Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative

Allison Frenzel

Allison Frenzel is an education programs specialist with the California Department of Education’s High School Innovations and Initiatives Office. She supports all Arts, Media and Entertainment (AME) and Secondary Arts programs in the state of California. Prior to her work at CDE, Allison spent 15 years as a classroom teacher and program coordinator in Sonoma County, and founded Pulse Arts, a 501(c)3 dedicated to connecting professional creatives and public education.  Through programs like the AME Workforce Development and Youth Apprenticeship Program, the Hip Hop Education and Equity Initiative, and partnerships with the California Film Commission and creative industry, Allison’s work is centered around supporting arts education equity and increasing access to industry-connected creative learning and career preparatory opportunities for AME programs in the state of California.

Uday Ram

Uday is founding partner at CVL Economics: a Los Angeles-based economic consultancy practice specializing in inclusive economic development and growth with an emphasis on the role of the creative economy. Founded in 2021 in response to a rapidly shifting economic landscape, CVL recognizes that communities, institutions, and organizations are facing unprecedented challenges as they navigate uncertainty.

Adam Fowler

Adam is founding partner at CVL Economics: a Los Angeles-based economic consultancy practice specializing in inclusive economic development and growth with an emphasis on the role of the creative economy. Founded in 2021 in response to a rapidly shifting economic landscape, CVL recognizes that communities, institutions, and organizations are facing unprecedented challenges as they navigate uncertainty.

Dr. Katrina VanderWoude

Dr. Katrina VanderWoude brings well over 25 years of progressively qualifying leadership experience (instructional and student services) serving community colleges and four-year institutions. Formal education and experiences have provided a strong foundation, knowledge, and understanding of the comprehensive community college and its role in transforming lives through access to educational preparation, career training, and essential life skills, as well as its role in the community with respect to economic and workforce development and community engagement. Dr. VanderWoude possesses expertise in the operational areas crucial to community college leaders: accreditation, enrollment management, an understanding of state and federal laws related to students and employees, facilities planning, accessible programs and services for all students, and the ability to execute multiple initiatives in a culturally diverse environment. Professional credentials include a doctorate in Educational Leadership, with emphasis in Higher Education, Organizational Systems and Development, and Student Affairs.

Dr. VanderWoude currently serves as Vice Chancellor at the Los Angeles Community College District, the largest community college district within the nation with nine accredited colleges, and over 200,000 highly diverse student enrollments. Dr. VanderWoude has also served as President of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Grossmont College, part of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) and an Achieving the Dream school. Dr. VanderWoude is committed to equity-minded student success and brings that lens to all practices and programs and additionally believes that fully collaborative partnerships are critical for ensuring social, economic, and political mobility for our most underrepresented and historically marginalized students and communities. Local community-based efforts have included serving on the Los Angeles Mayor’s Commission for Reparations, the East San Diego County Education Alliance Executive Committee (a formal K-12 partnership) with emphasis on dual enrollment and transition to college for high school students, and initiating the Pathways to Success Academy that brings community college courses and services to incarcerated women. Dr. VanderWoude also served as Chief Instructional Officer for the San Diego/Imperial Valley Community College Region for several years and the CCC Chief Instructional Officer’s Executive Board, and the Basic Skills state-wide Advisory Committee. Leadership roles have included: Vice Chancellor, President, Vice President, Vice Provost, Dean, Accreditation Liaison Officer, Associate Dean, Corporate Training Director/Grants Coordinator, Board President, and Foundation Board Trustee. Teaching related assignments have included: Professor, Adjunct Faculty, Research Mentor, Course Lead, and Lecturer in-person, hybrid, and online courses.

Tauheedah Shakur

Raised in South Central Los Angeles, Tauheedah has experienced the disproportionate impacts of foster care on communities of color from personal experiences and the effects of mass incarceration. Tauheedah uses her poetry to advocate for change and abolition on county and city levels. She is also the author of Hide and Seek, a poetry book that takes the reader through the complexities of being a black Muslim woman with anxiety in a world that teaches us every day that these identities are a crime. She has been organizing for 14 years and believes that every and any gift that you have can be used for the movement.

Kelly LoBianco

Kelly LoBianco was appointed Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development, a branch of the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging, and Community Services, in November 2021. In this capacity, she is establishing a Countywide economic and workforce development strategy that centers an equitable recovery and inclusive growth and will cultivate a vibrant, regional economy with opportunity and mobility for all workers, businesses, and communities.

An executive-level public servant and nonprofit professional with over 15 years of public and social sector experience at the federal, state, and local level, Kelly brings wide-ranging expertise to LA County. She is a service leader who uplifts community voices and demonstrates measurable, equitable, and sustainable impact. She is also a successful change agent for policy and programs in the social services, workforce development, and economic revitalization fields.

