ÓSCAR ALVAREZ, Associate Director of Community Planning, Community Coalition

Óscar Alvarez is a community development practitioner and policy strategist from South Central Los Angeles. He leads the Community Planning team at Community Coalition, where he advances grassroots planning and investment strategies for historically divested neighborhoods. An alum of the PPIA Fellowship, MALDEF Policy Fellowship, CHCI, and the UC Washington Program, Óscar brings a strong equity lens to cross-sector work that centers resident voice and drives systems change in South Central LA.

DIANA AMPARO-JIMÉNEZ, Program Officer for Housing Justice, Weingart Foundation

Diana Amparo Jiménez (she/they) joined the Weingart Foundation in 2023 as the first Program Officer for Housing Justice. In this role, Diana fosters grantmaking, convening, public/private partnerships, advocacy, and communications to advance the Foundation’s housing justice strategy in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties.

Before joining the Weingart Foundation, Diana served as Program Associate for the Homelessness Initiative at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and as Project Manager at T.R.U.S.T. South LA’s Community Land Trust. She is a first-generation graduate and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Policy, Planning, and Development – Sustainable Planning Emphasis from the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy. Diana is a descendant of the Nahua and Raramuri-Tarahumara nations and remains rooted in their ancestral practices of land, housing, and environmental justice.

JASON CORDOVA, Senior Program Officer, The James Irvine Foundation

Jason Cordova is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in workforce development and education. Currently serving as a Senior Program Officer at The James Irvine Foundation since January 2022, Jason focuses on connecting low-wage Californians to quality employment through the Better Careers Initiative. Previous roles include Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Workforce Development at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Vice President at the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, where responsibilities included leading economic and public policy initiatives and enhancing workforce development strategies in collaboration with various regional stakeholders. Jason also held positions as Director of Education & Workforce Development, Program Manager at Southern California College Access Network, and Senior Program Coordinator at Bright Prospect, contributing significantly to initiatives aimed at increasing college access and success for low-income students. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies and Philosophy from Connecticut College.

PORSHA CROPPER, PH.D., Senior Program Officer, The Eli and Edith Broad Foundation

Dr. Porsha Cropper is a Senior Program Officer with The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation where she manages the Pathways to Good Jobs portfolio. In her role, she collaborates with organizations, government, and employers to help historically marginalized communities secure family sustaining jobs in Los Angeles. Dr. Cropper honed her expertise in policy and workforce development as Senior Deputy of Legislation for City Council District 10, and Assistant Senior Deputy of Education and Human Development for the Second District in L.A. County. Prior to her roles in government, Dr. Cropper spent a decade at Abt Associates managing education and workforce development evaluations for the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor. Dr. Cropper earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity with honors from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Government and Social Policy from Harvard University. 

DORIAN ESTERS, Program Director, The Miguel Contreras Foundation

Dorian Esters Sr. is a workforce development professional dedicated to supporting individuals affected by incarceration and economic barriers. Starting as a Workforce Development Career Coordinator at the Miguel Contreras Foundation (MCF) in 2018, and currently serving as Workforce Development Program Director, he oversees training programs that lead to union apprenticeship opportunities and sustainable career pathways in Los Angeles. His work focuses on reducing employment barriers for marginalized communities, including the formerly incarcerated.

Before joining MCF, Dorian held multiple roles at Friends Outside Los Angeles County (FOLA), starting as a client and later becoming a Job Specialist, Case Manager, and Job Developer. His firsthand experience with the criminal justice system fuels his advocacy for rehabilitation and re-entry support. He now serves on FOLA’s Board of Directors, contributing to its mission of aiding incarcerated individuals and their families.

As a devoted husband to a Mexican immigrant, a loving father to six children, and a man of deep faith in God, who is guided by a belief in His justice and compassion. Dorian’s career has been dedicated to dismantling systemic inequities within the criminal justice and immigration systems through advocacy and reform, striving to reflect God’s call to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in service to others.

JESSE FLORES, Field Specialist, California Workforce Development Board

Jesse Flores has over 10 years of experience in workforce development with diverse populations, including youth, justice-involved workers, and unhoused veterans. Since 2022, he has been a Field Specialist with the California Workforce Development Board’s Equity, Climate, & Jobs Field Branch, where he provides strategic planning support and uplifts best practices and challenges for High Road Training Partnerships across California.

BEN GARCIA, Executive Director, Apprenticeship Readiness Fund

Ben Garcia serves as the Executive Director of the Apprenticeship Readiness Fund, bringing over 20 years of experience in the construction industry as a tradesman, contractor, and building consultant. For the past 15 years, he has focused on developing, coordinating, instructing, and managing apprenticeship readiness programs for young adults throughout Southern California, while also serving as a consultant to programs across the country.

He is certified by the North America’s Building Trades Unions in implementing the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) through a partnership with the University of Michigan. He is also certified through OSHA’s Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health in collaboration with the University of Utah School of Medicine as an OSHA Outreach Instructor.

In addition to his leadership role, Ben is deeply involved in workforce development efforts. He currently chairs the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Career and Technical Education Advisory Council and serves as a member of both the Los Angeles County and City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Boards, as well as the Southern California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association.

