The Advisory Committee has been a part of Cultural Equity and Inclusion Work from the beginning. During the 18-month development period, the first advisory committee guided the initiative and shaped its vision, goals, and recommendations to the board.
The first advisory committee was led by three co-chairs: Tim Dang, the former Producing Artist Director at East West Players; Helen Hernandez, President and Founder of The Imagen Foundation and executive producer of the Imagen Awards; Maria Rosario Jackson, Institute Professor, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University. In 2022, Maria Rosario Jackson was appointed the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Over 130 individuals self-nominated or were nominated to participate on the committee. The co-chairs carefully reviewed the nomination list and recommended 36 community leaders from across a variety of sectors to serve on the Advisory Committee, striving for diverse representation including ethnicity, disciplines, age, LGBTQ, and able-challenged communities.
When the LA County Board of Supervisors approved five recommendations from the Cultural Equity & Inclusion Initiative, they also directed that the CEII Advisory Committee remain as a standing committee the Arts Commission.
Join the Advisory Committee
Submissions are now being accepted for a waiting list to join the Advisory Committee of the Los Angeles County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative. Applicants will be selected with consideration to equal representation across the County of Los Angeles.
If you have any questions, please email CEII@arts.lacounty.gov.
Helen Hernandez*, Co-Chair
Karen Mack, Co-Chair
Mike Che, Co-Chair
Allison Agsten |
Allison Tanaka |
Amy Ericksen |
Angela Johnson Peters |
Aurora Anaya-Cerda |
Ben R. Caldwell |
Carla Corona |
Charmaine Jefferson |
Cynthia Fuentesi |
Dawn Jackson |
Debra J.T. Padilla |
Dellis Frank |
Diana Vesgai |
Eric Eisenberg* |
Fabian Debora |
Glenna Avila |
Griselda Suarez |
Hayk Makhmuryan |
Helen Hernandez* |
Joe Smoke |
Julia Diamondi |
Karen Mack |
Kiki Ramos Gindler |
Koji Steven Sakai |
Kristin Sakodai |
Larisa Nickel |
Leslie Ito |
Leticia Buckleyi |
Letitia Fernandez Ivins |
Liane Wientraub* |
Madeline Di Nonno* |
Margaret Aichele |
Miguel Luna |
Mike Che |
Pamela Bright-Moon* |
Renae Williams Nilesi |
Rick Noguchi |
Sabrina Burrisi |
Shannon Daut |
Thor Steingraber |
Tim Dang* (Past Co-Chair) |
Windy Barnes Farrell |
Ximena Martini |
In October 2020, the Arts Commission voted to accept the proposed slate of 2020-23 CEII Advisory Committee members as presented. Members were invited to stay on the Committee and 18 members chose to re-enlist. There were 12 open seats and those members were chosen by Commissioners and Co-Chairs from a waiting list of applications submitted in 2018. The current membership includes 30 individuals who represent the community (6 from each Supervisorial District), as well as one Arts Commissioner from each Supervisorial District and eight County cultural department representatives.
* denotes a member of the Arts Commission
I denotes a representative from a County cultural department
Tim Dang*, Co-Chair
Helen Hernandez*, Co-Chair
Maria Rosario Jackson, Co-Chair
Allison Agsten |
Glenna Avila |
Leni Boorstini |
Pamela Bright Moon* |
Ben R. Caldwell |
Mike Che |
Carla Corona |
Shannon Daut |
Fabian Debora |
Juan Devis |
Julia Diamondi |
Letitia Fernandez Ivins |
Angela Lucia Flores |
David A. Ford |
Dellis Frank |
Helen Hernandez* |
Dawn Jackson |
Charmaine Jefferson |
Angela Johnson Peters |
Constance Jolcuvar* |
Bettina Korek* |
DJ Kurs |
Karen Mack |
Hayk Makhmuryan |
Ines Familiar Miller |
Kai Monet |
Elena Muslar |
Ming Ngi |
Rick Noguchi |
Debra J.T. Padilla |
Kiki Ramos Gindler |
Lucas Riverai |
Koji Steven Sakai |
Nathalie Sanchez |
Liz Schindler-Johnson* |
Thor Steingraber |
Griselda Suarez |
Diana Vesgai |
Kenneth Walker |
On April 4, 2018, Commissioner Valdez made a motion (seconded by Commissioner Clausen Odenthal) to accept the proposed slate of 2018-20 CEII Advisory Committee of members as presented, which increases the total membership from 36 to 45 seats to include 8 County cultural department representatives along with members representing the community and commissioners.
* denotes a member of the Arts Commission
I denotes a representative from a County cultural department
Tim Dang, Co-Chair
Helen Hernandez, Co-Chair
Maria Rosario Jackson, Co-Chair
Betty Avila |
Julia Diamond |
Letitia Fernandez Ivins |
Prumsodun OK |
Glenna Avila |
John Echeveste |
Joel Jacinto |
Debra Padilla |
Carlos Benavides |
Jordan Elgrably |
Charmaine Jefferson |
Claire Peeps |
Deborah Borda |
Quetzal Flores |
Gregorio Luke |
Randy Reinholz |
Pamela Bright-Moon |
Edgar Garcia |
Claudia Margolis |
Luis Rodriguez |
Ben Caldwell |
Kiki Ramos Gindler |
Kathy McDonnell |
Koji Steven Sakai |
Barbara Carrasco |
Mynor Godoy |
Rachel Moore |
Jose Luis Valenzuela |
Juan Devis |
Leslie Ito |
Elena Muslar |
Diana Vesga |
Co-Chairs Emeritus
Tim Dang |
Maria Rosario Jackson |