A ‘preschool on wheels’ is among the newest UCLA vehicles serving the community

As UCLA Transportation's fleet acquisition specialist, Tom Poveromo has basically been behind the wheel of every single vehicle the university has procured over the past 27 years. During that time, close to 4,000 vehicles have rolled off the assembly line, becoming mobile assets for UCLA.

They include the Bruin Buggy that pops up at campus events, a self-powering research vehicle for Mojave Desert studies, as well as police cars, ambulances, fire trucks and UCLA Health mobile units that provide critical care to community members in LA County.

A recent project, which Poveromo said is the most exciting he's ever worked on, was for UCLA Health Head Start's "preschool on wheels," which rolled out this May.

Poveromo works closely with campus partners to ensure he understands what they're looking for.

"It's not my job just to buy a vehicle and hand over the keys," he said. "It's my job to make sure it's functioning well and meets your needs."

Referencing MacGyver, the iconic TV character known for his resourcefulness, Poveromo shared that there are many moving parts, with every build different, and working with automotive industry providers allows him to think outside the box and explore. Going electric is always a priority to reduce transportation-related emissions.

"For campus partners, during consultations, I never tell them no. I say let's see what we could do," Poveromo said. "I believe anything can be done at any time. We've succeeded with some pretty creative things."

A first-of-its-kind mobile learning environment

Focused on school readiness services and advocacy for low-income families to promote optimal child health, nutrition, and development, the Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible, 40-foot all-electric vehicle is for children ages 3-5 and their parents who reside in the Van Nuys area of the San Fernando Valley.

"Eighty percent of the brain is developed by age 3, 90% by age 5, so these are critical years, and that was our intent and motivation, to really reach the children who are in these vulnerable circumstances and situations," said Delia Vicente, executive director of the UCLA Early Head Start program, who worked with Poveromo through a two-year process to secure the vehicle.

Vicente noted Poveromo was very supportive, walking through every step and sharing his expertise. Poveromo connected Head Start with Oudlair, the mobile medical and healthcare unit manufacturer that designed the classroom on wheels.

"He's been key to the success of us building this mobile unit," Vicente said.

Situated at park locations, where parents and young children go regularly, Head Start's mobile unit has several special features, including areas for reading and art and crafts, smart boards for interactive learning, a small kitchen with healthy snacks, an exam room for vision and hearing screenings, and a bathroom, plus a setup for controlled outdoor play.

The kid-friendly space is warm and inviting, with paintings of trees and colorful cushions shaped like stars.

Other special builds Poveromo steered are the lifesaving UCLA Mobile Stroke Unit and the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic, which provides free eye care services and glasses for communities in need of additional medical resources.

"When you put that UCLA logo on the side of a vehicle, you just feel a lot of pride. That's our university and that is really cool," Poveromo said.