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WELCOME TO THE 2021 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE!

[Message from Conference Chairs]

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Los Angeles County gratefully acknowledges the dedication and hard work of the members of its 2021 Los Angeles County Women’s Leadership Conference Committee.

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Agnes Nguyen

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Michael Harmon

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Joseph Alford

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Amy Le

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Naomi Guzman

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Kara Plourde

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Ana Gaona

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Regina Dickerson

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Kavetha Velusamy

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Andrea Avila

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Rhonda Lewis

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LaJuana J. Haselrig

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Armine Garibkhanyan

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Robin A. Limon

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Lara Arsinian

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Brian Fung

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Sarah Ardalani

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Laura Rockett

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Calvin Tran

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Sherrie Chang

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Laura Smith

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Christina Brown

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Shirley Lai

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Lorena Chavez

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Donna Diaz

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Troy Le

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Marie Nunez

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Erika Mesa

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Veronica Ramos

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Melanie Morita

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Heidi Oliva

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JeNai Davis

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Jazmin Aragon

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Josafat Flores

MESSAGE FROM THE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE SPONSOR Message from Rossana D’ Antonio

2021 LOS ANGELES COUNTY WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE COVER ARTIST Kenny Low Program Cover Artist @instagramhandle

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VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AGENDA Tuesday, March 23, 2021 8:00 AM

Welcome

LOCATION TBD

Fesia Davenport, CEO, Los Angeles County

8:15 AM

Morning Sessions (Concurrent) The Spark that Ignites is in Your Story

LOCATION TBD

Shayla Rivera, Aerospace Engineer, Comedian, and Awareness Expert There are sparks that light things up, there are sparks that trigger an idea, there are sparks of genius, and there are sparks that ignite. Like a Spark, we can be the conduit that ignites positive change. Our biggest impediment comes from the limiting beliefs learned through our conditioning. You already possess everything you need to fulfill your life’s purpose. The evidence of the power of your nature is found in your own story, and the magnifying glass that allows you to see this evidence is Awareness.

TBD

LOCATION TBD

Debbie Wei Mullin, CEO and Founder, Copper Cow Coffee Session Synopsis pending

9:15 AM

Sponsor/Networking

10:00 AM

TBD

LOCATION TBD

Susan Fowler, Author of Whistleblower Session Synopsis pending

11:00 AM

Sponsor/Networking

LOCATION TBD

11:30 AM

Afternoon Sessions (Concurrent) Leadership in Uncertain Times

LOCATION TBD

Nichol Whiteman, CEO, Dodgers Foundation Explore the dynamics of balancing strategy and emotion to ensure that organizations remain mission-driven, effective, and efficient. Led by Nichol T. Whiteman, the CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), the session inspires executives to merge a strategic approach with a level of empathy that respects the human experience. With the rise of COVID-19 as a case study, Whiteman will demonstrate how leaders can effectively adjust without sacrificing the health and wellness of their team and colleagues. Designed to provide concrete steps for organizational success, this diverse course equips leaders with the tools to assess their new reality, identify their organization’s immediate needs, and emerge from tumultuous times with structure and morale intact.

Making Everyday a Soul Food Sunday

LOCATION TBD

Maya Howard, Health and Wellness Writer In this 2-part session, Maya will share her unique story of creating her own career path and teach you how to design more joyful, purpose-driven days!

12:30 PM

The Greatest Lessons from Traveling Every Country in the World

LOCATION TBD

Cassie De Pecol, Founder, Speaker, and Author, Creator Expedition 196, LLC. Cassie shares the best lessons from her travels to every country in the world.

1:30 PM

Closing Remarks

LOCATION TBD

Sheila Keuhl, 3rd District Supervisor, Los Angeles County

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AGENDA Wednesday, March 24, 2021 8:00 AM

Welcome

LOCATION TBD

Mark Pestrella, Director of Public Works, Los Angeles County Hilda Solis, 1st District Supervisor, Los Angeles County

8:15 AM

Morning Sessions (Concurrent) Mentorship: Igniting the Spark in Others

LOCATION TBD

Stayce Harris, Lieutenant General, Air Force Session Synopsis pending

Trying to Run a Feminist Small Business

LOCATION TBD

Vanessa Zoltan and Ariana Nedelman, Co-Host and Producer of Harry Potter & the Sacred Text Join Vanessa Zoltan and Ariana Nedelman, co-founders of Not Sorry, in a workshop exploring what it means to try and run a feminist company. How does being an explicitly ‘feminist organization’ inform how a company operates in public? How can it inform the whole structure of an organization? We will share what has worked for us and make time for everyone to brainstorm what values and practices they want to hold in their workplaces.

9:15 AM

TBD

LOCATION TBD

Dolores Huertas, TBD Session Synopsis pending

10:00 AM

A Wild Life

LOCATION TBD

Cheryl Strayed, Author In this talk about how we tap into our deepest truth to live wildly creative and courageous lives, Cheryl Strayed will share stories about what she's learned about living large, loving hard, and being brave enough to break your own heart.

