We believe it takes courage to be a leader, to keep alive the necessary tenacity to galvanize resources, to nurture their mission, to keep the course despite all odds, and to do it again and again, anew each day, replenished and rejuvenated from within because truly, what choice is there? Others depend on it.
Here is a select list of our extraordinary Fellows and the work they do in the community.
Executive Director
What exactly does SoCal CAN do?
We are a network of over 70 organizations that work together to expand college access and completion for low income students in Los Angeles County. We provide direct services to over 100,000 students and their families. Our network plays an important role in bringing together direct service organizations to exchange effective practices, address existing service gaps, and weigh in on policies and practices that help or hinder students’ ability to smoothly reach their goal of college graduation.
How did your upbringing lead you to a career in social change?
My passion for higher education attainment was sparked as a child growing up in an agricultural region. My mother was an independent counselor who provided college guidance services to those that could afford it, while offering pro bono support to those who couldn’t – namely the children of migrant workers. Over the course of a decade, I realized how my peers and community was transformed by the increase of college degrees. I have now worked on social change issues in both the U.S. and Central America for more than 20 years, spanning women’s, environmental and immigrant rights fields.
Why did you decide to jointhe circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I want to deepen my skills to become a more effective network leader and learn ways to more effectively communicate our work to our diverse target audiences.
When you have a moment away from your day job, where can we find you?
Serving on the board of BlacklistLA and participating as a California Education Policy Fellow.
Executive Director
What about the work you do gets you out of bed in the morning?
I wake up every day excited to be a change-maker for young girls in Los Angeles! If I can level the playing field in any way, be it through a new internship, a new scholarship partner, recruiting new mentors to the mission, or by providing girls with speaking opportunities where they can build self-confidence and enhance their self-efficacy, then my day is complete.
How is your program model unique in the way it serves the LA Community?
MOSTe only works with young girls, beginning in middle school and follows them all the way through college graduation. The cornerstone of our mission is the mentoring program. When a young girl is paired with a female role model who fully supports and provides opportunities for her to develop academically, socially, and emotionally,her own life expectations begin to expand and solidify. Self-confidence emerges as well as the belief that higher education is not only a possibility, it’s a reality.
What is your greatest challenge as a Director and what do you hope to get out of the Fellowship?
I hope to learn how to be a more effective manager. What I lack in professional training as an executive director, I make up for in passion and 14+ years of multi-faceted experiences with MOSTe — I’ve been a mentor, volunteer, board member, and board president. I learn quickly and welcome the opportunity to be coached. I am certain that this fellowship will provide the kind of professional development that will help me become the best leader MOSTe has ever had!
What are you most proud of? (personally and/or professionally)
I’m proud that I lead with my heart and can quickly learn from my mistakes. Every lesson learned has beenmotivation for future endeavors in both my personal and professional lives. I also love that I can find joy in thesmallest things and that I’m an eternal optimist. No matter how hard the task or obstacle may seem, I’m the one who believes there is a solution – or at the very least a path to find one.
Where can we find you in your free time?
Living in my joy! Whether that’s meditating, hanging out at the beach, traveling, dancing up a storm in a workout class or at a party, or spending quality time with friends and family.
Director of Education
What about the work you do gets you out of bed in the morning?
The foster youth we serve and the colleagues I have the honor of working alongside. The LA County foster youth in our program, known as “scholars”, are among the most resilient and inspiring individuals I have ever met. My colleagues raise the bar and never settle for less than the absolute best for the scholars we serve.
How is the your program model unique in the way it serves the LA Community?
The UFC Scholars Program Model is unique in that:
What is your greatest challenge as a Director and what do you hope to get out of the Fellowship?
Presently, my greatest challenge is ensuring my team feels supported and equipped to navigate the series of changes we’ve made this past year. While the changes will certainly lead to a greater impact on our scholars and staff in the long run, change is hard. Through this fellowship I hope to learn how to live a more integrated life. I believe the Greater Good Society Fellowship will provide a space where I can connect with like-minded, highly skilled and experienced non-profit professionals who are navigating similar challenges at work and home. I know I will benefit tremendously from the synergy that comes through hearing other perspectives and the challenging of my own.
