Design Studio for Community Solutions

About the Design Studio

The Design Studio for Community Solutions (DSCS) works in and with communities to foster partnerships, implement community-driven programs, and promote authentic university-community collaboration. The DSCS team holds the ASU design aspirations of Social Embeddedness and Principled Innovation as foundational to planning, ideating and implementing projects with local stakeholders.

The Design Studio for Community Solutions (DSCS) is an initiative of Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions that partners with local stakeholders to devise practical solutions to complex issues. Drawing upon ASU and community resources – and bringing research, student engagement and leadership to bear – DSCS (pronounced “discus”) serves as a vehicle to stimulate and activate co-generated solutions in our communities.

Our Initiatives:

The Maryvale One Square Mile Initiative (OSM) facilitates collaborative efforts between the university and the Maryvale community to address community goals and promote comprehensive change. This program works toward the following:

Increased youth participation in extracurricular activities in sports, arts, and culture
Increasing post-secondary school enrollment and employment pathways
Increased collaboration and connection between youth service providers in Maryvale
Supporting ASU students, faculty and staff in learning about the community and sharing best practices for authentic community engagement

One Square Mile Initiative

The initial flagship project of the Design Studio for Community Solutions is The Maryvale One Square Mile Initiative. This project asks, and will answer, "what if social services, community development and leadership strategies were working off the same game plan? What might a Comprehensive Community Change Initiative in Maryvale look like?"

Meet the Team

The Design Studio for Community Solutions is a team of ASU faculty and students, as well as community champions, who live and work in Maryvale.

Allison Mullady
Director

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Karolina Arredondo
Community Champion

Stephanie Castillo
Program Coordinator Sr.

Andrea Galaz Arevalo
Community Engagement Assistant

Daniel Moton
Community Engagement Assistant

Rosie Espinoza
Community Champion

Manuel Elizalde
Community Engagement Specialist ASU Senior, Public Service and Public Policy

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Michelle Blagg-Catone
Program Manager

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Kendelle Brown
Data and Evaluation Manager

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Felix Moran
Community Champion

Louisiana Borbon
Community Champion

Programs

Desert West Volleyball Program

Following extensive community input, DSCS identified community sport and recreation as a key community need. To address this, DSCS partnered with Desert West Community Center to expand the community center offerings, and attract more families. Part of this partnership involved the creation of a recreational youth volleyball program in the fall of 2023. The program started with 20 participants in its first eight-week clinic in fall 2023. As the program grew, it expanded to two clinics by spring 2024, with a waiting list for the six-week session.

Project Restore

The Youth Justice Lab is a collaborative initiative focused on improving justice outcomes for young people. It emphasizes research, policy development, and community engagement to address issues within the juvenile justice system. By fostering partnerships and utilizing evidence-based approaches, the Lab aims to create fairer, more effective interventions that support youth in achieving positive life outcomes. DSCS has partnered with the lab on their Project Restore initiative, which educates community organizations, probation officers, and individuals who have a juvenile record, to apply for their record destruction. This helps remove barriers to employment, education, and other opportunities. For more detailed information, you can visit their website.

Youth Justice Lab

Maryvale Youth Leadership Program

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The Maryvale Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is facilitated by DSCS in collaboration with local high school students, community partners, governmental agencies, and residents. The program is funded through a generous gift to ASU by Mike and Cindy Watts. The YLP empowers high school students to become community leaders through personal growth, skill development, and community engagement. The youth in the program value diversity, integrity, and collaboration, striving to positively impact our community through leadership and service.

Design Studio for Community Solutions

About the Design Studio

Our Initiatives:

One Square Mile Initiative

Meet the Team

Programs

DSCS Publications

DSCS News

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