11:00 AM

Sponsor/Networking

LOCATION TBD

11:30 AM

Afternoon Sessions (Concurrent) “When All This is Over …” How Science Can Help Us Heal from the Past Year TBD Julia Wilde Session Synopsis pending

Live Your Best Life Yet!

LOCATION TBD

Kathy Buckley Session Synopsis pending

12:30 PM

Closing Remarks

LOCATION TBD

Janice Hahn, 4th District Supervisor, Los Angeles County

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AGENDA Thursday, March 25, 2021 8:00 AM

Welcome

LOCATION TBD

Kathryn Barger, 5th District Supervisor, Los Angeles County

8:15 AM

TBD

LOCATION TBD

Vien Truong, Co-Founder, Eco Equity Session Synopsis pending

9:15 AM

Sponsor/Networking

LOCATION TBD

10:00 AM

Morning Sessions (Concurrent) There is Always Light. Can We Be Brave Enough to Be It?

LOCATION TBD

Shane Murphy Goldsmith, President and CEO of Liberty Hill Foundation Interviewed by: Barbara Osborn, Communication Director, LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl What untapped opportunities do each of us hold to “spark the light”? How do we as women, and as leaders, summon our capacity to meet a moment of historic need and opportunity with courage and vision? This Q&A will probe for insights from the life and work of social justice activist, nonprofit leader, organizer, queer mother of two boys, Shane Goldsmith, the CEO and President of Liberty Hill Foundation. The interview will be conducted by Barbara Osborn, a member of LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s staff. “We will build, reconcile and recover. And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, Our people diverse and beautiful will emerge, Battered and beautiful. When day comes we step out of the shade, Aflame and unafraid, The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Excerpt from “The Hill We Climb,” Amanda Gorman

Living Your Life’s Potential

LOCATION TBD

Sylvia Acevedo, Author and Corporate Board Director Session Synopsis pending

11:00 AM

Sponsor/Networking

LOCATION TBD

11:30 AM

Things Are Looking Up-The Power of Reflection, Curiosity, and Resilience in Optimism LOCATION TBD Dr. Deepika Chopra, Founder, Things are Looking Up Session Synopsis pending

12:30 PM

Closing Remarks

LOCATION TBD

Holly Mitchell, 2nd District Supervisor, Los Angeles County

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 1 Fesia Davenport, CEO, Los Angeles County Welcome Fesia Davenport was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles County in January 2021. She is responsible for managing the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the nation’s largest municipal government, including the oversight of Los Angeles County’s $37 billion-plus budget and coordinating implementation of key priorities of the Board of Supervisors. In a County career spanning more than two decades, she has successfully facilitated cross-departmental, public-private, and inter-governmental collaborative efforts aimed at implementing a range of major initiatives involving data sharing to prevent homelessness and track outcomes for justice involved individuals, probation reform, and providing legal defense services for undocumented residents at risk of imminent removal. She also played a leadership role in the launch of several new organizational units within the County, including the Office of Child Protection, the Center for Strategic Partnerships, the Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Chief Sustainability Office, the Women and Girls Initiative, the Office of Youth Diversion and Development, with two new units underway: the Alternatives to Incarceration and the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives. Prior to her appointment as CEO, she served as acting CEO, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Chief Executive Officer overseeing the CEO’s Strategic Integrations Branch; Interim Director of the Office of Child Protection; Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Children and Family Services; and Chief Attorney/Chief Deputy of the Child Support Services Department. A graduate of California State University, Long Beach, she earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Ms. Davenport is passionate about history, especially family history, and when she is not working on behalf of Los Angeles County, you can find her on genealogical websites or perhaps at a touring production of “Hamilton”, which she has seen six times—so far.

Shayla Rivera, Aerospace Engineer, Comedian, & Awareness Expert “The Spark that Ignites is in Your Story” Shayla Rivera is an Aerospace Engineer and former Rocket Scientist with NASA turned corporate trainer, International Speaker, TV & Radio Host, Live Event Host, Comedian, Writer, Seminar Facilitator and Panel Moderator.  As of 2017, Shayla is also Director of the ENGR[x] (Engineering X) program and Professor of Practice with the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.   However, none of these labels tells you much about her.  She best describes herself as a spiritually irreverent Mystic and Awareness Expert.  What many would call a Renaissance Woman.   Shayla was born and raised in Puerto Rico.  After a degree from Texas A&M, she spent 5 years working with NASA.  From there she moved on to stress management corporate training and motivational speaking, where Shayla discovered her comedic talents.    She applies her expertise as a speaker to help non-profit, charitable and educational programs as well as clients around the world, including corporations and schools for students, parents and faculty.    Shayla has been giving keynotes in both English and Spanish for 27 years. Shayla hosted the 13-episode TV series “You’re Not The Man I Married” for the Lifetime Real Women Network.  She has appeared on numerous television programs and networks, including Comedy Central, HBO Max and Comics Unleashed.  She has served as host for award shows, gala’s, fundraisers and festivals.   Shayla is most proud of her tours to entertain U.S. troops in Iraq and around the globe.    With numerous awards and accolades throughout her engineering, speaking and comedy careers,  Shayla is not easily placed in just one category or class, she defines her own. Her number one goal is to inspire through laughter.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 1 Debbie Wei Mullin, CEO and Founder, Copper Cow Coffee TBD

