Elena Hernandez

Senior Project Manager and Staff Reseacher

Elena Hernandez (she/her) is a senior project manager and researcher at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Elena has worked at the Luskin Center since the fall of 2019. Her research includes the evaluation of the Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program, the nation’s most comprehensive investments in local climate action. As a staff researcher, Elena collects qualitative and quantitative data for outputs and outcomes of TCC projects.

Elena graduated with master’s degrees from UCLA in urban and regional planning and public health, with a concentration in environmental health sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and environmental studies from UCLA. Elena brings her lived experience growing up in the Inland Empire to lead environmental equity work for vulnerable communities.

Media Coverage

Stocktonia

Stockton Rising: A $35 million project for a greener city

Streetsblog

Report: Transformative Climate Communities Program Is Transforming People’s Lives

LAist

This State Program In Underserved Communities Is Becoming A Nationwide Model For Climate Action

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CURRENT PROJECT(S)

Evaluation of Seven Transformative Climate Communities Program Investments

Researcher(s): Alex Aguirre Levitas, Samantha Astudillo, Camille Burrus, Elena Hernandez, and Jason Karpman

Funder: California Strategic Growth Council

Our team is documenting community-led, climate action that is funded by the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program in seven communities: Fresno, Ontario, Pomona, South Stockton, and three Los Angeles neighborhoods (Northeast San Fernando Valley, South Los Angeles, and Watts). We are collecting and sharing data on measurable accomplishments as well as stories from residents, business owners, workers, and others who have shaped — or been shaped by TCC.

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