of applying this lens to all forms of work.”

Nurit Katz summed it up best, “Ultimately, sustainability is really about thinking about our kids, our grandkids and our future, as well as the future of our institution and the future of the world.”

Learn more about how Sustainability at UCLA and Three Squares Inc. are making an impact on our campus community and around the world.

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The Climb Is Its Own Reward

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lice Kao ’01 is not afraid of taking the steep climb to achieve an end. In fact, what others might view as obstacles, she sees as potential footholds in scaling the heights of entrepreneurship, as well as achieving personal growth and satisfaction.

This story is about one of the fastest-growing trends in sports and recreation: indoor climbing. Recently, Kao opened her fourth Sender One Climbing location in Southern California on the site of the former Mann Festival Theater on Lindbrook Drive in Westwood Village. But this is about more than just a facility; it’s also about Kao’s life and career path with its unexpected twists and turns, guided by a philosophy that it is essential to be passionate about what you do.

“The purpose of our company is to discover yourself and connect with others through climbing,” Kao said. “That came from my story, because through climbing, I found myself again. And I found other people through climbing.”

Raised by her grandparents in a traditional Taiwanese family who came to the United States when she was 12, Kao was an economics/international area studies major at UCLA. She initially followed a typical career trajectory for an econ major, working as an investment banker for Lehman Brothers in Downtown Los Angeles before they moved to the Oppenheimer Building in Westwood.

“I wanted to do the thing that I thought was so cool and sexy – work on Wall Street. But it just wasn’t me,” Kao said.  She pivoted into the toy industry, which took her overseas and, eventually, to the first glimpse of a new path forward.

“In ’06, my ex-boyfriend and I broke up and climbing was a thing that helped me feel better. I was living and working in London at the time, selling toys, and I walked into a climbing gym, since it was rainy all the time and I was looking for an indoor thing to do – and that’s how I got into it. I share the story because a lot of times when I’m climbing, I’ll ask somebody, ‘Hey, how did you start?’ and a lot of people will say, ‘Well, I’d gone through this terrible breakup, this terrible thing happened to me and then I discovered this thing.’ Sometimes it takes a life change for you to try something new or to disrupt your routine.”

Returning to Southern California, Kao continued her climbing activities, then set out to turn her recreational/therapeutic passion into a career, opening the first Sender One in Santa Ana in 2013.  Locations at LAX and in Playa Vista followed, before the Westwood facility began to take shape.

“We've been trying to open this gym since 2019,” Kao wrote in a blog post on her website. “There were delays due to COVID, then delays due to the city permitting issues. We were supposed to open this past summer but we ran into a major permitting issue halfway through construction and we had to stop work, rip out some of our work and re-do a bunch of work.”

UCLA has played an important role in navigating this process, both in the life skills Kao garnered during her student days, as well as with a more immediate, tangible contribution.

“Anderson Real Estate [in the UCLA Anderson family] is our landlord. They have been incredible. They are the most reasonable, understanding landlords,” Kao said in an interview on the day of the facility’s pre-launch open house. “With the city it’s been really challenging, but my landlord and I have been working together – we’re on the same team.

“Before this was a theater, it was a grocery store [a Ralphs supermarket, one of the original buildings in Westwood Village]. While we were in the permitting process in 2019 or 2020, the historical committee wanted us to take the marquee down so it could restore the historical nature of the grocery store. It was going to cost at least $200,000 to take it down and I said, ‘I don’t have that in my budget.’ Anderson Real Estate helped us fight to keep the marquee. I’m really glad we were able to keep it, because it looks really beautiful.

“Our logo for this building is actually a film strip, because we wanted to acknowledge the historical nature of this building.”

The Westwood location is Sender One’s second bouldering-only facility. The 8,000-square-foot climbing center also includes a 2,000-square-foot upstairs mezzanine with training boards, fitness and yoga.

“When I started climbing, about 18 years ago, it was a different sport,” Kao said. “Now, climbing is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. It’s actually in the Olympics; we have six athletes going to the Olympics this summer in Paris, so that’s helped get the awareness of climbing up.

“In our other locations – in L.A. and Orange County – we really focus on a family-oriented experience,” Kao said. “We have a dedicated climbing area with a birthday party space; a lot of people find out about us through the birthday parties they come to.

“Here in Westwood and in Playa, we are targeting an audience of students and young professionals. That’s why here it’s a bouldering-only gym (shorter walls, 14-18 feet). Bouldering is the fastest-growing climbing segment, with a demographic of roughly age 18 to 35.

“We’re doing a lot of different things, like outreach with student groups, working with the UCLA Climbing Club. We made a very intentional choice that what we build has to serve this community. It would be great if people came into Westwood to come [to Sender One], but I have to count on this community to support us.”

Kao is active with her alma mater – and not just as a tenant. She loves giving back to a university that she considers instrumental in her personal and professional ascent.

“I’m on the advisory board for Startup UCLA, I’ve mentored students, gone to demo night and it’s been awesome,” she said. “One of the things I’m passionate about is the idea that there’s no linear career path. I think if you pursue something you’re passionate about, the money will come. You have to really love what you do, because you spend way too much time at work – it’s not worth just going for a job. I think this generation is getting it.

“What I always tell my husband, who went to Harvard, is, ‘You know what I learned at UCLA? I learned how to make it work. I learned how to live.’ Because, as opposed to going to a small, liberal arts college [where they’re kind of shepherding you through], this is the world. ‘You know what students, you want to know what it’s like? There’s not going to be a counselor sitting you down. You’ve got to figure it out here.’ That’s what people need to learn – to figure out how to live in the world, work the system.”

Kao has found firm footing in her life and career – and is helping others, in the classroom, office or gym, to find theirs.

“There are so many resources at UCLA – if there’s something you want, you will find someone who will help you, but no one’s going to feed it to you, you have to find it. I tell students, ‘Don’t sit around waiting; there’s no one coming to rescue you.’

“This is my way of giving back; coming here and opening a business trying to help a community that helped me.”

Learn more at https://www.senderoneclimbing.com/westwood.

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