What are you most proud of? (personally and/or professionally)
I am most proud of getting certified as a foster-adopt resource parent and welcoming two sets of siblings into my home. Having worked with this population for over ten years, I knew foster-adoption was the only way I wanted to grow my family and it is deeply rewarding to support a family during one of the most traumatizing experiences they may face.
Where can we find you in your free time?
In my free time you can find me hiking/birding in Debs Park, cultivating my California Native Garden and Vegetable Garden, and hopefully showering a new foster child with love and affection in the very near future.
LeadersUp
What about the work you do gets you out of bed in the morning?
I strongly believe that every young person deserves that opportunity to maximize their potential. This belief not only inspires me to get out of bed everyday but more importantly catalyzes my relentless drive to unearth and refine strategies that level the playing field for all young people.
How is the Leaders Up model unique in the way it serves the LA Community?
The LeadersUp approach to labor market intermediation is unique because it is focused on generating field building insights and innovations while at the same time leveraging the evidence secured to drive practice and policy shifting impact that closes the opportunity divide and the skills gap. Simply put our work leverages grassroots research and development efforts to influence cross sector systems change. This is a unique market positioning because most organizations do not have the capabilities to generate and scale success practices while informing smart policy.
Why did you join the GG Fellowship and what is your greatest challenge as a leader?
I joined the GG Fellowship because I am committed to being a lifetime learner in order to be the best leader possible. My greatest challenges is work/life balance and designing a revenue generation model that will sustain the work of LeadersUP.
What are you most proud of?
Professionally I am most proud of the growth and impact of LeadersUp – over the last 3 years we have connected over 1900 young adults to employer across 4 markets while growing the business into a $4.5M operating budget. Personally I am most proud of my two nephews that inspire me every day to get up and make the world a better and more equitable place for them to thrive in.
Where can we find you in your free time?
During my free time you can find me at a live music concert, enjoying great food and wine as well as conspiring with my network of friends to design and implement wealth generation ventures.
Curriculum & Instruction Specialist
In what ways does the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative impact the community of Los Angeles?
The USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative is a program that has made a remarkable impact on the neighborhood surrounding USC for the past 25 years. With its unique college preparatory model that begins serving students in the 6th grade, the NAI program provides students with the preparation, guidance, and resources to become successful students and exemplary college candidates. Over 900 students have gone through this program, and of those, 98% have gone on to college since 1997; all of these from the highly impacted communities around USC.
What inspires you most about your work at the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative?
I am most inspired by the students we serve. I love witnessing their growth from middle school, through high school and on to college. I feel so privileged to work with so many brilliant young people whose journeys inspire me to continue growing and seeking new opportunities for personal and professional development.
Why did you decide to join the circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I want to look closely at my position, what I’ve accomplished in the 6 years that I’ve been with the organization and look at the ways in which I can be most effective and make the most impact for the next few years. Along with that, I would like to create a strategic plan for our program; we are entering a new phase in our program, one that encompasses an entirely new community (East LA), and that involves our alumni in a more intimate way. I want to think strategically about how to best serve and involve them.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud to be a graduate of the USC Neighborhood Academic Initiative (class of 1998). I am proud to be the first in my family to go to college and go on to obtain a doctorate degree.
In your free time, where else can we find you?
Usually, I can be found spending time with my daughter, Charlotte – either visiting new places or shuttling her around to her various after-school activities. Otherwise, I can be found reading a book, watching a movie, or indulging in reality tv (definitely a guilty pleasure!)
Executive Director
What about Big Citizen Hub’s model is so unique?
Big Citizen Hub is a little league for civic action. Our model brings young people together from all walks of life for an immersive 22 week service experience on Saturdays. It is our bridging communities, length of program and data informed approach that set us apart.
In what ways does Big Citizen Hub serve the LA Community?
To date Big Citizen have served over 21,000 hours to communities, completing over 130 projects ranging from feeding people at local shelter, building community gardens, organizing neighborhood wide programs and advocating for environmental justice.
What inspires you most about your work?
The young people that come through our doors. They are strong, thoughtful and persistent. They will change the world.
Why do you hope to gain from taking part in the GG Society Fellowship?
I want to be amazing at resource acquisition and fundraising. I would give myself a satisfactory rating in this area, but I still have a long way to go. This next year, I am going to raise a million dollars. I want to balance my ambition and becoming the best father I can be. I find that I sometimes sacrifice the work to be more present at home and visa versa. I need work on meeting all my responsibilities without compromise. I need to delegate more effectively. In order to do my best work, I need the help of others on my team.
