Not far from the lush banks of Putah Creek sits a charming cluster of yellow cottages on the edge of campus that serves as a vibrant hub for studying early childhood development. This setting, once dedicated to the practical art of home economics, has evolved into the Early Childhood Lab School (ECLS), a place where the science of growth meets the heart of care. 

For many people, especially younger generations, social media is an integral part of their daily routines. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok have changed the way people communicate, share information and connect.

From concept to completion – UC Davis student Mariah Padilla has taken what she’s learned in class to help create a tool that aims to enhance a local community’s social and economic health and well-being. Padilla, a community and regional development major going into her senior year, took a community economic development course (CRD 156) last spring which empowered students to provide an assessment of food security and community violence in two neighborhoods located in South Sacramento.