UC Davis Awards Grants to Recognize Community Partners' Contributions
The UC Davis Offices of Public Scholarship and Engagement and Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion have awarded $15,000 in Community Partner Recognition Grants to honor the time, expertise and leadership that community partners contribute to UC Davis and UC Davis Health.
The grant program was piloted in response to recommendations from the 2023 Community Engagement Summits, where more than 100 faculty and staff emphasized the importance of financially recognizing the time and expertise community partners contribute to university activities.
By easing financial and logistical burdens for community partners, the grants support more equitable and inclusive partnerships, particularly with organizations serving historically marginalized communities. All funds must directly benefit non-university community partners.
A total of 22 applications were submitted from faculty and staff spanning the humanities and sciences, requesting $48,023 in funding. The 10 selected projects represent a wide range of community-centered activities, including advisory board participation; community-led research; storytelling and archival projects; conference attendance; and health-focused outreach efforts. Each awarded project reflects a commitment to amplifying community voices and building mutually beneficial collaborations.
Findings from the pilot program’s evaluation will be available in early 2026 and will help inform future efforts to strengthen community-university partnerships.
Community Partner Recognition Grant Recipients
Lewis Lawyer, Department of Native American Studies
Collaborating with Wintun elder Pamela Gonzales and members of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Awarded $1,500.
Mayra Sánchez Barba, Feminist Research Institute
Partnering with Ruth Rosas of America Walks, Katia Pilar Carranza of Sustainability and Equity, Rio Oxas of RAHOK, and Agustin Bernabé from Leaders4EARTH. Awarded $1,500.
Moira Delgado, UC Davis College Corps
Engaging with multiple community partners, including Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School, Da Vinci Charter Academy;,Davis Forest School, Davis Joint Unified School District, Empower Yolo/ASSETs, Explorit Science Center, Mutual Housing California, Step Up Tutoring, UC Davis Redwood SEEDS Scholar Program, UC Davis History-Social Science Project, UC Davis Early Academic Outreach Program, UC Davis Language and Literacy Development Lab, UC Davis Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS), UC Davis Undocumented Student Resource Center, United Way California Capital Region, Woodland Joint Unified School District, Yolo County Library, Girl Scouts, Sight Word Busters, Cache Creek Conservancy, California Energy Alliance, California Mobility Center, Center for Land-Based Learning, Solar Community Housing Association, Tree Davis, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, Alchemist CDC, Cosumnes Community College, OLE Health (doing business as CommuniCare+OLE), Three Sisters Gardens, UC Davis Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center, UC Davis Student Farm, Yolo Farm to Fork, Yolo Food Bank, and Woodland Community College Basic Needs Center. Awarded $1,500.
Charlene Green, Office of Student and Resident Diversity, School of Medicine
Collaborating with the Association of American Indian Physicians, California Rural Indian Health Board, Urban Indian Health Services, Wiyot Tribal Elders, Indian Natural Resource Science & Engineering Program, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Oregon Health and Science University. Awarded $1,500.
Na’amah Razon, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Working with the EnROUTE Study Community Advisory Board. Awarded $1,500.
Sara Teasdale, Department of Internal Medicine
Partnering with the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network and members of the Having Our Say Coalition, including Asian Resources Inc., Black Women for Wellness, California Black Health Network, California Black Women’s Health Project, California Immigrant Policy Center, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, California Rural Legal Aid Foundation, The Cambodian Family, Center for the Pacific Asian Family, Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative, Central Valley Urban Institute, Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Korean Resource Center, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Little Manila Rising, Madera Coalition for Community Justice, Mi Familia Vota, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project, Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies, PALS for Health, Roots Community Health Center, Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network, South Asian Network, Street Level Health Project, United Women of East Africa, and Vista Community Clinic. Awarded $1,460.
Joan S. Frank, Department of Nutrition
Collaborating with Team Davis. Awarded $1,398.
Katherine Soule, Department of Nutrition
Partnering with Early Childhood Education Centers, Oakland Unified School District. Awarded $1,300.
Shane Stone, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Working with The Lionheart Community. Awarded $1,250.
Jennifer Marie Rubin, Injury and Violence Prevention Program, UC Davis Health
Collaborating with River Oak Center for Children Family Resource Center. Awarded $900.