What is something you are most proud of?
I proud of what has been built so far. We have an amazing community of young people that are dedicated to changing the world. This organization was built by the hard work of the community.
Where can we find you in your free time?
With my partner and new daughter.
Founder & Executive Director
What compelled you to start this innovative domestic violence program?
As an artist, I know firsthand how art can be a portal for breaking through to the hardest to reach people victims of domestic violence. I have spent the last 25 years working with adults and children impacted by domestic violence and trauma, offering art as a resource for healing and empowerment.
We now work with over 300 community sites, providing art workshops to 20,000 participants annually in 30 states across the nation.
How is AWBW adapting to serve the growing populations in need?
We are now being called upon to serve multiple and intersecting populations impacted by trauma. I am leading the charge to apply my expertise of using art within the domestic violence movement to serve broadened, coordinated community efforts to address all types of trauma and violence. We will be serving a broader, more diverse range of potential partners looking to use art to build community capacity for resilience and healthy futures in the face of violence.
Why did you decide to jointhe circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I want to deepen my exploration of the all- powerful question: “What’s next?” as a leader and for the organization.
Share some accomplishments you’re proud of in your work with AWBW!
I received local and global recognition for pioneering efforts in the field with AWBW. I was awarded the Bank of America Local Heroes award and in 2011, in honor of AWBW’s 20th anniversary, I was recognized for my “passion and drive to empower others” by Vice President Joe Biden. Most recently, AWBW was chosen to receive the Dr. Marjorie Braude Award for innovative collaboration in serving domestic violence victims.
Development Director
In what ways does Jovenes, Inc. impact the Los Angeles community?
We welcomes homeless, at-risk youth (ages 18-25) and give them a chance to create a path to personal growth and success. Jovenes provides stable housing and other community-based services, such as Emergency Shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing, case management, employment and job-readiness counseling, life skills training, leadership development mental health services and athletics opportunity through Street Soccer USA.
What about your work at Jovenes, Inc. has kept you there for almost a decade?
After graduating from Occidental College in 2007, Icame to work for Jovenes and have been building momentum for a more robust agency ever since. As the head of the Development for Jovenes, Inc., I have been catalyzing energy for underserved youth, looking at systemic gaps and opportunities in Los Angeles, and pushing towards greater services and education for homeless foster youth who are pursuing their college education.
Why were you inspired to become part of the circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I was driven by my desire for support and mentorship, and to strengthen the capacity of Jovenes. I also want to build a scaffolding for the future, strengthen my leadership, acquire new points of view and reenergize myself in my daily work.
What is something you are most proud of?
I arrived at Jovenes in 2008. Since then, organization has more than tripled its size and capacity. I also won the Audience Award at the Social Ventures Partners Fast Pitch Competition in 2014.
What are you most looking forward to in the coming years?
Laying a foundation for national support for Jovenes and continuing to help my generation thrive in a society that is undergoing rapid and fundamental changes.
Founder & Executive Director
What is something unique about Swipe Out Hunger?
The program model relies on resources that are already available. It allows university students to donate unused meal points to their food insecure community– turning unused resources into action through student advocates in the system. College campuses participate in ending hunger while raising young people’s awareness of hunger and homelessness in their own communities through outreach and education.
How did you take this from an idea to a full blown business?
What began as a college pet project in 2009 morphed into afull blown organization with the effort from a few friends at UCLA.They went into the dining hall, used their meal card to take away some sandwiches and then delivered them around town. In a single week, 300 meals were collected. A few months later, the team partnered with UCLA’s Dining Services to allow students to donate their extra meal funds to provide 1,087 meals to community members. By the Fall of 2014, the team collected over 15,000 donated meals in a single week! Currently, there are 22 university chapters in the US with over 25,000 students engaged and over 1.2 million meals served.
What inspired you to jointhe circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
A desire to learn, grow, be mentored and capitalize on the brain trust that one can share with other leaders around the table. I am hungry to build for myself a leadership space where the good PR, scale and momentum I have created are matched by resources and sustainability that are at the same level with the innovative approach used by my organization, Swipe Out Hunger.
