Community Advisory Board

Community Advisory Board

PBS SoCal’s community engagement efforts with its viewers and supporters would not be possible without the help of the Community Advisory Board (CAB). This active group of volunteer leaders is the station's eyes and ears of the community and plays an integral part of the planning and implementation of many of the stations’ outreach programs.

Their function, as mandated by Congress in 1979, is to advise the governing body of PBS SoCal with respect to whether the programming and other policies are meeting the educational and cultural needs of the various communities served by the station.

The Community Advisory Board members represent diverse constituencies that are engaged with a wide array of issues such as aging/senior citizens, cultural diversity, disabilities, culture and the arts, LGBTQ rights, economy, family, health/medical services, media services, substance abuse, science/technology, youth, and education/schools.

The CAB meets on a quarterly basis with an annual onboarding retreat for new members in August.

Community Advisory Board Mission

Be a Bridge to Our Local Communities

Brand ambassadors who 1) promote PBS SoCal in the community 2) become a critical channel to access and involve community experts, leaders and members through a well-developed community contact database 3) share open positions and encourage diversity of hiring of PBS SoCal staff and leadership.

Contribute to Content Strategy  

Serve as a strategic resource for PBS SoCal to ensure programming is both relevant and representative of the community by 1) providing thematic community level insights that support the programming strategy and 2) provide support to our production development process through stakeholder introductions and community connections.

Be Extenders of Content Impact  

Co-creators of community connections, partnerships, and local experiences connected to PBS SoCal programming and local content that result in measurable impact.

Four Strategic Pillars

The CAB has developed a multi-year strategic plan that involves four key strategic pillars: 

• Pillar 1: Extend the scope and impact of the Local Heroes program and new similar programs
• Pillar 2: Broaden and expand community input and insight into PBS SoCal programming
• Pillar 3: Extend and strengthen impact of programming beyond the program premiere
• Pillar 4: Optimize CAB impact through strengthened connection to PBS SoCal strategy and leadership

Community Advisory Board Members

Chair: Laarni Rosca Dacanay

Laarni Rosca Dacanay is an award-winning internal/employee communications leader with 20 years of experience in media and entertainment. With a focus on Diversity, Equity + Inclusion (DEI), she is committed to representation in media, from interns to the C-suite, above and below the line, and in newsrooms. Her professional experience includes "The Bachelor" Franchise (NZK Productions/Warner Horizon Unscripted Television), NBCUniversal Corporate Diversity, Focus Features, NBC, and TIME Magazine. 

A community leader and DEI advocate, Laarni is Chair, PBS SoCal Community Advisory Board and she previously served as Chair, PBS SoCal Asian Pacific Islander Community Council. As a former PBS kid and the first-born of immigrant parents, she counts the early childhood education she received from public broadcasting as one of her first "teachers," and it's that impact which motivates her community leadership in public media. Additionally, she serves on the FilAm ARTS Advisory Board; National Association of Black Journalists Los Angeles Chapter Advocacy Committee; Public Relations Society of America's National DEI Committee, is Co-Producer, Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca and Toronto, and is active with the Television Academy.

Born and raised in Ohio, she holds a B.A., Communications from California State University, Fullerton, where she was the Keynote Speaker at CSUF's 10th Pilipino American Graduation. Laarni is based in Southern California (or where "Bachelor in Paradise" is filming).

Vice Chair: Bobby Kobara

Bobby Kobara serves as the Vice Chair of the PBS SoCal Community Advisory Board and he has been a member of the CAB since 2018. He is a social impact leader focused on building diverse partnership networks and leading effective community outreach and engagement programs to deliver measurable results through civic, social, and technological innovation. His experience spans developing programs that promoted an affordable healthy option that alleviates food insecurity with Everytable, increasing the adoption of a financial technology solution addressing the wealth gap with Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), and maximizing participation in the Census in historically undercounted communities with the LA Mayor's Office.

Soraya Ahyaudin

Soraya Ahyaudin directs the American Muslim Civic Leadership Initiative at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC).

Before joining CRCC, Soraya worked in the fields of public diplomacy, educational exchanges and capacity building. She was the program assistant at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, where she managed the center’s event programming, professional training opportunities and office management. Her work experience also includes assistant registrar at the international office of Universiti Sains Malaysia, and assistant director with the Public Service Department of Malaysia. Her diverse work experience has cultivated her interest in the intersections of faith diplomacy with globalization and diaspora narratives and sentiments.