KELLY LOBIANCO, Director, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity

Kelly LoBianco is the first Director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). DEO is the central economic and workforce development agency of LA County. Through a regional strategy and community-centered policy and programs, the department seeks to unlock the vast potential of our local workers and small businesses; drive new, competitive investment that creates quality jobs, career pathways, and diverse talent pipelines; support economic security and mobility for all residents; and collectively build an equitable economy poised for inclusive and sustainable growth. Kelly was appointed Director in July of 2022. She joined the County in 2021 to support the department’s establishment. Prior to DEO, Kelly served as Chief Program Officer for the HOPE Program, a leading New York City-based nonprofit and social enterprise supporting the green economy, Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Department of Small Business Services, and in various roles in local and state government in New York City and in the US Senate in Washington, DC. She earned an MPA from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Northwestern University.

ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ, President, CRCD Partners

As an Affordable Housing Executive, Alejandro has dedicated his professional career to ensuring that underserved communities have access to quality affordable housing and appropriate supportive services in Boyle Heights, East LA, and throughout the City and County of Los Angeles. Alejandro has seen how developing affordable housing in these communities is not only a great tool for revitalizing the built environment but also the human spirit, which in turn inspires people in these communities to participate in civic and social engagement. Alejandro began his affordable housing career in 1999 and has developed many affordable housing projects throughout the City of Los Angeles and in unincorporated East Los Angeles.

Before joining the Coalition for Responsible Community Development as Chief Real Estate Officer, Alejandro was the Vice President of Real Estate and Asset Management at East LA Community Corporation (ELACC), where he led a team of 10+ that included the Real Estate Department, the Asset Management Department, and the Property Management Department. The Real Estate Department utilized every local, state, and federal program imaginable to develop a variety of project types, including single-family subdivisions (for-sale), acquisition/rehab of single-family homes (moderate-income for-sale), permanent supportive housing, and affordable rental housing for seniors, veterans and large families. During his 10-year tenure at ELACC, Alejandro developed more than $250 million in affordable housing projects and an additional $400 million+ in projects in pre-development.

ELYCE MARTINEZ, Senior Director, Learning and Evaluation, Coalition for Responsible Community Development.

Elyce Martinez joined CRCD in 2019 bringing her experience and enthusiasm for data inquiry to her new role as Director of Learning & Evaluation with CRCD. Elyce has dedicated her career to using data analysis to expose and improve inequities in opportunities for all youth, from her start in direct service delivery, working with at-risk high school students in San Francisco, to her current work in Los Angeles non-profits. She focuses on program evaluation, integrated data systems, and crafting compelling impact and advocacy reports. Before joining CRCD, Elyce served as Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation at Youth Policy Institute (YPI) where she managed the architecture and implementation of a new integrated data system and worked with cross-department leadership on data-driven performance management to assess and improve program outcomes for participants.

As the Director of Learning & Evaluation, Elyce leads a team in building an integrated systems architecture to track and monitor progress toward achieving CRCD’s five-year strategic plan goals and grant funder outcomes through analysis and data visualizations, measuring the organization’s overall effectiveness and impact.

COREY MATTHEWS, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorganChase

Corey Matthews is a social change leader with more than 15 years of experience guiding cross-sectoral initiatives to strengthen economic mobility, public health, and education outcomes for underrepresented communities. He currently serves as a Vice President of Global Philanthropy with JPMorganChase where he directs a grant portfolio in Los Angeles to advance economic inclusion strategies. He also plays a key role in building partnerships to bolster the company’s broader Corporate Responsibility initiatives in the region. Previously, Corey served as the Chief Operating Officer of Community Coalition – a permanent community-based institution in South Los Angeles – where he participated on the executive team to execute a robust policy agenda, manage operations, and facilitate organization-wide strategic planning. Throughout his professional career, Corey has designed and executed programs to leverage the collective expertise of public, private, nonprofit, philanthropic, and academic partners to address social issues; and he has worked in think tanks, local government, and nonprofits focused on changing systems and reducing poverty. He holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Urban Education from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. A native of South (Central) Los Angeles, Corey is committed to solving some of society’s most urgent issues.

JESSICA MELENDEZ, Director of Policy, T.R.U.S.T. South LA

Jessica was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Inspired by hearing her father’s experiences growing up as an immigrant in South Central during the crack-cocaine epidemic, she pursued her BA in Politics from the University of San Francisco. After graduating, she began her professional career as an organizer in South Central LA to create equitable communities rooted in justice. She recently graduated from UCLA’s Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning Program and has been working with coalitions across LA and residents to develop grassroots community-driven policies. She is currently the Director of Policy at TRUST South LA, where she has worked towards passing policies that transform the housing landscape in Los Angeles and across the state in pursuit of preserving and promoting affordable housing, tenant protections, and advancing community land trust and social housing models. 

JAHRELL THOMAS, Chief Operating Officer, Coalition for Responsible Community Development

As the Chief Operations Officer at the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, Jahrell works closely with the President & CEO while supporting Director-level leadership, which includes Human Resources, Facilities, Learning and Evaluation, Marketing and Communications, and Fund Development, with an overarching goal of securing the functionality of the business and driving extensive and sustainable growth. This includes programmatic projects and other special activities that magnify the CRCD brand and family of services.  