When you’re not out rallying students to end hunger, where can we find you?
Serving on the Board for 30 Years After, volunteering with AJWS and advising to two early age startup nonprofits. And going to Cross Fit.
How would you describe yourself being recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30?
I’m an idealistic realist with a love for asking questions. I love connecting with others and challenging the status quo of what it means to be a Typical Persian Girl.
What is one accomplishment you are proud of?
Winning not just one but three awards at the SVP Fast Pitch Competition. The Judges Grand Prize Award, the Annenberg Award, and the Media Prize
Vice President of Development
In what ways does Camino Nuevo impact the Los Angeles community?
CNCA is a community of high-performing public schools that utilizes a comprehensive approach to prepare students from preschool through high school for success in college and in life. We integrate academic rigor, community, family, and wellness to empower students to thrive in a culturally connected and changing world.
What sets this Charter School apart from others?
Our motto is “College Ready, College Bound,” a guiding message that starts in preschool and continues through high school. CNCA programming, results and staff are remarkable and have been recognized by press and many entities throughout the years. From quality schooling to environmental education, we provide a rich, stimulating and supportive environment for its students on 7 campuses, from early childhood to high school graduation. CNCA is about the whole child, the family and the community that wraps around each child.
Why were you inspired to become part of the circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I joined the Fellowship to tap into additional support to balance tremendous family and work responsibilities while maintaining peak performance, managing staff and expanding the funding base of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy.
What is something you are most proud of about the program?
The CNCA 2016 graduating class highlights 99% college bound graduating seniors, 2 Ivy League students and 1 Gates Millennium Scholar.
Founder & Executive Director
What inspired you to choose a career in social change?
Being one of four children from a single parent household in Brooklyn New York, I watched my mother help single parents and raise foster children, despite her own struggles with Epilepsy. After my husband Stafford and I moved to Los Angeles, I worked as an Accountant for nine years, cultivating relationships in the neighborhood and church congregation. Ifounded Hands for Hope in 2000, on site in a large, unused facility owned by the church. I’m a big proponent of enrichment activities and a safe place for children because I know it’s the best way to increase theirdevelopmental assets and guide them toward pro-social behaviors. It costs $252,000 to incarcerate a juvenile for just one year and only $1,300 to support that same child in an after school program for the same amount of time.
How does Hands4 Hope LA transform your surrounding community?
For the past 12 years, I have devoted myself to create a successful after school program for at risk children and teenagers, ages 8 to 18, from low-income, predominantly minority households. I ensure these kids have a fun, safe, educational, nutritional and motivational place to spend their time after school. Programs consist of education in life skills, health/fitness, tutoring and career guidance. A very special part of the organization is our comprehensive arts program which includes training in dance, musical instruments and visual arts. Hands4 Hope truly nurtures mind, body and soul.We also provide support to parents of at-risk youth with a semi-annual parent resource fair and other assistance to improve the quality of life for their families, including free S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) based after-school programs and low-cost Academic Summer Camp.
Why did you decide to join the circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
To use the support of the fellowship to increase funding, deepen methodologies to measure impact, and strengthen the Board of Hands 4 Hope LA.
When you have a moment away from your day to day, where can we find you?
I am an active member of the First Baptist Church of North Hollywood (FBCNH), serving in several roles since 1991, including Choir Director and Chair of the Finance Committee. I serve on the board of First Baptist Church and American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and Hawaii.
Throughout your years in community service, what are your proudest recognitions?
Civic Duty Hero Award, the Avery Dennison Great Results Achievement Award, The Bank of America Neighborhood Local Hero Award and the Woman’s Day magazine honoree.
Executive Director
In what ways does OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center serve the community?
OUR HOUSE was founded on the premise that grievers need understanding, support, and connection. Our programs serve children as young as 4 years old, teens and adults. OUR HOUSE provides essential grief support for a universal experience that is still misunderstood and taboo in our society. Our mission is simple: provide the community with grief support services, education, resources, and hope.
How is this program unique from others?
We offer programs available to help local workplaces and business with on demand, on-site community grief response providing tailored strategies, compassion and education to help employees cope with a sudden death. We also have a robust volunteer program that allows us to serve thousands of clients a year. Volunteers serve as group leaders within support groups on an ongoing basis.