Susan Fowler, Author of Whistleblower TBD Susan Fowler was just twenty-five when she wrote the blog post describing the sexual harassment and retaliation she’d experienced at Uber, the ride-sharing giant. Her account riveted the nation, eventually led to the Uber’s CEO’s resignation, and caused a ripple effect that inspired other women to speak up about their experiences of harassment in Silicon Valley and beyond. In the year that followed, an unprecedented number of women came forward, and Time magazine recognized Fowler as one of the “Silence Breakers” who ignited the #MeToo movement. In her memoir, Whistleblower, Fowler reveals a life defined by her refusal to accept her circumstances—and the experiences that built the determination and grit she called on to become a whistleblower. Raised in rural Arizona, she went to work for her family at an early age and received little formal education. Through a remarkable feat of discipline and self-education, Fowler escaped poverty to the Ivy League. But after the university’s disastrous mishandling of a harasser nearly caused her to lose everything she had worked for, she vowed to never again remain silent in the face of injustice. When she encountered firsthand the pervasive culture of sexism, racism, harassment, and abuse at Uber, she knew she had to speak out—even if it meant losing a dream job and risking her career. Fowler’s moving talks address audiences young and old trying to find their place in an unjust world. By sharing her story of overcoming the odds and using her experience, privilege, and position to speak out against injustice, she motivates people to be the heroes of their own stories and take power into their own hands to continue the fight for equality. Fowler is currently a contributing writer and the former technology op-ed editor at the New York Times. In addition to Time, she has been named a “Person of the Year” by The Financial Times and the Webby Awards, and she joined the ranks of Fortune’s “40 under 40” list, Vanity Fair’s “New Establishment” list, Marie Claire’s “New Guard” list, the Bloomberg 50, the Upstart 50, the Recode 100, and more. In addition to Whistleblower, Fowler has also authored a book on computer programming. Prior to her position at the Times, she worked at Stripe as the founding editor in chief of Increment. She is based in San Francisco.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 1 Nichol Whitman, CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Leadership in Uncertain Times With a relentless dedication to improving the lives of others, Nichol Whiteman is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF). Under Nichol’s leadership, LADF tackles the most pressing problems facing Los Angeles with a mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos. With a degree in Economics from Spelman College, Nichol was the first in her family to graduate from college and has a passion for education, equity, and diversity. As a child of Jamaican immigrants “in search of a dream," she frequently highlights the power of diversity in advocating for resources and opportunities for marginalized populations. As a Black woman in Major League Baseball, Nichol understands the importance of access. She uses her resources to open doors and opportunities for youth from all backgrounds. In addition to her professional achievements, she mentors countless men and women. Attracting attention from acclaimed journalists, she has been featured in outlets including Forbes Magazine, NBC’s CA Live, and the LA Times. Whiteman advocates for LADF to be a strong charitable partner for nonprofits within the Los Angeles community earning multiple humanitarian, philanthropic, and leadership awards for herself and the LADF team. While the pandemic has undoubtedly impacted all communities, urban communities have been disproportionately suffering resulting in Nichol shifting LADF’s operations to be part of the immediate solution.  With a firm belief that each person has the power to positively impact a life, Nichol's journey continues to be full of inspiration and hope as she fights for young people to realize their dreams. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Timothy and two sons, Timothy Jr. and Nicholas.

Maya Howard, Author and Wellness Leader, Maya’s Healthy Day Making Everyday Soul Food Sunday Maya is a wellness writer, plant-based recipe developer, and digital content creator from Inglewood, California. She is the founder of Maya’s Healthy Day, an online destination that inspires, empowers, and educates women of color to live healthy and purpose-driven lives. She is a self-taught home cook who discovered a unique talent for transforming plants into culinary indulgences after adopting a plant-based diet in 2014. In addition to creating food, fitness, and holistic wellness content for brands, Maya is a full-time dietetics student pursuing a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. Her wellness content is inspired by the community she grew up in and draws from her experience working professionally as a personal trainer, yoga teacher, and physical therapy aide. Most importantly, Maya is a passionate Black woman who takes immense pride in representing her culture as a wellness leader. She believes that everyone is capable of driving social change forward and that her role is to shed light on health disparities within BIPOC communities, providing resources for people of color to achieve optimal health. She is happily location-independent, enjoying working remotely and travelling with her partner Ross and adorable poodle mix Lola Beyonce. You can stay connected with her at www.mayashealthyday.com and subscribe to Soul Food Sundays, her wellness newsletter that provides simple strategies for embracing holistic wellbeing.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 1 Cassie De Pecol, Founder, Speaker, Author & Creator, Expedition 196, LLC. The Greatest Lessons from Traveling Every County in the World Cassie De Pecol, is the CEO of Expedition 196 LLC and the Founder of Her International Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting female-driven businesses that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Considered the most prolific traveler of her time, Cassie holds two Guinness World Records for traveling to every country in the world alone (196+ countries), is recognized in the National Women’s History Museum, and has been invited to travel into space with Virgin Galactic. She is a keynote speaker, brand ambassador, Ironman athlete, author of 'Expedition 196: A Personal Journal from the First Woman on Record to Travel Every Country', app CEO of 'World Fitness by Cassie', and content creator. From August of 2015 on, Cassie has spoken in front of over 16,000 university and high school students as well as corporate and non-profit industry professionals during her 196 country Expedition and thereafter. From the TED stage, to WDS in front of 3,500 individuals, to NYU to Yale to UCONN and many other prominent universities both in the US and around the world, Cassie has become a highly requested speaker for motivation, entrepreneurialism, sustainability, women’s achievement and making history. Visit her website at www.cassiedepecol.com to learn more.

