If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.
Sir Issac Newton
GCGP would not be where it is today without the great efforts from its founders and volunteers over multiple years. Here, we look back at the work that past GCGP volunteers and executive boards have accomplished to bring the club to where it is today.
Table of contents
Meet Our Founders
Good Clothes Good People at UCLA was founded in 2018 by Robert Blake Watson and Jimmy Zhou through the Undergraduate Students Association with funding from The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) and Student Government Surplus. Here’s a bit about the founders.
Robert Blake Watson
Founder and Executive Director, Good Clothes Good People Inc.
Robert Blake Watson is a Class of 2020 graduate and Stamps Scholar of UCLA, who founded Good Clothes Good People (GCGP) in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky in 2017. After bringing GCGP to Los Angeles, Robert went on to serve a successful tenure as UCLA’s Centennial Student Body President, and is currently pursuing a career in law and public service.
Email me: blakewatson30@gmail.com
Jimmy (Cheng) Zhou
Co-Founder/Director, Good Clothes Good People UCLA Branch
Jimmy Zhou is a Class of 2020 graduate who majored in Biology. During his undergraduate career, he sat on various executive boards within USAC and was also a Resident Assistant in Residential Life. In 2018, Jimmy joined forces with Robert to start UCLA’s first redistribution center, Good Clothes Good People. Jimmy has helped the organization grow from just a handful of people to over 40 members. Jimmy hopes to become an emergency medicine doctor.
Email me: jimmyaggie@ucla.edu
Our founders worked with many others to bring the GCGP vision to reality at UCLA. These special people include Arielle Mokhtarzadeh, Bella Martin, Fatima Cuenco, Monique Johnson, Maria Fatima, Mannat Sukhija, Kristen Copin, and Marianna Pabon.
2020 Executive Board
- Sneha Thirkannad, President
- Elaine Pham, External Vice President
- Valentina Ocariz, Internal Vice President
- Brea Hogan, Director of Center
- Natalie Tang, Finance Director
- Hoque Akter, Finance Director
- Cynthia Bui, Publicity Director
- Nicole Tran, Sustainability Director
Building on the good work done by their predecessors, this board led volunteers in expanding GCGP’s footprint in UCLA, participating in campus events such as the Energy Games, holding clothing swaps, and partnering with Bruins for Accessible Resources to provide food, clothes and hygiene products at a local church. Center services were also expanded with the introduction of a hygiene product refill station, umbrella rentals and an increased variety of available supplies. Between September 2019 and March 2020, the redistribution center received almost 1500 visitors.
Despite the upheaval brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, they tirelessly campaigned for the successful passage of the GCGP Basic Needs Referendum during the UCLA USAC election in May 2020. Its passage with overwhelming support provides the club with the resources needed to further enhance student services.
2020-2021 Executive Board
- Elaine Pham, President
- Audrey Hernandez, External Vice President
- Arthur Lo, Internal Vice President
- Brea Hogan, Director of Center
- Natalie Tang, Finance Director
- Hoque Akter, Finance Director
- Cynthia Bui, Publicity Director
- Nicole Tran, Sustainability Director
The pandemic changed much about GCGP. With the Redistribution Center closed and students far away from Westwood, it was clear that GCGP’s in-person services on campus were unfeasible this school year. This, however, was no excuse to stop serving Bruins in a time of extreme uncertainty.
After much planning, this board implemented a semi-automated remote service operation, which allowed students to request supplies that would be shipped to their address. With a combination of passionate volunteers, 24-hour workdays (literally – thanks to time difference and unique sleep schedules), and a steely determination to aid students during this challenging year, GCGP served 876 students and sent out $23,005.44 worth of school and hygiene products. Special thanks must be given to every volunteer who took time to process requests and send out supplies, every individual who spread the word about GCGP services, and every supportive message that reminded everyone at GCGP that our services make a positive impact even while we are all apart.
2021-2022 Executive Board
- Elaine Pham, President
- Audrey Hernandez, External Vice President
- Arthur Lo, Internal Vice President
- Brea Hogan, Director of Center
- Davis La, Finance Director
- Labiba Sardar, Publicity Director
- Sophie Gao, Sustainability Director
Despite some periods of remote operations due to virtual learning, GCGP was finally able to reopen the center this school year! For the first time in over a year, we were able to see our lovely visitors in person, collect donations, open our clothing closet and refill station, and participate in several clothing drives. In total, we spent $22,812.41 to fulfill 1,754 requests from students in need, which includes both in-person visits and e-gift cards.
Good Clothes Good People 