Most recently, Kelly served as Chief Program Officer for The HOPE Program and Sustainable South Bronx, a leading New York City-based nonprofit, where she oversaw the design, delivery, and scaling of workforce development and social enterprise programming in furtherance of the organization’s economic and environmental missions. While at HOPE, Kelly was elected as co-chair of YES! Bed-Stuy, a place-based, collaborative effort of community-based organizations and young adults to build stronger pathways to education and employment for opportunity youth. Prior to HOPE, Kelly was appointed by the Mayor of New York City as Assistant Commissioner for the NYC Department of Small Business Services, following several senior-level roles within the agency. With key industry partnerships in healthcare, tech, and media and entertainment, among others, Kelly administrated citywide bridge, training, and transitional work programs that met hiring and training needs and advanced system change goals, seeking to build diverse, qualified, and enduring talent pipelines and career pathways with family-sustaining wages in emerging and high-growth sectors. Kelly began her career working for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell in Washington DC.

Kelly holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from Northwestern University, and an executive education certificate from Columbia Business School’s Senior Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals.

Meia Johnson

Meia currently serves as Program Manager, Arts Education and Youth Development for the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. She guides LA County’s initiative to provide young people with pathways into the region’s creative economy. She has extensive experience designing, implementing, and administrating workforce development programs for youth. Meia’s experience also includes community planning, nonprofit management, and organizational development. Previously, she served as a program director and consultant for Antelope Valley YouthBuild where she led the organization’s workforce development programs. Meia is a senior faculty member and subject-matter expert within the School of Business at the University of Phoenix. She has a bachelor’s in journalism, a bachelor’s in Pan-African Studies, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. She is also a first-year doctoral student at the American College of Education, pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership.

Kristin Sakoda

Kristin Sakoda is Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, a local arts agency which fulfills a mission to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout the largest county in the U.S. The Department of Arts and Culture provides grants and technical assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations; runs the largest arts internship program in the nation; coordinates countywide public-private arts education initiatives; increases access to creative career pathways; commissions civic artwork; supports free community programs; leads the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative; and advances cross-sector cultural strategies to address civic issues. Appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Ms. Sakoda previously served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Under her leadership, she led the organization during its historic transition into the County’s first Department of Arts and Culture.

Ms. Sakoda is an arts executive, attorney, and performing artist with more than 25 years in the field. She has appeared on national and international stages including with dance and social justice company Urban Bush Women and in musicals Rent and Mamma Mia! on Broadway. Prior to her work at the Department of Arts and Culture, she served in key leadership roles at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs overseeing a portfolio of strategic, programmatic, policy, legislative, and funding programs with a $200 million annual budget, and was instrumental in advancing diversity and inclusion; public art; creative aging; cultural facilities; and affordable workspace for artists. She holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law with honors in Entertainment Law, and B.A. from Stanford University with a specialization in Race and Ethnicity and a secondary major in Feminist Studies. As of 2021, she is a Board member of Grantmakers in the Arts, the national association of public and private arts funders in the U.S.

Nicole Hendrix

Nicole Hendrix is a four-time Emmy-winning Producer and has won five PromaxBDA GOLD awards as a Producer and Creative Director. With a multi-disciplinary background, Nicole has used storytelling as the main ingredient in her successful campaigns that span across television, games, live events, and film. She is currently working as a Producer and Marketing + PR Consultant with clients like Niantic, Baobab Studios, and 9B Collective. 

She is the Co-Founder/Executive Director of the BRIC Foundation, an organization that focuses on increasing representation for women and people from underrepresented groups in the entertainment industry, where she directs their yearly Talent + Innovation Summit. She is also the Co-Founder of the Concept Art Association, and organization focusing on elevating and raising the profile of concept artists within the entertainment industry, where she directs their yearly Concept Art Awards show. 

She is an international public speaker, where she talks about Storytelling for a Brand and Creativity & Gender. She has given lectures at the University of Connecticut, CG Futures in Melbourne & Sydney, Australia, ing Creatives in Dubai, and many more. In her spare time she works with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as a volunteer crisis counselor advocate for Peace Over Violence.

Stephania Ramirez

Stephania was appointed as Perenchio Foundation’s first Executive Director, pairing their mission and leadership needs with her background and interests. As Executive Director, she brings her knowledge, her lived experience, and her commitment to investing in and empowering communities to fulfill the Foundation’s mission of fostering the arts. As an immigrant and woman of color, Stephania recognizes the valuable contribution her heritage and relationships brings to her role. Prior to the Perenchio Foundation, Stephania was with the California Community Foundation where she served as director of strategic initiatives leading the development and management of a $30+ million We Count LA, a census outreach campaign that encompasses multi-sector partnerships, grantmaking, fundraising, communications, data collection and evaluation strategies. She also oversaw the LA Arts Relief & Recovery Fund, the largest-ever pooled private investment for arts nonprofits in Los Angeles County. She has more than fifteen years of experience working with foundations and nonprofits leading a variety of cross-sector outreach, communications, civic engagement, and fundraising campaigns.