Sheila Keuhl, 3rd District Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Closing Remarks Supervisor Sheila James Kuehl is currently the Chair of the Board of Supervisors representing Los Angeles County’s Third District, where she has undertaken or collaborated in a number of initiatives and motions to improve the quality of life and reform systems in the County. Supervisor Kuehl served eight years in the State Senate and six years in the State Assembly. She was the Founding Director of the Public Policy Institute at Santa Monica College and, in 2012, was Regents’ Professor in Public Policy at UCLA. She was the first woman in California history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly, and the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California Legislature. She served as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Natural Resources and Water Committee, and Budget Subcommittee on Water, Energy and Transportation, as well as the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Additionally, she authored 171 bills that were signed into law. Prior to her election to the Legislature, as a public-interest attorney Supervisor Kuehl drafted and fought to get into California law more than 40 pieces of legislation relating to children, families, women, and domestic violence. She was a law professor at Loyola, UCLA and USC Law Schools and co-founded and served as managing attorney of the California Women’s Law Center.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 2 Mark Pestrella, Los Angeles County Director of Public Works Welcome Mark Pestrella is the Director of Los Angeles County Public Works. In this capacity, he serves as the County Engineer, the County Road Commissioner, and the Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. With an annual budget of more than $2.7 billion and a workforce of 4,000 employees, Los Angeles County Public Works is the largest municipal public works agency in the United States, providing vital public infrastructure and civic services to more than 10 million people across a 4,000-square-mile service area. Public Works’ diverse operations are defined within six core service areas: Water Resources, Transportation, Environmental Services, Construction Management, Developmental Services, and Emergency Management. Mr. Pestrella is a licensed civil engineer and a 33-year veteran of Public Works and has held a variety of management positions. He is a native of Southern California and attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in civil engineering with concentrations in structural engineering and water resource management.

Hilda Solis, 1st District Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Opening Remarks Supervisor Hilda L. Solis was sworn in as Los Angeles County Supervisor for the First District of Los Angeles County on December 1, 2014.She was re-elected to a new four-year term in 2018. As County Supervisor, Solis’ priorities include combatting homelessness and building affordable housing, expanding County services to all residents, environmental justice, good-paying jobs, health care access, criminal justice reform, improving parks and open space, and ensuring arts equity for all. Prior to becoming Supervisor, Solis served as Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama. Supervisor Solis was confirmed on February 24, 2009, becoming the first Latina to serve in the United States Cabinet. Before that, Supervisor Solis represented the 32nd Congressional District in California, a position she held from 2001 to 2009. In Congress, Supervisor Solis’ priorities included expanding access to affordable health care, protecting the environment, and improving the lives of working families. A recognized leader on clean energy jobs, she authored the Green Jobs Act which provided funding for “green” collar job training for Veterans, displaced workers, at risk youth, and individuals in families under 200 percent of the federal poverty line. She served in Congress until her nomination for Secretary of Labor. Supervisor Solis began her career working in the Carter White House Office of Hispanic Affairs and was later appointed as a management analyst with the Office of Management and Budget in the Civil Rights Division. Solis was first elected to public office in 1985 as a member of the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees. The first Latina to represent the San Gabriel Valley in the California State Legislature, Solis served in the California State Assembly from 1992 to 1994, and in 1994 she made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the California State Senate. Her California environmental justice legislation, enacted in 1999, was the first of its kind in the nation to become law. As a result, Solis became the first woman to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2000 for her pioneering environmental justice work. Supervisor Solis was the first in her family to graduate from college, graduating from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; she also earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 2 Lieutenant General Stayce Harris, Former Inspector General of the Air Force & United Airlines Pilot Mentorship: Igniting the Spark in Others Lieutenant General Stayce Harris is a retired three-star general whose distinguished career of service spanned over 37 years before retiring in 2019 from the U. S. Air Force as the Inspector General of the Air Force and prior as the Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff at Headquarters U. S. Air Force in the Pentagon. As the 22nd Air Force Commander at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, GA for the U. S. Air Force Reserve Command from 2014-2016, her responsibilities included leading 15,000 personnel in tactical airlift operations, civil engineering rapid response, distinguished visitor airlift and pilot training. Stayce has received many awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. She was inducted into the Women In Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame and Palm Springs Air Museum Aviation Hall of Fame, awarded the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers Captains of Industry Award, USC Viterbi School of Engineering Mark A. Stevens Distinguished Alumni Award and Ellis Island Medal of Honor amongst others. Stayce received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a Seminar XXI Fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, she is a retired United Airlines pilot. Stayce serves as a Director of the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, a Board of Councilor for the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and Trustee for the U. S. Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation.