During his 19-year tenure at CRCD, Jahrell has held a variety of positions at CRCD including youth advocate, program manager, associate director, director of youth development, and chief programs officer. As the Chief Programs Officer, he successfully developed comprehensive workforce development programs rooted in trauma-informed care and reinforced best practice programming across CRCD Workforce Development Departments, including youth programs such as South LA YouthBuild (YouthBuild USA), Jobs for Los Angeles Graduates (Jobs for America’s Graduates), VCN YouthSource Center, and Project Tipping Point for current and former foster youth and the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department-funded Vernon-Central/LATTC WorkSource Center for residents 18 years and older.  

Mr. Thomas has been an advocate for workforce development and inclusive education and diversity since joining CRCD in 2005. Since then, he has developed and designed proven model programs for CRCD and expanded services to youth and adults in Los Angeles who experience the greatest barriers to education and employment. After witnessing and personally experiencing social and economic injustices, he decided to prioritize focusing on creating opportunities and alternatives to reduce incarceration, homelessness, and unemployment.  

He is currently responsible for the overall administration and operations of the organization. Enhancing the organization infrastructure and internal controls is a key priority for the scalability and sustainability of CRCD. He is responsible for CRCD’s policies and procedures, fund development strategies, learning and evaluation, marketing and communication, strategic planning, and facilities operations. This responsibility allows him to develop systems to scale CRCD’s workforce development, housing and support services, and education services that can be replicated in other communities and community-based organizations. As a professional with lived experience, he is personally and professionally invested in changing the lives of youth and adults who can succeed with the appropriate level of support. 

Above and beyond his education and qualifications, Jahrell has extensive experience in partner and funder cultivation that leads to stewardship and commitment of resources that “changes lives and builds neighborhoods responsibly.” 

JIMAR WILSON, VP Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners

Jimar oversees Enterprise’s affordable housing, community development, investment and strategic programs from the state’s Central Coast to San Diego. Since 1997, we have invested more than $3.3 billion in the region, creating and preserving more than 38,000 affordable homes, delivering impactful technical assistance and capacity building to both our public partners and developers and working with key stakeholders to achieve the systems change that is needed to address the severe housing crisis.

Jimar serves on the board of directors of Crenshaw Family YMCA, Ebony Repertory Theatre and A Step to Freedom. He also serves on various committees such as the LA Funders Collaborative Steering Committee and Committee for Greater L.A. Previous board and advisory appointments include Holman Community Development Corporation, 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, The Fringe at Center Theatre Group (now The Crew) and John M. Langston Bar Association. Jimar is an adjunct assistant professor in community and economic development at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

A 20-year community development veteran and passionate advocate for racial equity and social justice, Jimar has previously worked as the vice president and CRA officer at American Business Bank, Boston Private and Northern Trust. Jimar holds a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow) and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He is also a graduate of the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate at the University of Southern California.

MARK WILSON, President and CEO, Coalition for Responsible Community Development

Mark Anthony Wilson, Jr. co-founded the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) in 2005 along with Ruth M. Teague, Noemi Soto, Fernando Miranda, and Hugo Ortiz. Mark served as CRCD’s Executive Director for a decade and now serves as the agency’s President and CEO. Raised in South Los Angeles, Mark previously served as the Director of the Youth Empowerment Project with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference/Martin Luther King Legacy Association, and the Director of Community Development with the Dunbar Economic Development Corporation.

Today, Mark directs CRCD’s comprehensive community development services in housing, education, and jobs for primarily Latino and African American youth ages 16–24 in the Vernon-Central Los Angeles community. He provides leadership on local and national levels to improve the policies, systems, and long-standing neighborhood conditions that impact young people’s lives. In a high-poverty community, Mr. Wilson spearheads effective collaborations with residents, businesses, nonprofits, community colleges, government, and foundations to create real opportunities for youth to stabilize and pursue their dreams. Since 2005, Mr. Wilson has strategically grown CRCD into an agency running 6 housing complexes, a high school, a YouthSource Center, a WorkSource Center, and its separate social enterprise CRCD Enterprises. Mark serves on the board of the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing and the LA Community College District Community Advisory Board (representing LATTC). He was recently honored with a YouthBuild USA Rising Star award.

CAMERON YAP, Systems & Data Manager, Neighborhood Data for Social Change

Cameron Yap is the Systems & Data Manager at Neighborhood Data for Social Change. With this role, he develops NDSC’s data infrastructure, assists various projects with their quantitative needs, and maintains NDSC’s overall data protocols and integrity. Cameron’s research interests include racial justice, housing policy, and creating equitable and fair access to data within the community.

Cameron is a native of Orlando, FL and received a Master of Public Policy Data Science jointly from the USC Price School of Public Policy and the Viterbi School of Engineering in 2022. Prior to his time at NDSC, Cameron helped create equity report cards for school districts in North Carolina at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. He also worked with the North Carolina Housing Coalition to evaluate its community outreach efforts.