What is your intention for joining the GG Society Fellowship?
I joined the Fellowship with the goal of using the discipline of a structured program for expansive thinking outside of the work setting. I made a commitment to nurture myself so I can inspire others, including staff, board members and donors. My intention is to use the energy of the Fellowship program to fuel fearless leadership and the immediate growth and expansion of OUR HOUSE.
How are you hoping to transform the future of OUR HOUSE?
With my combination of clinical, management and administrative skills, I hope to take the agency to the next level. I will continue to teach, build the board, supervise staff and provide vision and guidance to ensure OUR HOUSE continues to provide the LA community with essential grief support.
Director of Development
In which ways does Bresee serve the LA Community?
We provide comprehensive after-school programs and family services that equip young people to pursue their education, achieve their full potential, and serve others.Bresee envisions a central Los Angeles community transformed by character-driven, creative, college-educated Bresee Foundation alumni.
What inspires you most about your work at Bresee?
What inspires me most about my work at Bresee is the relationships that are built between staff, students and families. Quality relationships lead to success stories that I can share all day long with donors.
Why did you join the fellowship?
I believe the GG Fellowship can help enhance my leadership skills in development and broaden my career path. I have more than 20 years in management, nonprofit fundraising and program development. My current priority would be to move to the next level in development. I would like to identify my expertise and what aspect of development best suits me. I exploring my talents, I can create opportunity for me as well as help the organization move to the next level.
What is something you are most proud of?
I am most proud of Bresee alumni who come back to the organization to pay it forward. Bresee is not just a nonprofit, it’s a home to many successful alumni such as myself.
Where can we find you in your free time?
I am a fun loving person and I love to sing, you will definitely find me in a karaoke setting singing my hard out!
What do you love most about Los Angeles?
I love that Los Angeles is a diverse city with many cultures, backgrounds and ethic environments. I never get tired of learning and experiencing different spaces in this city.
Executive Director
What exactly does LA Makerspace do?
L.A. Makerspace has evolved from an all-volunteer organization focused on running a membership space, to an organization partnered with both the Los Angeles Public Library system and the County of Los Angeles Public Library System, which serve a total of 13 million people in 134 branches. We work with the libraries to transform what a library can do; basing its efforts on the principles of the Maker Movement, with its ethos of self-sufficiency in community, it helps librarians bring STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) for children and youth to their branches. With an impact model based on creating a self-sustaining culture of Making within institutions, L.A. Makerspace values efficiency and scale. Using Maker methodologies of modeling how to learn for students, rather than always needing to come from a position of authority, librarians are able to teach complicated technology subjects which have often been out of their comfort zone.
What does the future of the Makers Movement look like?
L.A. Makerspace plans in the long run to expand its offerings to other institutions, such as housing projects and after-school programs, where underserved children can be offered the STEAM skills they need for success in a tech-driven economy.The goal of L.A. Makerspace is to ensure that all of L.A.’s kids have the opportunity to do this kind of hands-on, project-based technology learning, not only those who attend a private school with a Makerspace, or whose parents can afford expensive extracurricular enrichment.
What ignites you about this work?
I come to the nonprofit sector from a career in screenwriting and magazine journalism. I have years of experience crafting engaging, moving, and entertaining narratives, a skill important for any nonprofit needing to communicate vibrantly with donors and the public. I love to create a “story” about how to make the world better, and inspire others to enthusiastically take on roles in that story.
Why did you join the group of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I was fortunate to discover the GG Society Fellowship at an early stage in my nonprofit management career and the life of my organization. Like many first-time executive directors, I found that there is no roadmap for this incredibly exciting journey, and I am privileged to have the guidance of the GG Society Fellowship as L.A. Makerspace and I grow together.
Executive Director
How does Operation Progress support the Los Angeles community?
Operation Progress is a Watts-based agency empowering underserved youth to become educated, capable, ethical and productive people who will in turn lead, mentor and contribute to society at large. To do this, we are committed to providing support for students from elementary throughout college through a comprehensive program called Ten Pillars of Success: Academics, Arts, Athletics, Coping Skills, Ethics, Long-term Commitment, LAPD Mentoring, Parent Involvement, Service Work and Skills Training.
Where does your passion for education stem from?