Vanessa Zoltan, CEO and Founder, Not Sorry Productions Trying to Run a Feminist Small Business Vanessa Zoltan graduated with her BA in English Literature and Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, her  MS in Nonprofit Management from the University of Pennsylvania and her MDiv from Harvard Divinity School in 2015. Vanessa is CEO and founder of the small, feminist organization, Not Sorry Productions, the co-host of the podcasts, Harry Potter & the Sacred Text , The Real Question and Hot & Bothered. Her book, Praying with Jane Eyre is available for pre-order now through Penguin Press.

Ariana Nedelman, Podcast Producer, Not Sorry Production Trying to Run a Feminist Small Business Ariana Nedelman was born and raised in Santa Monica, California. She is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Not Sorry Productions, a feminist organization that produces podcasts, educational content, live shows, and immersive experiences with the explicit goal of addressing the spiritual needs of its participants. She produces the podcasts Harry Potter and the Sacred Text and Hot and Bothered and is working on the upcoming podcast When We All Get to Heaven, which tells the story of how a LGBTQ Christian congregation responded to the HIV/AIDS crisis in 1980s and 90s San Francisco.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 2 Dolores Huerta, Founder and President, Dolores Huerta Foundation TBD Dolores Huerta is a civil rights activist and community organizer. She has worked for labor rights and social justice for over 50 years. In 1962, she and Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers union. She served as Vice President and played a critical role in many of the union’s accomplishments for four decades. In 2002, she received the Puffin/Nation $100,000 prize for Creative Citizenship which she used to establish the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF). DHF is connecting groundbreaking community-based organizing to state and national movements to register and educate voters; advocate for education reform; bring about infrastructure improvements in low-income communities; advocate for greater equality for the LGBT community; and create strong leadership development.  She has received numerous awards: among them The Eleanor Roosevelt Humans Rights Award from President Clinton in 1998. In 2012 President Obama bestowed Dolores with The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Cheryl Strayed, Author of #1 New York Times Bestselling Memoir, Wild A Wild Life Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir WILD, the New York Times bestsellers TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS and BRAVE ENOUGH, and the novel TORCH. Her books have been translated into forty languages around the world. ILD was chosen by Oprah Winfrey as her first selection for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. The Oscar-nominated movie adaptation of WILD stars Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl and Laura Dern as Cheryl’s mother, Bobbi. The film was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, with a screenplay by Nick Hornby. Strayed’s essays have been published in The Best American Essays, the New York Times, the Washington Post Magazine, Vogue, Salon, The Sun, Tin House, and elsewhere. Strayed was the co-host, along with Steve Almond, of the WBUR podcast Dear Sugars Radio, which originated with her popular Dear Sugar advice column on The Rumpus. Strayed holds an MFA in fiction writing from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

SESSION SPEAKERS—DAY 2 Julia Wilde, Writer and Actor When All This is Over …” How Science Can Help Us Heal from the Past Year Julia Wilde is usually an actor, writer, and host. During the past year Julia occasionally wrote, worked on herself, tried to take up water coloring but mostly hung out with her cats on the couch. Julia is passionate about telling the stories of science. Her mission is to get people to forget the white lab coat, and learn that science is messy and beautiful and most of all very, very human. Science helps us understand ourselves and our place in the universe. By learning how we’re all connected in this vast universe, it makes us feel less alone on our pale blue dot. Julia hosted the popular Discovery Channel video series DNews, a daily science news show feature breaking research and deep dives into our world. She’s written for other popular science YouTube channels like It’s Okay to Be Smart, AsapSCIENCE, and VSauce. Her writing can be found from leading science outlets like Curiosity.com and most recently the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Apart from science, Julia also writes about queer culture, mental health, and pop culture. As a performer, Julia could be seen at venues around the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Since staying inside for most of the past year, she can be seen performing for her cats. No matter the genre, Julia is dedicated to telling stories with empathy, imagination, and humor that promote inclusion and diversity.

