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Nahal Jalali

artsforla on July 25, 2023

Nahal Jalali is a visual artist, writer, and strategy consultant focused on advancing social change through the arts. She is a Manager within the Monitor Institute by Deloitte, a social change consultancy that provides strategic support and services to nonprofit organizations, corporate foundations, and other entities seeking to create social change. Currently, Nahal manages strategy and sourcing for Deloitte’s Purpose Office. In this role, she helps source equity-focused investment opportunities in the areas of education/workforce development, health equity, and financial inclusion to fulfill Deloitte’s 10-year, $1.5B social impact investment. Nahal also spent five years in Deloitte’s Government and Public Services practice where she supported dozens of public, private, and social sector organizations with strategic services focused on growth and innovation.

Nahal has been involved with Arts for LA since 2020 – including as a Laura Zucker fellow, ACTIVATE Delegate, and most recently, as a member of AFLA’s Policy Committee. Nahal earned her Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University where she wrote her graduate thesis on individual preferences for public funding of the arts in the United States. She also has a personal ceramic arts practice and is a member of the CLAY CA studio in Chinatown.

Karen Hill

artsforla on July 25, 2023

Vice President for Human Resources and Development, Otis College
Karen Hill is an accomplished human resources leader with over 20 years’ experience. In addition to her exemplary degree qualifications, she holds an M.B.A. from UCLA with an emphasis in Marketing, a B.S. in Business, a Senior Professional Human Resources Designation, Leadership Certification from the Center for Creative Leadership, and a Strategic HR Certification. Her prior senior leadership positions – at such firms/institutions as Sony, USC, and DeviantArt – include Senior Vice President, Human Resources/Diversity & Inclusion; Vice President, Human Resources and Development; and Executive Director, Human Resources. Hill also serves on several non-profit boards. Throughout her career, she has focused holistically on organizations, and developed congruent people strategies to produce positive results. She brings a verifiable record of leading workplace culture and employee engagement initiatives, along with expertise in designing diversity and inclusion strategies and integrating them into organizational culture. Hill’s expertise also includes fiscally minded and data-driven human resources perspectives that add efficiencies through such areas as business development, employee relations, risk management, and vendor relationship contracts.

Linda Grimes

artsforla on July 25, 2023

Under her guidance, the Arts District has commissioned over 25 DOT boxes, painted by professional artists, 8 storm drains, 2 asphalt art crosswalks and 4 large murals in downtown San Pedro. In the summer of 2019, the Arts District launched another new pilot program, “Adventures in Public Art”, aimed at giving students public art experiences. The second Adventures in Public Art mural was painted on the Los Angeles Maritime Institute’s Building G in June of 2023, by the Revival Murals team of Alonsa Guevara and James Razko. This mural features one of three augmented reality activations, designed by the CTE classes at the Port of LA High School, led by  Snap Lens Lab/Otis Teaching Artist Raul Moreno and funded by an NEA grant.

In August 2021, Linda was part of a squad, aimed at engaging the San Pedro Arts and Culture District Partners (now called Arts United Cultural Coalition), the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and the San Pedro Property Owner’s Alliance to bring back the pandemic shuttered FirstThursday ArtWalk. In November 2025, the First Thursday ArtWalk will celebrate its 28th Anniversary and the Arts District continues to lead Guided FirstThursday ArtWalk Tours 10X/year.

In 2017, the Arts District launched a new arts appreciation series, called “Cuatro@Cabrillo”, hosted by the preeminent arts scholar, Gregorio Luke and in collaboration with one of the Arts and Cultural District Partners, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Now it is called Culture TALKS! this series was relaunched in the fall of 2022 at the Aquarium and included an LA-ist, 89.3 Retake Live John Horn conversation with Culture Clash’s Richard Montoya.

