Events By Quarter
Grad Community Vision Board Luncheon
MCC Lounge
Come join the MCC for a late lunch and vision boarding!
Get grounded in the new year and set your goals and intentions in a supportive community space. Share your aspirations and get tips from other grads on sustainable planning as you creatively express your affirmations. This event is open to all graduate students. We especially want to invite grad students from marginalized backgrounds who need inclusive spaces to validate their goals and priorities.
Co-sponsors: Graduate Division and Graduate Student Association
What’s going on with housing?
MCC Lounge
What’s going on with housing? Amid the various stressors of the college experience, UCSB students often find themselves burdened by a unique struggle: housing. These concerns are not new, stemming from the 2021 housing crisis that left UCSB’s student population without enough beds. As of 2025, students still have difficulty accessing these resources and remain rent-burdened. In collaboration with the Blum Center, University and Community Housing Services, Isla Vista Tenants Union (IVTU), and Isla Vista Community Service District (IVCSD), join us for an open conversation about the current state of housing and the gaps that need to be addressed. Learn about existing housing conditions, connect with helpful resources, and collaborate with us to explore solutions for making housing more affordable and accessible for the entire UCSB community. Dinner will be provided.
- Jenn Ja Birchim, UCHS, Manager of Community Housing Services: Jenn is the Assistant Director for University & Community Housing Services at UC Santa Barbara. She oversees community housing operations, with a focus on safety and security in Isla Vista, building strong relationships with local landlords, and educating students about their rental rights and responsibilities. A full-time working mom of four, she finds joy in balancing family life with her passion for the ocean and the vibrant community she serves.
- Blum Center: The Blum Center's Campus Housing Coalition brings together students, researchers, and community partners to address UCSB's housing crisis through advocacy, policy research, and student-led organizing. Over the past three years, the coalition has produced resources like the People's Guide to UCSB's Housing Crisis and guidetoucsbhousing.org website, built partnerships with more than 15 campus and community organizations, and supported initiatives such as Isla Vista's first Rental Inspection Program. By centering student voices and bridging research with action, the coalition works to ensure that housing policy serves the needs of the entire campus community.
- Amanda Hsieh, IVTU, International Relations Director: The Isla Vista Tenants Union (IVTU) is a student-led organization at UC Santa Barbara dedicated to educating and empowering tenants while advocating for fair and affordable housing in Isla Vista. IVTU provides resources, hosts community events, and collaborates with campus and local partners to address housing issues. The organization aims to amplify student voices and promote equity in housing access and policy.
- IVCSD: The Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors by providing essential services and fostering a vibrant, safe, and connected community. From managing public safety initiatives and promoting sustainability to facilitating community events and advocating for residents' needs, IVCSD is at the heart of making Isla Vista a welcoming and thriving place to live, work, and play.
Co-Sponsors: Blum Center, Isla Vista Tenants Union (IVTU), Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD), University and Community Housing Services (UCHS)
Spiritual Care Club
MCC Lounge
Spiritual Care Club is a recurring space where members will learn how to use and trust divine and intuitive tools for their healing and care, identity development, and dreams and goals formation. It will be an intentional space where we can experience personal and collective growth, joy, and care in a safe and
encouraging environment.
Thursdays Jan 22nd, Feb 5th, Feb 19th & Mar 5 2:00-3:30 pm MCC Lounge
First Session 1/22
Game Time: Masculinity and Team Culture
Hosted by MCC team members
MCC Lounge
Join us for the 3rd installment in our masculinity conversation series, “Game Time: Masculinity and Team Culture,” a luncheon and community discussion exploring the messages we absorb and friendships we create on the court, field, or locker room—and how those lessons follow us into different parts of our life. We’ll talk openly about the opportunities for growth, the underlying challenges, and the impact on identity in the world of team sports. This is a space for honesty, introspection, and connection as we discover how sports and the unique culture of masculinity around them influence our growth and development. All are welcome to participate and food will be provided.