Kathy Buckley, Comedienne, Actress, Author, & Motivational Speaker TBD Billed as "America's First Hearing Impaired Comedienne", Kathy Buckley is a five-time American Comedy Award Nominee as Best Stand-Up Female Comedienne, and the winner of countless other awards for her work. Her television appearances include The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Inside Edition, CNN, HBO, E! Entertainment named her one of the “World’s Most Intriguing Women” in their original special. In addition to comedy, Kathy is an actress who is also known for her co-starring roles in TV series such as “Touched by an Angel,” and starred in her own original award winning PBS special, “NO Labels No Limits.” An active volunteer for causes close to her heart, Kathy spends time helping numerous children’s charities. A sought after motivational speaker, she has inspired people around the nation, speaking at corporate events, conferences, and universities. She is the author the heartfelt and hilarious book “If You Could Hear What I See.” She has also been recognized by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army for outstanding efforts toward disability employment awareness, and is a key motivational speaker for Anthony Robbins' Life Mastery Classes. Whether performing in a comedy club, appearing on television, speaking publicly, teaching at camps for children, or appearing in any number of other settings, Kathy Buckley bears her message that anything can be achieved when the heart and the mind work together.

SESSION SPEAKERS—DAY 2 Janice Hahn, District Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Closing Remarks Elected to serve on November 8th, 2016 Supervisor Janice Hahn proudly represents the interests of the 4th District – stretching from Marina del Rey to Diamond Bar and encompassing over 2 million residents – on the Board of Supervisors. Born and raised in LA County, Janice has followed in the footsteps of her father, the legendary LA County Supervisor Kenny Hahn, throughout every step of her public service career. On the Board of Supervisors, she has advanced a people-first agenda and continued her lifelong dedication to lifting up working families. Now in her second term in office, Supervisor Hahn continues to invest in public resources which benefit her constituents the most. She has invested billions of dollars into building affordable public housing, improving public parks, renovating local libraries, and more – all the while securing the funding necessary to build a series of ambitious transportation projects aimed at easing congestion and revolutionizing the way residents get around. Now in her second term in office, Supervisor Hahn continues to invest in public resources which benefit her constituents the most. She has invested billions of dollars into building affordable public housing, improving public parks, renovating local libraries, and more – all the while securing the funding necessary to build a series of ambitious transportation projects aimed at easing congestion and revolutionizing the way residents get around. Supervisor Hahn has harnessed the County’s resources to fund services that help residents in crisis get back on their feet. Over the past four years, she has worked tirelessly to end the homelessness crisis, provide legal representation to undocumented residents, and establish LA Found, a program which helps locate older adults living with Alzheimer’s, Autism, and dementia who have gone missing as a result of “wandering.” Underscoring her commitment to excellent local schools, Supervisor Hahn began her career as a teacher. She then went on to serve on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission as well as the City Council representing the 15th District. After serving in local government, Supervisor Hahn was elected to Congress, first representing California’s old 36th District and then the 44th District after redistricting. Throughout her time in public service, Supervisor Hahn has continued her commitment to the interests of local working families. She currently lives in San Pedro and enjoys spending time with her 5 grandchildren.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 3 Kathryn Barger, 5th District Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Welcome Supervisor Kathryn Barger proudly serves the residents of the 5th District — Los Angeles County’s largest — spanning 2,800 square miles, which includes 22 cities and70 unincorporated communities in the Antelope, San Gabriel, San Fernando, Crescenta, and Santa Clarita Valleys. Kathryn was born and raised in the 5th District and comes from a family with deep roots in public service. She is married to a retired sheriff’s deputy and lives in the San Gabriel Valley. Dedicated to providing effective, responsive representation to the residents of Los Angeles County, Kathryn began her career in public service as a college intern in the office of former Supervisor Antonovich and rose to become his chief deputy in 2001,where she served until her election to the Board of Supervisors in 2016. She both served as Chair of the Board and was reelected for her second term in 2020. Building upon her work from her time as chief policy advisor on health, mental health, social services, and children’s issues, Kathryn continues to advocate for services and programs to improve the quality of life for foster children, seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, and those with mental illness. Kathryn is committed to keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe, working with federal leaders, law enforcement officials, and judicial officers to implement vital public safety initiatives. She is an advocate for the environment and has spearheaded efforts to preserve open space and enhance parks, trails, and recreational programs and facilities, as well as libraries and after-school programs to serve local communities. She has hosted several trail rides and hikes to connect with the community throughout her district. With a strong sense of fiscal responsibility, Kathryn is dedicated to providing vital county services while protecting financial resources as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.

