Stanford
Community Engagement
Office of External Relations

Community Engagement Impact Program awardees announced for 2024

Projects exposing high school students to health career pathways to improving access to clean energy adoption are among 21 projects.
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By Lisa Chung
Three students spread out papers to work on a research project under the supervision of the Gardner Center
Vianca Lopez, left,and her classmates gathered data and analyzed their findings about youth mental health in the Sequoia Union High School District, under the direction of the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and their Communities. Credit: Gardner Center

The Office of Community Engagement has announced 21 projects selected for its Community Engagement Impact Program.

“The 2024 program celebrates collaborations between Stanford and community organizations that involve listening and understanding the challenges we want to solve together,” said Megan Swezey Fogarty, OCE's senior associate vice president for Community Engagement. “Trusting relationships matter – and lead to collective results.”

The projects, chosen by a campus community selection committee, range from exposing high school students to STEM career pathways to creating equitable outreach to facilitate access to clean energy programs. 

A project with the San Mateo County-based Samaritan House, for example, has roots in its longstanding relationship with Stanford School of Medicine. The multi-service nonprofit operates free health clinics in Redwood City and San Mateo County. Stanford clinical professor Baldeep Singh serves as the clinic’s medical director and OCE funds will help expand a patient advisory group that will help incorporate patient voice into its clinical operations.

With wildfire an abiding danger in California, controlled burns are considered an important tool in reducing the severity of that risk. But throughout the state and in the Santa Cruz Mountains, close by, residents and fire officials concerned about air quality and health, have no standardized air quality protocol to rely on. A Stanford team from the Stanford Doerr School’s Woods Institute joined with the Swanton Pacific Ranch in Santa Cruz County, run by California State University San Luis Obispo, to create and test protocols, and interact with local FireSafe councils.

OCE began supporting time-bound projects created by Stanford units and community entities in 2021 through the OCE Seed Fund. In renaming the program, OCE focuses on connecting Stanford research and education to regional needs. 

This year, OCE also supported two global projects in partnership with the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health in the School of Medicine.

For a full list and descriptions of the 21 projects receiving OCE impact funds, see the OCE Community Engagement Impact Fund page.

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