Soraya has an ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Imam an-Nawawi and another ijazah in the Forty Hadith of Palestine. She graduated from the Master of Public Diplomacy program at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in 2015. Soraya also has a Master's degree in Science and Environmental Journalism from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Journalism) from MARA University of Technology, Malaysia.

Albert Chang

Albert Chang is the Principal of APC Advisers Inc., an Advocacy, Public Affairs, and Community Relations consulting firm based in Los Angeles County, with over 25 years of experience helping elected officials, non-profit organizations, and private companies navigate the complicated world of government, politics, and personalities.

In 2003, Albert was the youngest Chinese-American elected to public office in California, where he served on the Governing Board of Education for the Rowland Unified School District until voluntarily stepping down in 2007.

Current community involvement includes 211 LA County, Signal Hill Community Foundation, San Gabriel Valley Public Affairs Network, Northeast Orange County Rotary Club, and PBS SoCal Community Advisory Board.

Albert earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of La Verne, and two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Irvine.

Nancy De Los Santos

Beginning her professional career in Chicago, Nancy De Los Santos was the assistant producer of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel’s PBS film review program “Sneak Previews” and the producer of the syndicated “At The Movies” with Siskel & Ebert. Under her tutelage the show was nominated for two national Emmys. Having learned from these two giants of film journalism that “it all begins on the page,” Nancy returned to her first passion – writing. She moved to Los Angeles and joined with other like-minded Latino producers and writers committed to creating realistic Latino/a images for television and the silver screen.

She is the Associate Producer of Gregory Nava's "My Family, Mi Familia" and "Selena" starring Jennifer Lopez. She’s written for television shows "Resurrection Blvd.," "American Family," and "East Los High." She co-produced and co-wrote the feature documentary, "The Bronze Screen: One Hundred Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood Cinema." The production was supported by Latino Public Broadcasting. 

Today, Nancy is the producer and writer of an independent feature film now in post-production. The feature script, "Say A Little Prayer," was invited to Equinox, the Sundance of Europe, and work-shopped with respected writer Delia Ephron ("Sleepless In Seattle," "You’ve Got Mail"). This romantic comedy with a Latina heart tells the story of three amigas who recite an ancient prayer that guarantees they'll find their true love. Chaos ensues and their friendships are tested before a very happy ending. Set in San Antonio, Texas, the film stars Vannessa Vasquez and international singing sensation, Luis Fonsi.

Delia Ephron invited Nancy to submit for the theatre production “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” co-written and directed by Nora Ephron.  Nancy wrote about her prized clothing possession as an urban teenage Latina – a gang sweater. Her story was included in staged productions of the play in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Mexico City.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Radio, TV, and Film from the University of Texas, Austin, and attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, receiving her Masters in Communications.

Rafaela Diaz

Rafaela Diaz, a proud first-generation college graduate from Kern County, Bakersfield, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. With over 13 years of experience, Rafaela's career began at Transtech, where she played a key role in supporting Building, Safety, and Planning Departments across Southern California cities.

In addition to her professional engagements, Rafela Diaz was named the first ever Miss Latina Global, proudly representing Mexico in 2011 in the Miss Latina Global Pageant. Upon achieving victory, she was able to make use of her title to greatly serve and inspire Latino communities while also maintaining her professional work. Her journey continued in 2014 at Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). There, as an engineer, Rafaela made notable contributions to public safety through her involvement in a major capital project focused on the safety of SoCalGas' pipeline system.

Her expertise also extended to regulatory affairs, where she managed corporate-wide teams' participation in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission as a Regulatory Case Manager. Rafaela has since returned to Transtech, now in Client relations, Governmental/Public Affairs and Business Development, where she uses her experience in engineering to ensure success in project deliveries for client cities. Beyond her professional endeavors, Rafaela is an active member of the Bell Chamber of Commerce, the non-profit Embracing Latina Leadership Alliances (ELLAS), and the Alhambra Educational Foundation (AEF), showcasing her dedication to both her profession and her community. 

Daniel Fernandez

Daniel Fernandez is a dedicated advocate for equitable access to capital and economic empowerment, particularly within communities of color, Latino, and African American populations. Raised in the vibrant cultural landscape of the Bay Area, Daniel's formative years were shaped by the resilience and ingenuity of his community, where informal and entrepreneurial endeavors played pivotal roles in sustaining livelihoods.

