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.

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.

Mark R. Edwards is deeply committed to creating a vibrant civil society and believes art plays a vital role. Mark is informed by cognitive scientist George Lakoff’s frequent comment that “Frames come first. Policies follow.” Art creates the cultural narratives that make equity, justice, and democracy thinkable. Before a community supports climate policy, housing justice, or civil rights, they must be able to imagine their role in a shared, just future. Art cultivates that imagination.

Mark brings an expertise in working across complex bureaucracies. His experience began in the private sector, where he served as an Associate at a leading land-use firm in the West San Fernando Valley and later as Director of Government Relations for a premier boutique lobbying firm. In these roles he guided clients through intricate entitlement and policy processes, helping steward nearly $250 million in city and county contracts that supported public infrastructure and community-serving projects.

Mark has served several roles in government. It began as a Senior Field Deputy for Los Angeles City Council, representing Brentwood, West Los Angeles, and Palms. Serving approximately 50,000 residents, he collaborated closely with city, county, and state agencies always centering community voices to resolve issues ranging from public safety to planning, transportation, and tenant/landlord conflicts.

His commitment to equity deepened during his tenure as a Planner with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. There, he played a key role in shaping the Bring Los Angeles Home Plan, a landmark public-private initiative and collaborative blueprint to reduce homelessness through coordinated systems, broad stakeholder engagement, and long-term investment. Lastly, he mostly recently served in Mayor Karen Bass’ administration as the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs. 

Mark’s service extends into the cultural and civic life of Los Angeles. He served on the board of the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, two years as chair, supporting the eventual successful inclusion of the Hollyhock House into Frank Lloyd Wright’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation celebrating his work. Plus, the foundation funds were used to support the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (the only public owned art gallery), and to support programming at the Barnsdall Art Center & Junior Arts.

A proud Marine Corps veteran and a product of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Mark has called Los Angeles home for 27 years. Presently, resides in West Hollywood. He holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from CSU Northridge with a concentration in Public Administration and Community Service. Across every chapter of his work, Mark brings a genuine love of service, community connection, and a belief that arts and culture are essential to a thriving Los Angeles.

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 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.

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 (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 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.”

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.