Series:

UCLA's Covid-19 Pandemic Experience

Topic:

COVID-19 Pandemic

Biographical Note:

Graduate of UCLA and urban planner in Los Angeles, dedicated to an activist approach through embedded planning.

Interviewer:

Collings, Jane

Interviewee:

Bell, Jonathan Pacheco

Persons Present:

Bell and Collings

Place Conducted:

Because of the necessity of restricting personal contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, the interview was conducted via the Zoom video conferencing platform.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Jane Collings, interviewer and series coordinator, UCLA Center for Oral History Research; Ph.D., Critical Studies in Film and Television, UCLA.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording as transcribed by a machine transcribing program and audit-edited by student staff. The interviewee was given an opportunity to review the transcript and made a few corrections and additions. Those corrections were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research staff.

Length:

1.5 hrs

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

Interviews that reflect the experiences and the thoughts of members of the UCLA campus community on the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of Angelenos from the broader LA community participated in the project as well. Because of stipulations in legal agreements and other reasons, some oral histories in this series cannot be made available online but are available on site at the UCLA Library. Please contact the Library Special Collections reference desk for further information.

Becoming aware of COVID-19 in early 2020--Difficulties working with new management at the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning--Developing and advocating for his embedded planning approach of community building and activist planning--Taking precautions against COVID-19 and forming a family bubble--Transitioning to a new job at the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust--Park equity and importance of access to green spaces--Continuing community engagement work safely and with funding cuts--Government response to COVID-19--Police brutality and participating in Black Lives Matter protests--Addressing misinformation during the pandemic--Mentoring other urban planners--Transforming the urban planning field to focus on accountability and justice--Need for solidarity--Return to everyday life after the pandemic.