Karla Cruz

Karla is a Master of City Planning student in DUSP and a Research Assistant for the Justice Centered Healthy Mobilities Lab at MIT. Her interests center on community-driven approaches to urban planning that advance environmental justice and promote health equity through increased access to green spaces and walkable neighborhoods. 

Karla grew up in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico and Oxnard, California and graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Public Health. Before coming to DUSP, she was most recently working in Oakland, California as Community Resources Associate Director for Safe Passages, a non-profit agency centered on supporting student success and community development. She has also been a case manager working to coordinate services and meet basic needs for San Francisco residents.