This research explores how to most effectively measure the impact of nonprofit organizations, a question that remains both pressing and complex in a sector driven by diverse missions and stakeholder expectations. The first part of the project uses a literature review to survey existing evaluation frameworks across the nonprofit world, analyzing the strengths and limitations of current impact measurement practice. To apply these insights more concretely, the project then zooms in on Los Angeles based education nonprofits such as School on Wheels and Learn To Be through interviews to provide insight into how such organizations approach impact measurement in real-world settings. Both the literature review and interview findings suggest that while quantitative data such as statistical assessments and the number of people served remains important, it is insufficient on its own. A combined approach that also includes qualitative tools such as questionnaires, volunteer and client reflections, and anecdotal evidence emerges as a more holistic and adaptable method. Still, challenges remain in achieving consistency, especially in tracking long-term impact and outcomes. This project contributes to broader efforts to refine how nonprofit success is understood, and offers practical recommendations for organizations striving to align their missions with meaningful, measurable outcomes.

Hostile architecture, also known as anti-homeless design, is a prevalent urban strategy used to deter unhoused individuals from occupying public spaces. These designs often overlook their negative environmental and public health impacts on unhoused populations, as they do not incorporate their consent or input prior to implementation. StreetScape is an online ArcGIS StoryMaps research project that examines the effects of hostile architecture on the health and safety of unhoused individuals, specifically in Council Districts 3 and 12 in the San Fernando Valley. By combining a literature review with qualitative research, including photographs of hostile architecture and anonymous comments from unhoused individuals and outreach volunteers who serve in the area, the project investigates how urban architectural features directly affect public health and safety. The research and primary data will be visualized through several interactive maps and GIS analysis tools, offering a dynamic representation and deeper understanding of how hostile architecture shapes the lived experiences of unhoused individuals. Through these findings, the project aims to inform advocacy efforts and raise awareness about the need for more humane and supportive urban designs that prioritize the well-being of unhoused populations.

Low-income urban cities in Los Angeles, specifically South Central and Inglewood, have undergone multiple waves of gentrification, wherein “blighted” neighborhoods undergo rejuvenation. Gentrification attracts economic development that excludes long-term residents who can no longer afford the cost of living. This study investigates how local urban redevelopment policies, property owners, and business developers fuel the housing displacement of native low-income families and racial minorities in Inglewood, CA. This study draws from existing literature on gentrification and secondary sources such as news reports and policy documents to identify the contributing factors fueling the adverse effects of gentrification. Preliminary findings suggest that landlords, homeowners, and entertainment developers, enabled by weak tenant protectionist policies, imposed financial burdens on low-income families, leaving them unable to afford high rent. This study also examines how local officials and property owners prioritize private investment over addressing the housing needs of vulnerable residents.

Underresourced neighborhoods experience disproportionate health outcomes due to social determinants of health (SDOH), necessitating interventions to address public health challenges. Histories of systemic racism have ushered marginalized communities into neighborhoods disproportionately burdened by SDOH, like neighborhood sanitation conditions. Discriminatory housing policies have led to historic divestment in Watts, a South Los Angeles neighborhood with large Latino and African American communities and a poor sanitation infrastructure. Watts experiences severe health disparities compared to other Los Angeles neighborhoods, including high rates of chronic disease and a lower life expectancy. Health care today rarely considers how neighborhood sanitation conditions shape community health, disproportionately burdening the health of minority communities who are more subsumed by poor sanitation conditions in underresourced neighborhoods. To address this problem, my research asks: How do city-level and county-level government policies shape the sanitation landscape in Watts? Do these policies impact community health in Watts through manipulations of the sanitation landscape? The broader purpose is to inform community-based interventions that mitigate health disparities by addressing SDOH that skew health outcomes of marginalized communities.

Food justice has been a systemic problem, lacking equal food distribution in geographic spaces and affecting the lives of many individuals around the world. While food insecurity affects physical health, it also impacts mental health in various ways, such as stress levels, maintaining emotional balance, cognitive skills, and overall well being of the individual. School garden programs are one of many methods of fighting for food justice. Not only does this teach students the process of growing foods but the significance of adopting a nutritious diet, creating awareness of the benefits in having a balanced diet and preventing the development of physical health problems. This study is partnered with Seeds to Plate, a nonprofit-organization that offers a school garden program at Mark Twain Middle School, looking to see how engaging in a garden impact youth mental health -- beyond physical health. There are many components that are tied to food justice, such as one’s diet, sense of belonging in a community, and experiencing food justice. With focus on these three components, we study middle school students through a survey and how school gardens influence their mental health. While we have not began conducting the research, we hope to see a positive influence between school gardens and youth mental health, showcasing the importance of school gardens in an educational setting. Furthermore, we hope that this can inspire other educational institutions to start a school garden program.