By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — The city has been awarded a $50,000 fellowship grant from Stanford University on behalf of its Stanford Impact Labs.
The grant will be used for a project entitled Evidence for Policy Fellowship, under the direction of Economic Development Manager Qiuana Williams.
The grant is for a one-year program for California-based city and county governments working for social change.
The program includes professional and dedicated staff support which will allow Williams the opportunity to collaborate with university-based scholars to meet impact-driven needs.
The funding will allow the city to cover staff costs associated with moving a policy challenge from question to insight to implementation.
Councilwoman Gloria Gray lauded Williams for bringing the opportunity to the council for support.
“The city is going through a great economic growth and the grant that was approved will assist staff in developing new economic development policies to guide as we continue to grow,” Gray said. “I look forward to seeing the final product.”
Williams started with the city in February 2023 and spearheaded the city’s Champions Grant initiative to assist local business owners affected by the pandemic.
Inglewood set aside $4 million received from the American Rescue Plan Act, which has already awarded half that amount to 103 business owners and nonprofits last December.
Williams’ career in public service began as program manager of the Great Streets Challenge, a program of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Great Streets Initiative to envision, collaborate on and build transformative street infrastructure projects while building strong partnerships between communities and the city of Los Angeles.
Prior to joining the city of Los Angeles, Williams worked for Jerome E. Horton, as the regional outreach stakeholder manager for the state Board of Equalization where she fostered collaboration between state and local government, private and public sector businesses to advance initiatives that create opportunities for small, women, minority and disabled veteran-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations.
She also worked for former AssemblymanWarren T. Furutani as a field deputy.
Williams also served as a commissioner on the city of Carson’s Women’s Issues Commission and earned a bachelor of science degree in business: finance, real estate and law from Cal State Long Beach and a master of science degree in city and regional planning from Cardiff University in Wales.
The City Council approved the grant on a 4-0 vote with Mayor James T. Butts Jr. absent.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