Vien Truong, Co-Founder, Eco Equity Title Pending Vien is co-founder of Eco Equity where she regularly advises lawmakers, universities, foundations and organizations on developing an inclusive workforce, creating sustainable economies, and equitable environmental policies. Most recently, she directed the Climate Justice efforts for the Tom Steyer PAC where she led the Biden-Harris Climate Engagement Advisory Council efforts and simultaneously supported the climate efforts of the State of California’s Business and Jobs Recovery Task Force. During her time serving as the President and CEO of the Dream Corps, her team worked to move the country forward passing historic policies in criminal justice, climate justice, and created nationally recognized programs to increase tech diversity. Various energy, environmental, and economic policies and programs were developed or co-led by Vien including the coalition to pass and implement California’s law creating the biggest fund in history for the poorest and most polluted communities, a model that has been replicated in other states. She has also developed strong workforce standards for clean technology sectors, direct investments to ethnic and minority cleantech businesses, and create sustainable communities throughout California. Through her commendable work advocating on behalf of those most vulnerable to climate change, Vien has received numerous congressional, state, regional, and local awards including the White House Champion of Change award for her work on climate equity. She has also been featured and profiled by many major outlets such as SF Chronicle as one of San Francisco’s “Top Women Leaders”, Forbes, Shondaland, Parent Magazine, and more. Vien has been involved in many non-profit organizations including California Endowment, Ceres, and Elemental Excelerator. Helping guide the growth and development of her hometown, she was also Chair of the City of Oakland’s Planning Commission. She holds a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

SESSION SPEAKERS — DAY 3 Shane Murphy Goldsmith, President and CEO, Liberty Hill Foundation There is Always Light. Can We Be Brave Enough to Be It? Shane Murphy Goldsmith is the President and CEO of Liberty Hill Foundation, one of the nation's most admired social change foundations. Ms. Goldsmith served previously as Liberty Hill's Vice President and Chief Program Officer. She was responsible for the day-to-day oversight of Liberty Hill's programs including our training, grantmaking and campaigns as well as Liberty Hill's operations and finance departments. Shane currently is the co-chair of the California Executive Alliance for Boys and Men of Color SoCal Region and is a Durfee Foundation Stanton Fellow focusing on youth justice issues, particularly on ending youth incarceration as we know it in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Southern California Grantmakers Board of Directors and sits on both the Advisory Committee for the Black Equity Initiative of the JIB Fund, and the board of People Assisting the Homeless (PATH). Shane won the 2014 Congressional Hunger Center Alumni Leadership Award for leadership in programs or policies that promote social justice, reduce poverty and oppression and improve food security. Shane currently is the co-chair of the California Executive Alliance for Boys and Men of Color SoCal Region and is a Durfee Foundation Stanton Fellow focusing on youth justice issues, particularly on ending youth incarceration as we know it in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Southern California Grantmakers Board of Directors and sits on both the Advisory Committee for the Black Equity Initiative of the JIB Fund, and the board of People Assisting the Homeless (PATH). Shane won the 2014 Congressional Hunger Center Alumni Leadership Award for leadership in programs or policies that promote social justice, reduce poverty and oppression and improve food security. Prior to joining Liberty Hill, Shane was the Executive Director of PATH Ventures, an affordable housing development agency. She also served as a senior advisor to then-City Council President Eric Garcetti, overseeing housing, economic development, the city budget, public safety and LGBTQ issues. Shane has also worked as a community organizer focusing on economic justice in low income communities of color in LA.A graduate of Kenyon College, Ms. Goldsmith spent a year as a National Hunger Fellow managing a homeless shelter in Indiana and then conducting federal policy research on welfare reform in Washington, D.C. Shane has a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. Shane lives in Los Angeles with her wife Monica Granados and their two children.

Barbara Osborn, Communication Director, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl “There is Always Light. Can We Be Brave Enough to Be It?” Over the last 25 years Barbara Osborn has worked at the intersection of media, policy and politics. As a print journalist and radio and TV producer, her work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Daily News, The New York Times, National Public Radio, Pacifica Radio, PBS, The History Channel, Discovery Networks, and other media outlets. For nearly 15 years, she was Strategic Communications Director at Liberty Hill, a Los Angeles-based social justice foundation. She opened her own communications firm in 2014 to provide strategy and executive coaching to community organizations and philanthropic institutions. Her clients have included The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE), UCLA Center for Digital Humanities and Westside Family Health Center. She is a Senior Fellow at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, and currently serves on the board of directors of A New Way of Life (a prison reform and women’s reentry program), and previously served on the Los Angeles Press Club board. She holds a Ph.D. in communications from the University of California San Diego.

SESSION SPEAKERS—DAY 3 Sylvia Acevedo, Author and Corporate Board Director “Living Your Life’s Potential” Corporate Board Director, C-Suite Executive, Community leader, Author and Rocket scientist. Devout believer in the power of transformation to change and improve lives, communities, organizations – and the world. Recognized leader whose Innovation and growth strategies have been hallmarks of her career. Author of Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, which details Sylvia’s personal journey from the dirt streets of Las Cruces, New Mexico, to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the top executive tiers of Apple, Dell, IBM, Qualcomm and other U.S. technology leaders. Most recently served as CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, Chair of President Obama’s White House initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanics in early childhood leadership. Driver of the Administration’s Early Childhood Dual Language Education Policy. National speaker on Cybersecurity, Workforce and leadership.

