Jacqueline Chun has worked steadily in the non-profit sector for over 20 years and recently transitioned to the public sector at the Center for Strategic Partnerships, a public-private partnership between LA County and philanthropy to effectively transform systems, promote equity, and improve the lives of children and families. Prior to joining the Center, Jacqueline was the Chief Programs and Operations Officer at The Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation for 16 years, where she was responsible for managing the Foundation’s strategic grantmaking and daily operations. During her time at the Foundation, she regularly participated in strategic public-private partnership committees, all of which aimed to advance healthier communities, achieve equitable access to education, housing, and services, and promote community-driven solutions.

Kim Pattillo Brownson is Ballmer Group’s Director of Strategy and Policy in Los Angeles. Most recently, Kim served as Vice President for Policy and Strategy at First 5 LA, where she led their grantmaking in strategic partnerships on policy, advocacy, and communications with philanthropy, business, municipalities, and higher education. She also spearheaded relationships with local, state and federal policy makers to drive policy and system change. Prior to that, Kim was Managing Director at the Advancement Project, a civil rights organization engaged in policy and advocacy for communities most impacted by economic and racial injustice. She has also worked as an education attorney at the ACLU as well as in litigation attorney in the private sector; and as a management consultant at Boston Consulting Group. Kim is an appointee of Governor Gavin Newsom to California’s Early Childhood Policy Council, as well as to the California State Board of Education. Kim earned her juris doctorate degree from Yale Law School and her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

Sara Straubel is a Program Officer at The Ahmanson Foundation where she manages a portfolio of grant requests in the areas of arts and culture, education, healthcare, and human services. She serves as a Managing Funder for the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative, a fund that invests in nonprofit organizations during moments of transformation. She also represents the Foundation on the Review Process Committee and Capacity Building and Learnings Committee for the LA Arts Recovery Fund, a fund for post-pandemic rebuilding in the arts. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Committee of EPIP LA, a network of early- to mid-career professionals committed to a more equitable and inclusive philanthropic sector. Prior to The Ahmanson Foundation, Sara served as a Research Assistant at Project Zero, an education research center at Harvard University.  Sara’s professional experience also includes several years in fundraising and strategic development for the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization P.S. ARTS. Sara holds a B.A. from Ithaca College and an Ed.M. from Harvard University.  She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Development at University of Southern California.

Alba Bautista manages early childhood development and early learning investments and partnerships.

Prior to joining CCF, Bautista led strategic partnership grantmaking at First 5 LA, with a focus on strengthening early childhood services and improving outcomes for young children. She previously worked at the United Nations Foundation as a senior program officer for Data2X, where she managed cross-sector research partnerships to demonstrate how better data on women and girls can guide gender equality policies. She also supported advocacy efforts to raise awareness on the importance of increasing gender data availability and use, particularly in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. With an international NGO, Bautista managed agricultural development and social inclusion programs in Colombia, Peru, Philippines, Tanzania, and Vietnam.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and international development studies from UCLA, and a master’s in international affairs, with a focus on Latin American Studies, from UCSD’s School of Global Policy and Strategy.

Sonia Campos-Rivera, Senior Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs, leads Early Childcare Education (ECE) efforts with UNITE-LA and the business community. In her role, she is tasked with drafting, identifying and supporting policies that support a coordinated system.

Previously, Campos-Rivera served as an appointed member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education, a policy-driven body tasked with developing strategic solutions to improve outcomes for California’s youngest learners and their families. Additionally, Campos-Rivera served in the statewide Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force, which was tasked with developing statewide recommendations to ending deep poverty in California by 50 percent.

Prior to joining UNITE-LA, Campos-Rivera served as a policy liaison for California Speaker Emeritus, Fabian Núñez, represented former State Senator Gilbert Cedillo and served as a legislative aid for Assemblymember Dave Jones. She is also a former Planning Commissioner for the City of South Gate, where she served more than six years and helped guide the city towards opportunities to expand early education facilities in the Southeast Los Angeles communities.

When Campos-Rivera is not working, you can find her tending to her garden or spending quality time with her family.

