Concert & Convo brings a live musical performance and guided conversation to the Power of Music class, using music and lived experience to destigmatize mental health challenges, foster open dialogue, and inspire connection and resilience among college students.
A co-sponsored film screening was followed by a panel discussion exploring the transformative impact of the arts. Moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman, the panel featured Sing Sing cast member Sean “Dino” Johnson, student researchers, esteemed faculty, and individuals with lived experience in California prisons, fostering a meaningful and thought-provoking conversation.
Dr. Mijin Cha explored how a justice-centered “just transition” can drive a rapid transition away from fossil fuels while delivering shared benefits for workers and communities.
Undergraduate student Anna Komorita’s Music Mentorship Program connects student volunteers from the Human Biology Club are providing free year-long music lessons and instruments to 27+ families, including underserved and neurodivergent youth across Orange County. From weekly lessons in Santa Ana and UC Irvine campus communities to a culminating recital celebration, this initiative demonstrates how pairing skilled student musicians with eager learners can foster creativity, build confidence, and expand access to music education.
PhD candidate Christopher Ihinegbu launched a youth-led initiative in Lagos, Nigeria, training 10 young fellows and 200 high school students to upcycle plastic waste and transform environmental pollution into flood mitigation solutions. Through a social media #BeautifyTrashToMitigateFlood campaign, the project empowered the youth with skills in environmental innovation.
UCI School of Social Ecology
Kakuma Sound News
UCI School of Social Ecology
In Spring 2025, the Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music & Social Change sponsored 10 UCI students to attend the Breaking IntoThe Music Industry Conference in Indio, California—an inspiring weekend of hands-on learning and exclusive networking with top industry leaders, artists, and mentors.
To combat the 11.3 million tons of textile waste Americans discard annually, the SJF Repair Center project had UC Irvine students launch a dedicated Repair Center where the campus community can learn to fix and upcycle garments instead of throwing them away. By creating a hands-on space for sustainability skills development, this initiative is transforming our campus’s culture around consumption and demonstrating how UC Irvine can model circular economy principles for future students.