I moved to Los Angeles to attend Loyola Marymount University where I received a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. I have a passion for working in communities with the greatest need for educators. I taught in a parochial grade school in South Los Angeles, worked at Verbum Dei High School and was Program and Curriculum Director of a nonprofit located in Watts. I also served as Executive Director for Urban Compass before joining Operation Progress. Through my experience, I developed a pretty solid foundation in education.
What do you hope to gain from taking part in the GG Society Fellowship?
I joined the Fellowship to deepen my knowledge of philanthropic mechanisms, strengthen Operation Progress and take myleadership capacity to the next level.
What is most inspiring about the work you do?
Every day I witness how vital Operation Progress is to this community. I am so grateful to be a part of an organization that is so committed to ensuring these youths have the opportunities to succeed
Executive Director
In a nutshell, what does Elizabeth House do?
We exist to provide shelter, hope and support to homeless pregnant women and their children by addressing physical, emotional, spiritual and economic needs in a nurturing atmosphere. We not only support these women in a time of crisis, but challenge them in a way that prevents issues such as financial instability and child abuse or neglect.
What sets this organization apart from others?
We are the only nonprofit in the San Gabriel Valley that specifically addresses the needs of pregnant women who also have small children and lack adequate shelter. We keep it small, serving 6 women and 4 children at any given time. Clients can stay 4-6 months after their babies are born, while we work with them to set up a successful transition. Our focus on the emotional and spiritual needs of our clients is also a unique component and one that is necessary for recovery.
As Founder of Elizabeth House, what advice would you give to other founders in the start-up and nonprofit space?
Having been at this for 22 years, I have firsthand knowledge of taking a startup to scale and understanding what steady growth really looks like over the years. You want to make the whole process enjoyable, from developing the steps needed to move forward, seeing others potential, team building and creative problem solving along the way. It’s all about creating a contagious vision and garnering excitement around it.
What inspired you to join the circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I joined at a pivotal point for Elizabeth House. We are on the brink of expansion after the purchase of a second property and on the dawn of a new capital campaign, so it just made sense. The desire to be pushed to the next level of growth and innovative learning is what really sparked me to join. I really value the voice of experience the other fellows and their organizations bring to the table and I find the structure and platform of this type of learning beneficial, both personally and professionally.
Executive Director & Founder
What exactly does the Southern California Latino Policy Center do?
We are a nonpartisan, policy education and research organization created to provide local Latino elected officials from LA County, Orange County and the Inland Empire with resources, research and professional development opportunities designed to help them create the most effective and impactful policies for Latino families and all communities.
What inspired you to join the circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
A desire to lighten the burden of leadership, increase operational efficiency, build sustainability and learn from other leaders in the field while taking the Southern California Latino Policy Center to the next level.
What unique experience(s) from your past prepared you for the work you are doing today?
I’ve had a long life spent covering news on the frontline. I spent more than 20 years as a print and broadcast journalist working in Central America in the 1980’s, covering the wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua. I then came to the U.S and worked as a producer for CBS News, ABC News, Fox News and the MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour. I was then News Director for the Telemundo Station in Los Angeles.
What is one accomplishment you are proud of?
When I was with NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials), I developed and implemented communications strategies that propelled the organization into the international spotlight when both presidential candidates spoke at the organizations 2012 summer conference.
Director of Foundation Grants
How is Foothill Family Service serving the Los Angeles Community?
Our reach is far and wide. Our staff consists of 290 people including social workers, marriage and family therapists, early childhood therapists, parent partners and psychologists. We workwith more than 22,000 clients and family members a year, providing a host of services, including individual and family therapy, support groups, social skills groups, intense in-home services, parenting education and support, case management, substance abuse treatment for teens and psychological testing.
What about this work drives you each and every day?
I am deeply passionate about public health and I use my passion and vision to create sustainability and manage complexity. I focus on deep collaborations and tailored relationships with each person. I am singularly driven each and every day to develop new partnerships for funding and increase private foundation revenue to drive the impact of the organization.
Why were you inspired to jointhe circle of leaders at the GG Society Fellowship?