Carrie Dunbar Miller is the Senior Manager for the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office’s Policy Implementation and Alignment Branch. In this role, she oversees the Poverty Alleviation Initiative; Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative; Women and Girls Initiative; Chief Information Office; Center for Strategic Partnerships; and Service Integration Branch. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the Poverty Alleviation Initiative where she developed a Board-adopted Countywide strategic framework for alleviating poverty; led the launch of the County’s $50.9 million guaranteed income program, Breathe, the largest and longest-running program in the country; and led several large-scale strategies for addressing poverty. Prior to this, she served as the Assistant Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Child Protection where she led a variety of initiatives in the areas of prevention, child safety, and data sharing. Before this, Miller served as the Manager for the Chief Executive Office’s Service Integration Branch (SIB), overseeing the Countywide Gang Strategy, Education Coordinating Council, Information Technology Infrastructure Development Unit, Research and Evaluation Unit, Contracting and Administrative Support Unit, Housing and Homeless Unit, and various initiatives integrating services for system-involved youth across departments. Before joining SIB, she served as the Director of the Los Angeles County Education Coordinating Council, a collaborative body charged with raising the educational achievement of foster and probation youth. Miller received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Howard University.

September Jarrett is a program officer for the Education program of the Heising-Simons Foundation, focusing on policy and systems change in California. Prior to her work at the Foundation, September served as executive director of San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education, as well as program director at the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund. Early in her career, she helped develop the Child Care Facilities Fund of the Low Income Investment Fund, an award-winning public-private partnership designed to expand the supply of high-quality early care and education facilities.

Mabel Muñoz currently leads the Early Childhood Development Initiative – U.S. at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. In her role, she oversees a grantmaking portfolio that supports young children’s healthy development and improved economic and health outcomes for their families and communities.

Mabel recently worked at the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE), leading the Early Childhood Programs department. She was responsible for implementing several initiatives that supported the early learning and care field in preparing children for school and life. Prior to joining VCOE, Mabel worked at First 5 Los Angeles, where she managed an $86 million grantmaking portfolio focused on early care and education, workforce development, policy and advocacy, and health. Mabel holds a Master of Business Administration from the Graziadio School of Business Management at Pepperdine University and a BA in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles.

She resides in Camarillo, California, with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 8.

Rachel was born and raised in Los Angeles. She attended University of California, Irvine for two years, transferring to Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon where she received her B.A in Philosophy. After living in Portland for 10 years, Rachel returned to Los Angeles and received a Certificate in Graphic Design from Otis College of Art & Design. She pursued freelance design and then in 2003 was selected as the next Executive Director of her family’s foundation, Roth Family Foundation. She served in that role until December 2012, and remains an active trustee/board member of the Foundation. She is currently leading the Foundation in a special anniversary grantmaking program plan for 2016, which will celebrate the Foundation’s 50th anniversary since its founding. Rachel was hired as the Program Officer for The Crail-Johnson Foundation in August 2013.

Rachel currently serves on the board of the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation. She also serves as an Advisory board member of Peer Health Exchange – Los Angeles. She sits on the Executive Committee and Investment Committee of the Partnership for Early Childhood Investment and co-chairs a donor-advised fund at Liberty Hill Foundation.

She served on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles for 6 years, chairing the Education Task Force, as well as volunteering as a sex education high school speaker with the organization for two years. Rachel also served on the Advisory Committee for Liberty Hill Foundation’s annual CHANGE LA event and the Membership Committee of Southern CA Grantmakers.

John A. Wagner is the Executive Vice President of First 5 LA’s Center for Child and Family Impact (CCFI). In this role, John is responsible for leading the CCFI’s systems change efforts to change policy and practice and build public will to prioritize and improve outcomes for young children in Los Angeles County.

John first joined the early childhood advocacy and public grantmaking organization as Chief Operating Officer in December 2012, building on his nearly two decades of experience in running a number of state departments in the health and human services arena. In August 2016, John was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President. Prior to joining First 5 LA, John served as Director of the California Department of Community Services and Development from 2011-2012, and Director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) from 2007-2011. At CDSS, he oversaw a budget of over $20 billion and programs affecting California’s most vulnerable residents including foster children and youth; children and families receiving aid through the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs); and children and adults in state-licensed community care facilities.

