Sandra Figueroa -Villa
Sandra was born and raised in Los Angeles.  She began her community activism in social justice issues in high school and as a student at California State University Los Angeles. Ms. Figueroa-Villa has over 35 years of experience working in the non-profit sector.

She was appointed as the Executive Director of El Centro del Pueblo in 1980.  Through her leadership, she has raised and manages a 7 million dollar budget to provide services that improve the quality of life for children, youth and families in Los Angeles.  She is responsible for the accountability of the agency by implementing fiscal audits, personnel policies and procedures set forth by a Board of Directors.  She supervises a staff of over 80 professional and paraprofessional employees who provide direct services to families.

In, 2003, Ms. Figueroa-Villa led the agency in a 4.5 million dollar capital campaign to purchase and renovate approximately 30,000 square foot building which includes leasing a public parking lot from the City of Los Angeles for a new facility which will offer recreational services to families and enhance our current service menu.  As of 2005, the agency was debt free, allowing the purchase of an 8,000 Sq. ft. building, which houses the Echo Park Family Source Center.

She is currently renovating 10,000 sq. ft. to house El Centro’s’ clinical programs. Ms. Figueroa-Villa has been appointed to various commissions and boards. She has provided capacity building training to other non-profits and volunteers on political campaigns.

She is married with one daughter who attends public school where she is active as a parent volunteer. Ms. Figueroa-Villa has over 35 years’ experience working in the non-profit sector.

Liliana T. Pérez
Liliana T. Pérez is a longtime community activist in the Immigrant, Latino and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community for over 17 years.  As the community organizer for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, she coordinated workshops for thousands of applicants seeking the American dream to become a U.S. citizen.

In 1995, Liliana served as an assistant to Assembly Speaker Emeritus, Antonio R. Villaraigosa for five years.  Following her service with Villaraigosa, Liliana became a Community Investment Officer for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

In 2001, a chance to work on a historic campaign, Liliana became Director of Volunteer Outreach and Special Projects for Villaraigosa for Mayor in Los Angeles. Liliana coordinated a volunteer base of 1,200 for five field offices.

Shortly, she was appointed as the Special Assistant & Spanish Language Media Liaison for Governor Gray Davis and proudly served in his Administration until his retirement from office.

She humbly accepted the role as the District Director for the Speaker of the Assembly Fabián Núñez for the 46th Assembly District.  During that same period, she was privileged to have volunteered for the historic and successful 2005 election of Antonio R. Villaraigosa as Mayor of the City of Los Angeles.

In 2007, Mayor Villaraigosa appointed Ms. Pérez to serve as a Commissioner for the Commission on the Status of Women for the City of Los Angeles. Additionally, serves as a Board member for the following organizations: Bienestar, one of the largest non-profit social service organizations in Southern California, dedicated to positively impacting the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities and with the Los Angeles Theater Academy, a performing arts after-school program for children of all ages.

Ms. Pérez has proudly served in four Speakership administrations, Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Fabián Núñez, Karen Bass and now longtime labor and Democratic party leader, John A. Pérez where she serves as the Special Assistant to the Speaker working on policy issues and special projects that aim to improve job creation, livable wages, affordable and accessible health care and learning institutions.

Lindsey Horvath
Lindsey Horvath is an entertainment advertising executive at Cold
Open.  From 2009-2011, she served as a City Councilmember - and is
presently a Transportation Commissioner - in the City of West
Hollywood. 

Among many leadership roles, Horvath is Co-Founder and President of the Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for Women; Communications Vice President for Stonewall Democratic Club and a Board Member for Women Against Gun Violence.  She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with honors in Political Science and Gender Studies.

Jimmie Woods-Gray
Jimmie Woods-Gray is a commissioner appointed by LA City Council President, Eric Garcetti.  She has served on the LA City Commission for Neighborhood Empowerment for 5 years.  She received a Bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Los Angeles and acquired her Master's degree from Pepperdine University.  She has received honors from local, state and federally-elected officials.  Jimmie is a retired teacher.

Allan Mutchnik
Allan Mutchnik is a real estate partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.  He represents clients in transactions ranging from stadium leases and loan workouts to multifamily portfolio acquisitions and partnership restructurings.  Mr. Mutchnik has been recognized as a "leading lawyer" by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and listed in The Best Lawyers in America. In 2011, Mr. Mutchnik was named among the "Top 20 Real Estate Dealmakers" in California by the Daily Journal.

Shannon Lawrence
Shannon Lawrence is the Principal Consultant at Inkwell Consulting Group, based in
Los Angeles, California.  In this capacity, Shannon draws on over 20 years of experience in politics, community organizing, and business development to assist his clients in creating strategic solutions custom fit to their needs.  Shannon previously served as Political Coordinator for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 which represents 85,000 city and county workers in Southern California.  Prior to joining SEIU 721, he was a Partnership Specialist for the 2010 Census.  He was charged with creating and maintaining strategic partnerships and alliances that will help mitigate the undercount. Shannon also served as a Policy Analyst for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa where he focused in the policy areas of education, youth, and families.  In this capacity he was instrumental in solidifying a working relationship between school police officers and Gardena police to increase the level of safety on the campus of Gardena High School.  Shannon was also the driving force behind a mentor program for male athletes, and creating jobs focused on environmental awareness and sustainability for students at Santee High School.

Shannon has been a union organizer, political campaign consultant, candidate for political office and served on the staff of an Alabama State Senator and Governor.
Shannon is a proud graduate of Alabama State University, where he serves as an
Executive Board Member of the National Alumni Association, and member of Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  Also, Shannon serves as the ranking member of the Gardena Planning and Environmental Quality Commission.  He was elected by his peers to two consecutive terms as Chairman in four years of service.

The role that Shannon enjoys the most is being a devoted husband and committed father to three children attending LAUSD schools.

Amy Cooper
Amy Cooper has more than 10 years of experience in developing education policy.  She has worked extensively in the Los Angeles Unified School District, with Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), and in New York's Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) program.  Ms. Cooper holds a Bachelor's Degree from Harvard University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Columbia University. 

Greg Girvan
Greg Girvan is School Board Member Tamar Galatzan’s appointee to the LAUSD Redistricting Commission.  Mr. Girvan is an associate at the law firm Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein, LLP, where he specializes in family law.  Mr. Girvan formerly served as a legislative deputy for Assembly member Lloyd Levine. While working for the Legislature, he drafted legislation to improve California’s role as a leader in green technology and to curb harassment in the workplace. 

Mr. Girvan grew up and lives in the San Fernando Valley.  He is a product of LAUSD schools from elementary through high school and holds a B.A. from the University of California at Davis and a law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.

Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis was born and raised in Los Angeles.  In his thirties, Mark attended El Camino College and graduated with honors.  While at El Camino College, Mark kept himself busy by working in the counseling office and also served in the student government.  He transferred to University of California, Berkley to study History and Public Policy.  At Berkley, he was on the Admissions, Enrollment and Preparatory Education Committee.  As an Alumni Scholar, he established an early childhood reading program and served as a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow.  He went on to acquire his Master’s degree from Harvard University in Public Administration and was on their Admissions Committee.

Working for the Census Bureau and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment gave him the expertise with redistricting and civic engagement.  While working for the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment for nearly a decade, he helped develop the neighborhood council system.  He was also on the board of his local neighborhood council.

Mark has worked in several capacities advocating for young people.  Mark established Educational Attainment Services and delivers college advisory services to under-served communities.  Furthermore, with his extensive experience he brings help to individuals and organizations that normally would not have access to his level of expertise.