I joined as part of my ongoing strategy to expand knowledge and expertise and answer the questions “what’s next?” I believe the networking, brainstorming and innovative discussions all contribute to making my work more impactful. I am specifically working on balancing my high level of self-motivation, sharpening my effective problem solving skills, broadening my ability to see a situation from different perspectives, fundraising techniques and raising Foothills public profile in front of funders, internally facilitating an increase in strategic planning and bringing this all back to my staff.
Founder & Executive Director
Why did you decide to leave your financial sector career and found Educate California?
After 12 years as a financial advisor with Wells Fargo and American Express, in 1998 I decided to transition from advising families on financial issues to helping families prepare their children for college and career opportunities. My sole missions is to ensure that all California youth graduate prepared for life after high school.
What exactly does Educate California do?
We serve 14-24 year old low-income, foster and kinship care students, their families and organizations that empower youth providing them with resources that were traditionally provided by high school counselors.
What is your main goal for joining the GG Society Fellowship?
I want to focus on board development! This is and will be critical to our success going forward.
What are you passionate about in your free time?
As a volunteer, I serve as the board trustee for the Philips Graduate University. I also serve as an advisory board member to the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA and the California State UniversityGraduation Initiative. On a more personal level, I enjoy community empowerment, sports, the performing arts, and being with my wife, 2 sons and 3 dogs.
What about Gladeo’s model is so unique?
We use powerful, personal storytelling to address the Belief Gap: Gladeo creates engaging and entertaining videos to tell inspiring career stories of diverse individuals to breakdown stereotypes, to open eyes to new opportunities, and to inspire people to believe that their aspirations are achievable.
Gladeo is also scalable and widely accessible: GladeoX (“Our Virtual Career Day”) is open-access, and web-based, enabling an efficient, scalable one-to-many distribution model which all kids, parents, teachers, and counselors can easily access regardless of geographic location, time, or socioeconomic status. We take a personal and action-oriented approach, gathering firsthand, practical knowledge directly from actively working professionals, not just information downloaded from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We practice inclusion of and exploration into non-linear career tracks: These are careers that don’t follow an easily navigable path. (i.e. venture capitalist, 1st assistant director, product manager) Last we partner with schools and youth non-profits to integrate our career exploration program and resources into their already existing programs.
How did you take this from an idea to a full blown business?
My co-founder and I bootstrapped the 1st iteration of the online portal and self- produced all the content in order to create our MVP (minimum viable product). We distributed our MVP to guidance counselors, teachers, students and online users for feedback and the feedback was amazing and saw that what we created was in great need so we decided to create a non-profit organization to continue the work.
What do you hope to achieve while being part of the Fellowship?
We are at the phase where we want to revamp the technology according to user feedback, scale the content, and pilot our 1st Gladeo career club – a peer to peer HS club that follows a 12 week curriculum that works hand in hand with our online resources. I would like to focus this year on scaling so I will need guidance on fundraising and building capacity in order to achieve our goals. Because I’m a founder, I will need leadership and effective management training.
What are you most are proud of?
I co-produced the film Au Revoir Taipei which won the Netpac award at the Berlin Film Festival. And most important, I help raised my 2 younger sisters who have grown up to be strong, compassionate woman whom I wholly respect after the early death of our mother.
When you aren’t running your company, where can we find you in your free time?
Hiking in the Santa Monica mountains.
Founding Executive Director
What about Educators 4 Excellence- LA’s model is so unique?
A lot of education reform organizations work to change the system from an external standpoint. We are unique in that we recruit and train teachers to change the system from within. Most of our staff are former teachers and all our policy papers and positions are led by teachers.
What inspires you most about your work at Educators 4 Excellence- LA?
Our unique model! And the opportunity to affect decisions and decision makers that will impact thousands of teachers, students, and schools.
What is your main focus as a GG Society Fellow?
I want to focus on sustainability andimproving my relationship to work. This includes how to better balance my drive to excel, be everything to my team, with my desire for balance and more time being a wife and mother. This very much connects to having a strong founder complex and working for an organization that sets very ambitious goals that I relentlessly pursue. I also want to establish a vision for my sixth year as an ED that is ambitiously pursuing work-life balance and sustainability–more time and engagement with being a mother and wife. At the same time, identifying a vision for what I want to be doing/achieving in the next few years, both within and beyond the amazing work I lead at E4E.
What are you most are proud of?
The community we have built with our teachers, our team, and our partners.
Where can we find you in your free time?
With my kids