Deepika Chopra, OPTIMISM DOCTOR, Founder of Things are Looking Up “Things are Looking Up: The Power of Reflection, Curiosity, & Resilience in Optimism” Deepika Chopra, OPTIMISM DOCTOR®, Visual Imagery & Media Expert, and founder of Things Are Looking Up™, specializes in what she has coined, "evidence based manifestation". Her work has been featured in Forbes, Harpers Bazaar, VOGUE, GOOP, Variety, E!, NBC, etc… and she has partnered with companies such as FISHER PRICE, IHeartMedia, BeautyCounter and many more. Dr. Chopra specializes in bridging together holistic practices and evidence based science to cultivate self mastery tools to help clients, couples and corporations (Fortune 500 to small businesses) cultivate their own sense of lasting happiness, resiliency, optimism and success. The Optimism Doctor® practices from very unique perspective as she is able to talk to the robust health wellness trends of today and provide real evidence based science and experience. Dr. Chopra holds a doctorate in clinical health psychology, with a special interest in mind-body connection, sensory based visual imagery, color therapy, innovative cognitive behavioral strategies and strategies and methods to increase optimism and resilience. Dr. Chopra completed her formal dissertation on the topic of optimism, positive sensory visualization and the connection to optimal well-being. With a special training in elevating empathy, reducing anxiety, and creating a balance within the technologically and social-media-focused world today; Dr. Chopra’s work is timely & beneficial to anyone curious about living more fully, from a self- mastery point of view, increasing happiness and optimizing functionality and success. Dr. Chopra completed a double postdoctoral fellowship at both the University of California at Los Angeles and Cedars Sinai Medical Center and has been an integral part of the wellness community for over a decade. Dr. Chopra has been an invited keynote speaker at a number of conferences and summits, such as Create & Cultivate, In GOOP Health, IMPACT. etc. and contributes to many publications and online platforms as a wellness journalist and partners with a number of international brands as a media wellness expert. Dr. Chopra hosted an 8-part video series for You Tube that has accumulated over 1 Million views! Please visit the Press section for more details and inquire about receiving her EPK. Since becoming a new mom, Dr. Chopra has a special interest in increasing Optimism and Empathy in children and working on empowering women and parents, she devotes part of her practice to motherhood coaching and mindful parenting.

SESSION SPEAKERS—DAY 3 Holly Mitchell, 2nd District Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Closing Remarks Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell has always worked with the understanding that creating a California where all residents can thrive means investing in the communities, families, and children of LA County. Having authored and passed over 90 laws in the California Legislature, Supervisor Mitchell brings an extensive public policy record to the Board of Supervisors. Many of her bills have been at the forefront of expanding healthcare access, addressing systemic racism, and championing criminal justice reform. During her tenure in the California State Legislature, Supervisor Mitchell represented the 54th District for three years as an Assemblymember and later served seven years as State Senator for the 30th District. As State Senator, she also held the distinction of being the first African American to serve as Chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. In this capacity, she led the passage of state budgets each totaling over $200 billion for the fifth largest economy in the world. Prior to serving in elected office, Supervisor Mitchell was CEO of Crystal Stairs, California’s largest nonprofit dedicated to child and family development. In this role, she ensured that families across Los Angeles County gained access to childcare and poverty prevention resources. Before leading Crystal Stairs, she worked as a legislative advocate at the Western Center for Law and Poverty. Supervisor Mitchell’s leadership has been recognized by over 100 community and business groups. She was recently honored as a 2020 Visionary by Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine for making California the first state in the nation to ban natural hair discrimination with The CROWN Act. Supervisor Mitchell’s leadership has been recognized by over 100 community and business groups. She was recently honored as a 2020 Visionary by Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine for making California the first state in the nation to ban natural hair discrimination with The CROWN Act. As Supervisor, Mitchell is proud to serve the two million residents of the Second District which includes the following cities: Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lynwood, parts of Los Angeles, and dozens of unincorporated communities.

SPEAKER SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS Speaker

Twitter

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@hpsacredtext

@therompod

Barbara Osborn

@bosborn

@libertyhillfoundation

Cassie De Pecol

@cassiedepecol

Cheryl Strayed

@CherylStrayed

@cherylstrayed

@dwmullin

@debbieweimullin

@doloreshuerta

@drdeepikachopra

@Julia_SCI

@JuliaWilde_

Ariana Nedelman

Debbie Wei Mullin Dolores Huertas Dr. Deepika Chopra Julia Wilde Kathy Buckley

@kathynolimits

Lieutenant General Stayce Harris Maya Howard

@mayashealthyday

@nicholwhiteman

@dodgersfoundation

@Libertyhill

@libertyhillfoundation

Shayla Rivera

@shaylarivera

@shaylamae939

Susan Fowler

@susanthesquark

Sylvia Acevedo

@sylviaeliaacevedo

Vanessa Zoltan

@vanessamzoltan

@vientruong11

Nichol Whiteman Shane Murphy Goldsmith

Vien Truong

SPECIAL THANKS

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