Steven Tran

Steven Tran (he/him) was born and raised in South Sacramento, California. He graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.A. in Asian American studies, and he received the distinguished Don T. Nakanishi Engaged Scholar Award. Currently, Steven is in his second year Master of Urban and Regional Planning candidate. He also works as a graduate student researcher for the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and works as a community planner at the Thai Community Development Center.

Steven credits the collective experiences of his family and friends, as well as their shared passion for social justice and activism, as the reasons behind his pursuit of these interdisciplinary fields. His interests include community and economic development, housing, and education. After completing his masters degree, Steven plans to combine his expertise in Asian American studies and urban planning to continue empowering and uplifting communities.

In his free time, you can find Steven at sporting events, concerts, cafes, and community events.

Project Overview

A Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO) is a planning document used by the Los Angeles Planning Department to guide development in specific neighborhoods and areas. To create CPIO guidelines, city planners work with neighborhood residents to ensure that the plan represents the community’s goals.

The purpose of this project is to provide recommendations for a Thai Town CPIO based on community input, my own research, and research conducted by the Thai Community Development Center.

Why is this topic, specifically, important to you?

LA’s Thai Town, the first in U.S. history, deserves a personalized planning document that considers all aspects of the neighborhood and its culture. A CPIO can boost cultural empowerment, and my formal training in Asian American studies and urban planning, combined with my lived experience, allows me to narrate and center the report in a manner that represents Thai Town’s best interests.

Who are the partners involved in this project and how will you be working with them?

I will be working closely with my capstone client, the Thai Community Development Center, collaborating with Executive Director Chancee Martorell on the recommendations for the CPIO. As part of my project, I will also meet with L.A. Planning Department and 13th District officials to incorporate their feedback into our recommendations and reports.

How do you hope that this project will impact the field moving forward?

I hope this project will create a framework for crafting planning recommendations specific to neighborhoods, like Thai Town, that have a strong sense of culture, history, and community.