University of California President Robert C. Dynes will be visiting Los Angeles County Friday (March 11) as part of his ongoing tour of California communities. During his visit, Dynes will meet with local elementary school students, K-12 education leaders, and UC's community partners to better understand and improve upon the University of California's influence on the region.

Media are invited to participate in the following events scheduled for the Los Angeles area on Friday:

12:15 p.m.--12:45 p.m.: Nutrition demonstration -- Carmelitos Community Center, 851 Via Carmelitos, Long Beach

Dynes will join area residents for a nutrition class at Carmelitos Community Center. The session is part of UC's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, aimed at improving the health of low-income families through practical bilingual lessons on nutrition. Nutrition education assistant Judiann Padilla will demonstrate how families on a budget can cook a healthful meal.

12:45--1:40 p.m.: Lunch and discussion at Carmelitos Community Center, Long Beach

Dynes will have an informal discussion with Carmelitos housing development residents and community leaders involved with UC's nutrition education and master gardener training.

1:45--2:30 p.m.: Visit Carmelitos "The Growing Experience" community garden, Long Beach

Dynes will tour the Carmelitos community garden, located in an area formerly run down with a high crime rate. In a dramatic turnaround, the Carmelitos public housing development has become an award-winning public housing site. Part of this improvement was the development of "The Growing Experience," a partnership between the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission, UC Cooperative Extension and area residents, which created a six-acre garden with community plots and a job training center. Community garden coordinator Manuel Cisneros will talk about how his involvement with the project transformed his life.

3:15--4 pm: Visit new after-school program -- Middleton Street School, 6537 Malabar St., Huntington Park

Dynes will observe the launch of 4-H CSI, a new 4-H after-school program designed by UC Cooperative Extension and Los Angeles Unified School District South Youth Services to spark children's interest in science. 4-H CSI uses role-playing and hands-on activities to introduce kids to basic principles of forensics, including techniques for identifying possible suspects through DNA.

For more information or to participate in the above events, please contact Abby Lunardini at (510) 332-7008.

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For more information on President Dynes and the University of California, visit:

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/president/