Luskin Students Take Part in AIDS Walk

Led by one of the first UCLA Luskin School-wide student groups, PRIDE at UCLA Luskin organized a group of UCLA students to take part in the AIDS Walk Los Angeles.

The group, which is the Luskin School’s first LGBTQI group, joined several other UCLA organizations in helping to raise $1,300 as the entire walk raised over $2.5 million for numerous Los Angeles County AIDS service organizations. Over 25,000 people participated in the walk, including LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.

PRIDE at UCLA Luskin is one of the first student-led groups to break away from the caucuses normally associated with the School and become a cross-departmental group for Public Policy, Social Welfare and Urban Planning.

“It was a great experience and I’m glad we did it,” said Public Policy and Social Welfare student Craig Pulsipher. 

Pulsipher helped organize the group as a caucus two years ago and has since handed it over to co-chairs Jessica Guillen, Mary Hicks and Felix Truong, all of whom are Social Welfare students.

The Luskin group was part of over 100 UCLA students who were involved in the UCLA Walks for Pedro team. The group walked in honor of Pedro Zamora, an openly gay AIDS educator and activist who was featured on MTV’s “The Real World: San Francisco.” The group chose this cause after the UCLA organizations shared the common book “Pedro and Me” which was written by Real World roommate Judd Winick.

About the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Founded in 1994 and dedicated in 2011, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs is a leading institution for research and scholarship in the areas of public policy, social welfare and urban planning. Based in the global metropolis of Los Angeles, UCLA Luskin develops creative solutions and innovative leaders that confront challenges in immigration, drug policy, prison reform, transportation, the environment, and other areas vital to the continued health and well-being of our global society.