Stephania has a Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communications, Development Economics degree for University of California, Berkeley and Advanced Project Management certification from Stanford University.

Steve Rosa

Steve Rosa (they/elle) completed their Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of California, Irvine in 2015. Their emphasis was in Dance and Technology with works that centered Latinidad. Rosa also completed a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, with a minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education, from the University of California, Los Angeles. They are an alum of Cypress College (A.A. in Dance and Dance Teaching Certificate) and Cerritos College (A.A. in Photography), where they received various degrees and awards.

As a collaborative artist they work with projection design, film making, multimedia installation, photography, sound design, and other media. Some selected collaborators include: Justin Morris, Primera Genercaion Dance Collective, no) one Art House, University of California, Irvine, and Maha and Company.

Currently, Rosa is a tenured professor, and chair of the dance department, at Saddleback College. There they teach both studio and lecture courses, direct productions, develop inclusive curriculum, and engage in equity-based work within the greater campus community.

Mark R. Edwards

Mark serves as the Vice President of Government Relations for JVS SoCal where he advocates for the systems change that address the barriers to good paying jobs, including the creative sector. Much of the work is done in collaboration with other organizations.

Mark has an expertise in navigating complex bureaucratic systems that was first developed in the private sector while employed as an Associate for a leading land-use firm, where he specialized in land use entitlement issues and later serving as the Director of Government Relations for a premier boutique lobbying firm. In this capacity, Mark assisted clients with obtaining or maintaining nearly $250,000,000 in contracts with city and county governments.

In the public sector, Mark’s knowledge base was further developed as a Senior Field Deputy for former Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski. He was responsible for managing Brentwood, West Los Angeles and a portion of Palms serving the array of needs for approximately 50,000 constituents. Solving constituent issues involved working collaboratively with city, county, and state agencies, and with the community.

Mark is involved with and committed to community. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves and was honorably discharged. He was instrumental, as part of a team of community leaders, in the creation of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council. He completed a three-year stint as a Board Member of Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles, a dynamic, and progressive, not-for-profit agency that effectively works to improve the health of people who are homeless through direct services, education, and advocacy, working with fellow board members and the executive director to navigate us through a horrible economic downturn. Mark served on the board of Barnsdall Art Park Foundation Board, where he served as chair for two years where they had a role in supporting the inclusion of the Hollyhock House as an UNESCO World Heritage Site representing one-of-eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Presently, Mark serves on the Executive Board of Governors for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, chairs the Legislative Action committee, and formerly co-chair of the Economic and Workforce Development committee.

A product of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Mark has resided in Los Angeles for 27 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from California State University, Northridge with a concentration in Public Administration and Community Service.

DeJon Ellis

Los Angeles native DeJon Ellis Jr. has been a grip with Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 80 for 25 years. He has worked on various projects, from feature films to prime-time television and music videos. Ellis currently serves as Local 80’s business agent for grips, crafts services, set medics, marine, first aid employees and warehouse workers. Ellis is also a member-at-large for IATSE’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Inez S. Bush

Inez S. Bush is the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District Board Chair. Inez’s belief in arts and creativity being essential to a healthy society and as a trained facilitator of strategic planning for non-profit organizations, businesses, education, and arts education institutions, which makes her a good fit as Board Chair. As former Assistant Dean of Extension at Otis College of Art and Design, she was responsible for cultivating and implementing external programs that serve businesses, educational institutions, and the community. Previously she worked for the Culver City Unified School District as the District Arts Consultant and founded an award-winning creative marketing communications firm, Gramercy Partners, Inc. Inez received a BFA in Graphic Design from State University of New York, Purchase College and a Master’s in Education, Leadership and Change from Antioch University Los Angeles.

Brittney Mendez

Brittney Mendez is a first-generation Mexican American freelance illustrator and animator, who carved her path through hard work and determination. Despite the challenges of growing up in a low income household, her unwavering commitment to her artistic development led her to the prestigious Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Instead of following the path of entering the world of animation media via enrolling in a four-year college, she found her way by unconventional work paths. She is an alumni of Santa Monica Community College, and has joined organizations, such as “LatinX in Animation”, “Women in Animation”, and the “Group Effort Initiative” as invaluable resources. Brittney currently works as a freelance 2D animator for indie animations, made by smaller productions. She utilizes social media as her way of connection with other freelancers and to support the rise of up-and-coming independent animations in the industry.

Morenike Dosu

Morenike Dosu serves as Director – Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Business Partner for DreamWorks Animation. In this role, she draws upon her 20+ years of Animation + VFX experience to develop and execute DEI workforce initiatives aligned with DreamWorks’ goals to recruit, retain and cultivate their inclusive workforce.

