At first glance, Dr. Loraine Lundquist might strike you as a scientist with her head in the stars. After all, she holds a Ph.D. in physics from UC Berkeley and once helped launch a satellite to study the Sun’s magnetic field. But spend an hour with her, and that’s precisely what we did during the recent SASS Lunch hosted by the Caltech Y—and you’ll quickly realize that her gaze is firmly grounded on Earth, with a heart set on building a more just and sustainable future right here in Los Angeles.

The lunch, held on May 21 in the heart of Caltech’s campus, was more than a typical speaker event. It was a rare opportunity to hear from someone who has traversed the worlds of science, activism, teaching, and public service and assumes each role with humility and purpose.

Dr. Lundquist and her family. (Source: loraineforla.com)

From Cosmic Questions to Community Action

Dr. Lundquist shared how she began studying the universe’s grandest mysteries. Her early career included work as a research scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and a Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences. Yet, becoming a mom dramatically reshaped her priorities. Faced with the existential threat of climate change, she pivoted from astrophysics to advocacy, embracing “common-sense solutions” to the climate crisis. Her scientific training both provides her with clarity about the problem’s scale and deepens her sense of urgency.

Now, as a Faculty Associate at the Institute for Sustainability at CSUN, she focuses on empowering students to act, encouraging them to see themselves as learners and changemakers. Her courses cover environmental, economic, and social sustainability, and she even runs outreach programs in local K-12 schools, bringing science and climate education directly into communities.

Leadership Rooted in Real Life

What makes Dr. Lundquist’s voice so compelling is her résumé and her deeply human story. Raised by a middle school math teacher and a U.S. Army officer decorated with a Purple Heart, she describes her upbringing as working-class and “normal,” filled with the kind of grounded discipline that nurtures ambition.

She’s also lived the values she speaks about. She’s a parent to three children—one of whom she recently adopted—and has long worked on homelessness issues in Northridge, serving as co-chair of the homelessness committee of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. Her community advocacy includes opposing the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility after its disastrous 2015 blowout and helping launch the West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness.

Image from “KNOCK Endorsement: Lorraine Lundquist for Los Angeles City Council District 12,” Knock LA Editorial, Knock LA, April 29, 2019.

During lunch, she spoke not as a distant expert but as a neighbor, educator, and mom who sends her kids to public school in Council District 12. Her connection to place is personal, and her commitment to service is clear: “Council District 12 is my neighborhood,” she says. I live here, I work here, and I send my children to school here.”

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Lundquist clarified that the climate crisis is not a distant threat—it’s a local, lived reality. From air and water quality to economic stability and the well-being of children, the impacts are already being felt, especially in communities like Los Angeles. But she also sees LA as uniquely poised to lead.

Why L.A.? Because it has control over its energy production and the political will to transform. She envisions a future where a Green New Deal doesn’t just mitigate the crisis but creates jobs, reimagines infrastructure, and uplifts communities. Her vision is bold but grounded in data and hope.

Because of her activism and community work in sustainability, Dr. Lundquist was encouraged to run for LA City Council in 2020 when the incumbent had resigned. She also spoke of the challenges of running for office as someone outside the traditional political mold. “I’m not taking corporate PAC money,” she said, highlighting her grassroots approach. She contrasts herself with career politicians and emphasizes values over vanity. Her campaign was powered by volunteers, educators, students, and community members—people who believe that government should be deeply connected to those it serves. Despite being new to political campaigning and running for office, Dr. Lundquist won in the primaries–something no one expected her to pull off–and continued her election to the general election against one other candidate. Though she did not win the LA City Council seat, she ran a tight campaign and a close election–earning 49.4% of the vote.

As someone who had the privilege of attending this lunch, I left feeling both sobered and inspired. Dr. Lundquist doesn’t sugarcoat reality, but she doesn’t leave you in despair either. Her life proves that science and activism can coexist, that parenting and politics can motivate each other, and that one person can indeed have many ways of serving the common good.

Her closing message was simple but profound: “We need people-powered governments.” She continues to serve her community through her work at Cal State Northridge as well as her position as Chair of the Board for LA Forward, a local community activist group. She encouraged us to also get involved in community groups trying to make a difference, and emphasized the best way to counter authoritarianism is for all of us to build community and stay connected. In a time when so many are discouraged by politics, her call to action rang especially true. It reminded us that leadership isn’t about celebrity or soundbites—it’s about community, courage, and commitment.