John has served as senior policymaker and advisor to both Republican and Democratic administrations in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and California. Prior to coming to California, he served as the Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, where he coordinated policies and programs across many state agencies. Additionally, John served as the state’s Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, overseeing the state welfare agency from 2002 to 2007.

John earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University.

Parker has spent more than 25 years working in philanthropy and non-profit cause-related work. His expertise spans a broad range of issues from early childhood development and education reform to social justice. Working with family foundations to some of the nation’s largest funders such as the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Parker has helped shape their strategic plans, giving priorities, and communications strategies. He enjoys working with philanthropists and nonprofits to help them take their nascent ideas or programs, develop an appropriate plan for growth, and nurture the model into a successful vehicle for positive social change. Over his career, Parker has served in a variety of capacities, from grassroots organizer and nonprofit executive to business leader and grantmaker. These experiences have made him comfortable with change, exploring new ideas and strategies, and bringing new programs, initiatives, and ventures to scale.

Kaci Patterson brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Always with an eye toward human and community development, Kaci works with philanthropic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and public entities to design, operationalize and manage strategic racial justice initiatives from concept to implementation.

Prior to consulting, Kaci held entry-to-executive-level roles within the nonprofit sector, leading capacity building, education advocacy, and social justice initiatives where she facilitated networks of organizations and served over 1,000 civil society leaders and public officials worldwide. In addition to managing multi-million-dollar grant-making portfolios in the United States and abroad, Kaci has created programs recognized as breakthrough contributions in her field: the School Boards and Community Engagement Initiative (2011), B.L.A.C.C. (Building Leaders and Cultivating Change), a grassroots social activism fund (2014), and the Black Equity Initiative/Black Equity Collective (2017/2021). She has received several community and philanthropic awards for her work and was selected into the 2019 inaugural class of The Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellowship.

She has served as the Chief Strategist of the Black Equity Initiative since its inception in 2017, a racial justice philanthropic initiative she designed, and now serves as the Founder and Chief Architect of the Black Equity Collective, which launched in 2021 under her leadership. Kaci also leads the philanthropic engagement efforts of the AAIMM Prevention Initiative in her role as Senior Director for the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment and as a Strategic Liaison for the Center for Strategic Partnerships.

Kaci sits on the board of Social Justice Partners—Los Angeles, Tides Advocacy, and is a state commissioner in the Department of Consumer Affairs. She is a certified mediator, a graduate of Pepperdine, and holds an MBA in Organizational Management & Leadership from the University of LaVerne.

Nadia Diaz Funn is the founder and CEO of Cora Consulting, LLC, a Los Angeles-based firm focused on supporting national, regional and local philanthropic and nonprofit organizations to maximize their impact through strategic advising, planning, capacity building and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to launching Cora in 2023, Diaz Funn served as a Portfolio Manager for Ballmer Group, where she led the organization’s regional and statewide K-12 and post-secondary education

portfolios. During her tenure at Ballmer Group, Diaz Funn secured over one hundred and fifty million dollars for local and statewide nonprofits and public institutions to advance equity-centered policies and programs that foster greater access to higher education and degree completion.

Prior to her work at Ballmer Group, Diaz Funn served as the Executive Director of the Alliance for a Better Community, a nonprofit promoting the economic prosperity of the Latino community and the greater Los Angeles region, inclusive of an improved quality of life for Latinos in education, health, and civic participation. During her tenure at ABC, she led numerous campaigns to increase educational opportunities for LAUSD students, strengthen parent engagement and choice, and expand access to higher education.

Diaz Funn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Master of Public Management degree from the University of Maryland. She is a former California Executive Fellow and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Families In Schools, EdTrust, Alder Graduate School of Education and the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges.

Diaz Funn was born and raised in unincorporated East Los Angeles. She attended local Catholic and public schools, wherein her passion for learning and desire for social justice were seeded and nurtured by loving parents, great teachers, counselors, coaches, and principals. Her experiences as a first-generation Latinx college student are foundational to her life’s work as an advocate for high-quality public education and civic engagement. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.

