The Common Experience at UCLA
The Common Experience Program creates community and inspires activism at UCLA.
Each year, our Selection Committee made up of students, staff, faculty, and alumni select a title for the Bruin community to read, listen or watch together centered around a common theme. Our mission is to ignite campus-wide discussions on compelling social issues and inspire action within the Bruin community. Explore this page to learn about this year's selection, and to take a deeper dive to spark your curiosity and to get involved.
The 2023-2024 Selection: The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas
The Intersectional Environmentalist offers a rundown of the core tenants of Intersectional Environmentalism through an activist’s lens, delivering information in a way that is inviting, convicting, and academically informed. This selection highlights how forces systematically influence both human-caused climate change and the marginalized populations that it affects most; it speaks on how we are all stakeholders in the challenge of healing and sustaining our shared Earth.
Take Action!
Upcoming Events
Come meet our student team and other community members inspired to create a more environmentally just and sustainably focused campus. We hope to see you at an upcoming event!
Black Experiences + The Environment
The Common Experience will be collaborating with the Afrikan Diaspora LLC! Join us for an event that will consist of a one-hour long conversation about intersectional environmentalism, delving into environmental topics effecting the Black community. It is taking place in the Rieber Fireside Lounge, on Tuesday, April 9th from 6-7PM. We will also be giving out free In-N-Out!
Common Experience In The News
Intersectional Environmentalism in Literature (February 8, 2024)
Check out an article written by Dr. KK Cheung, published in the Journal of Postcolonial Writing, exploring intersectionality in diasporic Chinese literature.
UCLA Sustainability (October 3, 2023)
UCLA Newsroom (September 29, 2023)
Diving Into Intersectional Environmentalism
The 2023-2024 Common Experience embraces the Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas, fueling conversations and cultivating community for a greener tomorrow.
Thematic Discussion Guide
This guide lays out all the learnings found in each chapter of the book, pairing them with discussion questions to get conversation flowing.
Co-curricular Opportunities
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor for All Ambassador Program (STC4All) is a student volunteer program immersing participants in civic engagement, advocating for equitable and sustainable transportation!
The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) is an undergraduate course tied to the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge initiative. It empowers its cohorts to leverage interdisciplinary research to tackle the complex issues tied to urban sustainability.
Fiat Lux When you are enrolling in classes, look for Fiat Lux (1 unit courses) that are connected to the Common Experience to dive deeper into the topics of Intersectional Environmentalism with renown UCLA Faculty.
Find out more about these programs at the links below:
Contact Us
Reach out! We are excited to hear from you...
Email: FirstYearExperience@orl.ucla.edu
Phone: (310) 794-4866
Instagram: @UCLAFirstYearExperience