In 2017, San Pedro was named as a California Cultural District by the Sacramento based California Arts Council. San Pedro is one of 14 initial Cultural Districts and has been recertified for another five years, helmed by an expanded group of coalition partners. This was Linda’s Arts for LA ACTIVATE Program 2016-17 project.

Linda’s past community involvement includes – Board President of the Palos Verdes Art Center, Arts for LA Advancement Committee, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Harbor Communications Committee, communications assistance for the Beacon House Men and served on the Board of the Little Italy of LA non-profit. Linda also served as the Arts for LA Advancement Committee co-chair and is now a proud member of the Arts for LA Board, as well as a San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Board member and co-chair of the Quality of Life Committee and a Member-At-Large of the San Pedro Property Owner’s Business Improvement District.

Mark R. Edwards

artsforla on July 25, 2023

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.

Nadia Savira Chrisanto

artsforla on July 25, 2023

Nadia S. Chrisanto (she/her) is the Operations Manager at the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI). She is passionate about advocacy, accessibility, equity, inclusivity, fat liberation, and social justice issues, particularly within the undocumented & immigrant community. Nadia has previously worked at the California African American Museum (CAAM) and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Her expertise includes nonprofit operations & administration, programming, curatorial & exhibitions planning, and grantmaking. She was an ACTIVATE alumni, a mentor for the ACTIVATE: Protege program, and a former Co-Chair for the Emerging Arts Leaders Los Angeles. Nadia is currently serving on the board of Arts for LA.

Nadia received her A.A. in History, Humanities, and Social & Behavioral Sciences from Pasadena City College and her B.A. in History from California State Polytechnic University Pomona. She enjoys reading and experimenting with new recipes & cooking techniques in her free time.

Gustavo Herrera

artsforla on July 25, 2023

Gustavo was appointed as Arts for LA’s Executive Director in December 2018.  Prior to working with us, he was the Western Regional Director for Young Invincibles (YI), where he was responsible for leading YI’s California offices, including its West Coast expansion. As director, he set strategic direction and advanced YI’s policy priorities on health care, higher education, jobs, and civic engagement for the region.

Before starting at Young Invincibles, Gustavo was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of L.A. Plaza de Cultura y Artes (LAPCA), overseeing the day-to-day operation of a county museum, including the oversight of a master plan committee responsible for strategically developing three acres of additional museum campus. From 2010-2012, Gustavo led the Maestro Foundation, a classical music and performance arts foundation, as the Director of Organizational Development. Between 2007-2010, he assessed and recommended business growth strategies in the US marketplace for the global Fortune 500 Company, American Honda Motors, Co.

Gustavo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from American Jewish University and a dual Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with an emphasis in socio-politics and economics and Art History from the University of California Santa Barbara. Gustavo served on the Board of Directors of the Create: Fixate Arts Organization (2006-2010). He is a current Strong Workforce Implementation Advisory Board Member for the California Community Colleges, Advisory Board Member for the California Physician’s Alliance and founding Board Member of Silverlake Forward.

Melissa Flores

artsforla on July 25, 2023

Melissa is a program and operations specialist with a strong track record of building inclusive partnerships, expanding community-focused programs, and leveraging data to create long-term impact. At Arts for LA, Melissa leads the programmatic direction for the organization’s leadership development programs, ACTIVATE, ensuring local leaders are empowered with the skills, knowledge, and an expanded network to effect change in their communities. She also builds and maintains strong relationships with key partners, cultural organizations, and civic leaders, and spearheads Arts for LA’s annual State of the Arts Summit, which convenes 400+ arts and civic stakeholders each year. 

Prior to Arts for LA, Melissa worked with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator where she curated their member experience and brought its community together virtually during the pandemic. Melissa has also worked at The Gabriella Foundation, spearheading various projects including the expansion of their summer camp program to low-resource communities in Los Angeles. Melissa’s experience in the arts and culture sector is diverse – she has been a dancer since the age of three, studied film at Santa Clara University and expanded her arts administration career through the former Leadership Council of Emerging Arts Leaders, Los Angeles (EAL/LA).