Jennifer “JG” Gregg is a seasoned nonprofit consultant with over 20 years of experience in philanthropy, advocacy, and nonprofit management. She has worked extensively with C3, C4, and 527 organizations in executive leadership and development roles, helping mission-driven organizations build capacity, expand resources, and strengthen their impact. Her expertise spans fundraising, grant writing, strategic planning, finance, and operations, making her a trusted advisor for nonprofits, advocacy groups, and NGOs.

Jennifer’s deep commitment to equity and social change is rooted in her personal experiences. As the child of a deaf parent, she developed a strong connection to advocacy at a young age. Her nonprofit leadership journey began as a teenager, serving as a junior board member of the Hearing Loss Association of America’s (formerly SHHH) Northern Virginia chapter. Over the years, she has remained dedicated to advancing equity, having served on numerous boards and committees, including the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund’s Campaign Board (Washington, DC), Westside Family Health Center (Los Angeles, CA), and the Franklinton Arts District (Columbus, OH).

Jennifer is committed to strengthening the nonprofit sector through education and mentorship. She has completed advanced training and certifications in fundraising, nonprofit finance, and organizational management from the Center for Nonprofit Management and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. As a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), she actively mentors emerging nonprofit professionals, ensuring the next generation of leaders is equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive meaningful change. Additionally, Jennifer is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), reflecting her dedication to effective nonprofit governance and organizational development.

With a deep understanding of nonprofit ecosystems and a passion for capacity building, Jennifer continues to empower organizations to achieve sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Mary brings over three decades of program management experience at non-profits, funder collaboratives, technology, and media companies. Mary is currently the Program Manager for the LA Partnership, where she provides day-to-day program support to the collaborative. Mary has served a variety of local, state, and national nonprofit organizations, providing financial management, event planning, grant writing, technical assistance, and program management services. Prior to her work with the LA Partnership, Mary worked as a Senior Producer with the Walt Disney Company’s online team and before moving to Los Angeles, she spent her career in Washington, D.C. working as a project manager for an international trade association and as a producer for Philips Media Educational Software.

Diamond Lee, MSW, is a racial equity advocate, coach, therapist, and consultant. She is the founder and principal consultant of Liberation By Design ®, LLC. Diamond Lee facilitates individual, community, and systems-level interventions that focus on impacting Black women and involve leading participatory processes that share power and decision-making with systems-impacted people and communities. She has extensive experience managing a portfolio of projects that leverage government, philanthropic, and community resources toward that end.

Diamond Lee has conducted equity audits, led organizational capacity-building projects, and facilitated the development of racial equity strategic plans for several organizations and initiatives. In collaboration with community partners, Diamond co-created and implemented a racial equity framework for the Los Angeles County Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) Initiative. She played an integral role as one of the founding leaders of the Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative. Also, she co-founded and currently co-facilitates two lived experience advisory bodies to share policy and program design decision-making power with institutional leaders.

She is committed to strengthening her purpose and practice by integrating ancestral healing and spiritual practices into her mission to advance the liberation of Black people.

Diamond received her M.S.W. from the University of Southern California and her B.A. in English and History from Emory University. She enjoys traveling, hanging with her dog, Benji, spending time with family and friends, and practicing the healing arts.

Araceli Sandoval-Gonzalez is a mission-driven consultant with expertise in public relations, policy analysis, government affairs, philanthropic fund management, and grant-writing. She has two decades of experience championing education and social justice issues at the local, state, and national levels. Her tenacity and keen ability to cultivate relationships have resulted in several local and state budgetary and policy wins for early care and education, transitional kindergarten, expanded TK, teacher professional development, and maternal mental health. Araceli began her career working for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, California Association for Bilingual Education, and Early Edge California.

Araceli currently serves on the LAUSD Facilities Bond Oversight Committee as an executive member is the Board Chairwoman for East Los Angeles Community Corp (ELACC), an affordable housing non-profit, and is also a board member for Latinas Lead California. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.