Government officials recognize UCLA’s historic bonds with Los Angeles
Friends and SupportersLos Angeles and UCLA have been civically intertwined for decades — a commitment to public service realized through the numerous alumni serving in city hall and the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, and the faculty, researchers and community members seeking to improve the city year after year.
In its 100-year history, UCLA produced the city’s first African-American mayor, Tom Bradley, and the first female president of the Los Angeles City Council, Peggy Stevenson.
Today, UCLA can claim more than 200 community programs scattered across the Los Angeles region — everything from mobile health clinics to nanoscience pop-ups to partnering with the Los Angeles Unified School District to operate two schools. There are also are six current alumni city councilmembers and one member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
On May 22, local government officials and alumni gathered to recognize this immense partnership. The Los Angeles City Council declared it “UCLA Day” and the county supervisors officially joined in the Centennial with its own proclamation. In the evening, UCLA honored the civic champions of today, while honoring those past inspirations.
“Being located in Los Angeles has been an indispensable part of all of this,” said Chancellor Gene Block, addressing a crowd of alumni and civil servants at the city hall rotunda. “In fact, the precursor to UCLA — called the California Branch State Normal School — was just a few blocks away from here, at Fifth and Grand.
“We know our achievements are Los Angeles’ achievements,” Block continued. “UCLA and Los Angeles have many of the same goals.” Block said he was particularly proud of the university’s partnership with the city to develop an environmental sustainability plan.