In her downtime, Melissa can be found rooting for her favorite sports team (Go Clippers!), ambitiously working on her running pace, exploring different restaurants in Los Angeles or having passioned discussions about various prestige TV.

Clifford Warner

artsforla on June 12, 2023

Cliff is the Chairman of Mycotoo Inc., an entertainment development company. Mycotoo develops compelling entertainment experiences around the world. Mycotoo’s collaborations have resulted in the opening of three theme parks for Dubai Parks (MotionGate, Bollywood, and Real Madrid World), Stranger Things Live Experience for Netflix. Mycotoo also owns and operates Dig-It, Play to Learn, an indoor children’s play space, theme around a construction site for 2 to 8 year olds. Creating analog play, that allows the kids to explore their creativity, imagination, and collaborating skills. The space encourages not only the kids to play but their parents too.
 
Cliff is serving his second term on AFLA’s Board and is leading the Finance Committee as its Co-Chair. Cliff is also serving on the International Board of the Theme Entertainment Association(TEA), chairing their Governance Committee. Not bad for a theatre major. Cliff received his BA in Theatre at CSULB and his MFA in Stage Management at Yale School of Drama. Cliff has also served on the Board of Directors for the Yale Global Alumni Leadership Exchange (YaleGALE) and Ojai Vally Playwrights Association.

Cary Lefton

artsforla on June 12, 2023

Cary J. Lefton is Chief Executive Officer of Agora Realty & Management, which he founded in 1986. Agora Realty is a full service commercial real estate company holding income producing assets in California, Hawaii and Nevada. Since 2001, Agora has been listed as the 3rd largest private developer in the San Fernando Valley and been listed in the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the top 25 developers in Los Angeles County.  His firm has joint ventured with private and publicly traded companies such as Kimco Realty and Alexander and Baldwin. Agora is a family-owned business that has an investment strategy that especially benefits small businesses, assisting them in navigating the complexities of starting a new business.  Agora’s team prides itself on developing socially responsible projects with the objective to add value to communities in which it invests in. Agora currently owns and operates a commercial real estate portfolio of approximately 1.9 million square feet.

Lefton began his career in 1980 as a real estate broker, specializing in commercial real estate, with Arthur Rubloff and Company of Southern California. He earned the “Rookie of the Year” award during his first year with the company, representing such companies as Westinghouse and Huffy Bicycles, and leased more than 1,500,000 square feet during his two-year tenure. In 1982, Lefton joined Westwood Properties as vice president of acquisitions, where he successfully negotiated for commercial and industrial real estate throughout the Southern California region. His responsibilities also included project analysis, loan packaging and general office administration.

Lefton attended the University of Southern California where he majored in Political Science.  He has been married to his wife Marla for over 40 years. Marla is an artist who enjoys painting with oils on canvass. Cary and his wife have two sons Ryan and Aaron who also work for Agora.

Hobbies include, collecting wine, tennis, skiing, traveling, sailing and playing with his grandchildren…….not necessarily in that order.

Fabian Fuertes

artsforla on June 12, 2023

Fabian Fuertes (he/him), holds the position of Gift Planning Officer with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is Vice Co-Chair of the Board of Directors with Arts for LA, Chairs Arts for LA’s EPIC Committee (Equity, People, Inclusion, and Culture), and is a former Delegate for Assembly District 53, CA. His passion for equitable education and the arts inspires his work in creating a profound societal renewal in our generation and the next. As a native Angeleno and first-generation Latino, he is proud to be a part of an organization that engages more than 1,800 young people from historically marginalized communities across LA County through free music experiences and creative youth development to inspire belonging, autonomy, civic and social abilities, and stronger lifelong learners. Fabian is excited to continuously explore personal blind spots, enable transformation, and continue his pursuit in creating a world in which access to equitable education, for all, inspires any person to fulfill their greatest potential.