Last fall, a cohort of UC Davis undergraduate students took part in Plants, People and the Planet, as part of Quarter at Aggie Square. This experience allows students to contribute to community-based initiatives that promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to agriculture, environmental conservation, and the development of resilient ecosystems, especially those in the Sacramento region.
Seito Jax Ezawa, a first-year environmental science management major, participated in an internship at the Western Service Workers Association, or WSWA, a volunteer organization addressing issues related to food systems and access to health and housing resources.
ANOTHER STUDENT STORY
Ezawa spent his internship working with union workers to connect people in the agricultural and service industries to resources in the Sacramento community. He connected members with organizations that provide food distribution, healthcare, legal counseling sessions, and other types of social support for the agricultural community.
Ezawa wrote for the WSWA's newspaper to cover topics that relate to the Worker's Benefit Council and actions to increase workers’ rights. The experience deepened his understanding of supporting workers against social and economic injustice and strengthened his ability to engage with community members. It also helped him develop skills in conducting informal interviews and outreaching to local communities.
It’s all connected
Participating in a community engagement course is another component of the Plants, People and the Planet experience. This course provides a collaborative learning environment. Ezawa had an opportunity to both share about the knowledge he gained from his internship and learn from local professionals about their experiences. In one meeting he heard from industry experts on topics such as food justice, environmental impacts of worm composting and worker rights and how these made local to global impacts.
“Students learn from local leaders in Sacramento’s urban agriculture field,” said Will McMahan, a horticulture and agronomy Ph.D. candidate, co-instructor and internship proctor for the course. “They gain hands-on experience working on the day-to-day operations of food justice and sovereignty and, by doing so, they explore the interconnectedness of the land, community needs and global relationships”.
Ezawa’s journey into understanding the connection between social and environmental issues grew richer as he integrated classroom discussions from students, industry experts and faculty members.
“Before the course I primarily focused just on sociology,” Ezawa said, reflecting on his previous academic interests. “But this program allowed a deeper understanding of the intersections (across) sociology and environmental science.”
Broader exposure
Ezawa’s biggest takeaway from the Plants, People and the Planet internship and community engagement course was developing an appreciation for the vast differences in people’s circumstances and the importance of understanding their stories. Through his interactions with communities of agricultural and services workers, his supervisor and classmates, he gained a deeper perspective of the challenges many face.
Reflecting on his journey, he said he wants to focus on the social aspects of current environmental problems. He’s developing a plan with the goal to help people in some capacity and to interact with many people and learn their stories.
“Everyone’s lives are so different from mine, and through this experience I was introduced to new ideas and concepts and hope to keep learning and growing,” said Ezawa.
Students interested in the program can learn more on the Plants, People and the Planet experience page. Applications for the fall 2025 cohort are open through June 6. Contact qas@ucdavis.edu for questions about the program.
More about Quarter at Aggie Square
As a unit within Undergraduate Education, Quarter at Aggie Square offers accessible, immersive experiences that emphasize an intersectional approach to various academic fields of study. All Quarter at Aggie Square experiences are open to undergraduate students at the same cost as regular tuition.
Media Resources
Diego Andres Espejo Cerna is an undergraduate student working as social media, newsletter and marketing coordinator for Quarter at Aggie Square. Contact: qas@ucdavis.edu