A key strategic partner to DreamWorks’ business leaders and HRBPs, Morenike drives measurable, systemic and sustainable change across DreamWorks while leading the studio’s long-term DEI framework. By diagnosing issues/needs and analyzing data related to DEI, Morenike builds strong relationships within all levels of the studio’s workforce and partners with multiple DEI stakeholders across DreamWorks and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) to develop and implement efforts that foster a studio culture where everyone can do their best work.

Prior to DreamWorks, Morenike has worked across the world at top-tier global studios such as Animal Logic in Sydney, The Moving Picture Company in London, and Framestore in Los Angeles. She’s been credited on blockbusters such as Prometheus, The Jungle Book, and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole.

Oscar Magallanes

Oscar Magallanes is a Chicano artist based in Los Angeles. Growing up in a Mexican-American barrio in LA, his artwork draws heavily from his upbringing and explores iconography from different eras. Expelled from high school at the age of fifteen, Magallanes was later admitted into the Ryman Arts program, which encouraged him to pursue a career in the arts. He went on to earn a BA in Art from UCLA in 2016 and an MFA in Visual Art from UC San Diego in 2021. His work can be found in the permanent collections of several museums including The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago and The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California. In 2016, he founded the art collective 3B, which has produced public art projects for various institutions. Magallanes has also served on the boards of several arts organizations and taught at UC San Diego.

Patricia “Patty” Huerta

Patricia “Patty” Huerta (she/her/ella) is a first-generation Mexican American performing artist, dance-maker, curator, community organizer, arts advocate, and educator from East L.A.  who is dedicated to amplifying the stories of her Latiné culture by weaving together her Afro-Latin Social Dance background with her contemporary dance practices.

She received her B.A. and M.F.A. in Dance and Experimental Choreography from UCR, where she earned The Gluck Fellowship of the Arts, M.F.A. Graduate Fellowship, and UC MEXUS Grant. Patty has collaborated and presented work at The Odyssey Theatre, Redcat Theater, The Ford, Our L.A. Voices at Grand Park in Los Angeles, UCR ARTS Museum, Oxy Arts at Occidental College, FLACC Festival, Mission Dance Theater, Berkeley Arts Museum (BAM), Highways Performance Space, Human Resources L.A., the BlakTinx Dance Festival in Arizona and L.A., and México City. She has taught and choreographed for the Tournament of Roses Parade at Pasadena City College, ACDFA Dance Festival at California State University, Long Beach, various K-12 schools in Southern California, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and is currently a faculty member in the Department of Dance at UCR. 

Patty is a founding member of Primera Generación Dance Collective (PGDC) for over 8 years, a board member of Show Box L.A. (SBLA) in Los Angeles, and an Arts Advocate committee member for Arts For L.A. in Los Angeles. PGDC is the recipient of the 2021-2023 National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) grant as well as the California Arts Council (CAC) and Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) grants. PGDC has been featured in The Los Angeles Times and recently produced and curated the third iteration of (de) Color-Es, a communal event designed to visibilize artists of color at the intersection of dance making and social activism, at NAVEL Space L.A. PGDC is currently working on their next full length work which will premiere at Redcat Theater in June of 2024.

La’Toya Cooper

La’Toya Cooper is a hardworking mother of two beautiful kings. She was born and raised in Los Angeles Ca where she became a victim and survivor of the child welfare system. She is a proud advocate to help change this system for our future and our children’s future. La’Toya is a part of Lens Co’s collaborative project developing a Young Person Led Intermediary. She is also a part of The LA County Youth Commission where, along with other young leaders, she is a current voice for the young people in our county. La’Toya is passionate about fighting the injustice of probation, child welfare, and the homeless systems creatively . Her passion is expressive writing and helping others. She strives to be the best authentic person she can be despite the odds against her. “I want to travel the world to meet every race and experience every culture. I’m done surviving I want to live.”

Aurora Ilog

Camille Schenkkan

Edward Escarsega

Erika Sabel Flores

Lauren Pizer Mains

Leticia Fernandez Ivins

Mireya "Murry" Hepner

Tonya Hilton

Amanda Kruger

Cat Rotunno

DeJon Ellis

Jeanette Moreno King

Keith McNutt

Lindsey Heisser

Mark Edwards

Ajani Amiri

Briana Morris

Brittney Mendez

Ellen Boudreau Den Herder

Heather Heslup

Isis Avalos

Larry Laboe

Meia Johnson

Michaela Bulkley

Allison Sano

Harry Weston

Hector Marquez

Inez Bush

Dr. Jennifer Earl Foss

Kelsey Mcneilly

Lindsey Kunisaki

Melissa Valencia