Drawing upon his cultural roots and a career trajectory in finance, Daniel embarked on a mission to bridge the gap in financial resources for underserved populations across the nation. With an unwavering commitment to social impact, he has spearheaded innovative programs and products aimed at democratizing access to responsible capital. Through his efforts, Daniel has facilitated the deployment of over $100 million in alternative micro-capital, collaborating with various banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).

Now serving as CEO of TMC Community Capital, Daniel leads the organization in its mission to revolutionize the community lending industry. His leadership marks a pivotal moment in the organization's journey, as he navigates towards creating a transformative framework that fosters systemic change and economic mobility. Daniel's vision transcends traditional lending models, championing inclusivity and equity as core principles.

At the heart of Daniel's approach is a steadfast commitment to innovative solutions and social justice. He envisions a future where every individual, irrespective of background or circumstance, has the opportunity to realize their version of success. Grounded in this ethos, Daniel is dedicated to dismantling barriers, amplifying voices, and fostering an ecosystem where prosperity is within reach for all.

Jorge Herrera

Jorge Herrera Avila is a beacon of leadership and community empowerment in the San Gabriel Valley. With over 15 years of dedicated service at SoCalGas and now as the Municipal Relations Manager at Republic Services, Jorge has consistently exemplified excellence and passion for uplifting others. 

His commitment to community engagement is profound, evident through his past involvement as a commissioner in the City of San Gabriel's Commission, where he focused on promoting humanity, access, and inclusion. Additionally, Jorge proudly serves as an honorary field representative for State Treasurer Fiona Ma, furthering his impact in advocating for positive change. 

Jorge's dedication extends beyond his professional roles. As the founder of San Gabriel for Change (SG4C), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and the community through leadership and service opportunities, he has sparked a movement of inspiration and transformation. Through SG4C, Jorge has created platforms for young leaders to thrive and for the community to unite in purposeful action. 

His leadership shines through in every endeavor, from uniting PBS SoCal/KCET, and SoCalGas for an empowering segment on Cesar Chavez, to advocating for critical issues that resonate with the heart of the community. Jorge's actions speak louder than words, and his unwavering dedication serves as a guiding light for others to follow. 

In Jorge Herrera Avila, we find not just a leader, but a true visionary and catalyst for positive change. His impact is felt far and wide, and his commitment to uplifting the community and empowering the next generation is an inspiration to us all.

Charmaine Jefferson

Through her company, Kélan Resources, Charmaine Jefferson delivers customized consulting services to meet institutional strategic planning, management, board development, budgeting, cultural competency and public relation goals across multiple disciplines. Jefferson is dedicated to integrating art, history, culture, business and diversity into the DNA of education, community, philanthropy, public and private collaborations.  With clients nationwide, Jefferson’s specialty services also include project, show and event production, and creative curation, implementation and post-assessment.   

In addition to having performed as a professional concert dancer, and holding a B.A. in Dance from UCLA, M.A. in Dance Education from New York University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, Jefferson brings to her customized consulting services 40+ years of experience in arts administration. Some of Jefferson’s leadership positions and experience include:  Executive Director of both the California African American Museum and Dance Theatre of Harlem; Director of Show Development for Disney Entertainment Productions; Vice President of Business Affairs for de Passe Entertainment; Deputy & Acting Commissioner of the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs; Associate Attorney at the law firm of Holland & Knight; and, Sr. Dance Program Specialist for the National Endowment for the Arts.  

A strong believer in the value that nonprofits bring to society, Jefferson is a steadfast believer in volunteer service. She currently is Chairman of the Board Trustees of the California Institute of the Arts; member of the Advisory Board of the LA Chamber Orchestra; working member of Our Author’s Study Club; and member of the PBS SoCal Community Advisory Board, for whom she moderated in 2023 a social issues committee virtual panel discussion entitled “Homelessness and the Unhoused in Los Angeles.”  A sampling of a few of her past volunteer commitments include: serving as a mayoral appointed Commissioner for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; gubernatorial appointee to the California Arts Council; Board Treasurer of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; and on the Board of Arts for LA.

Dr. Wenli Jen

Dr. Wenli Jen is an educational consultant, motivational speaker, professor, and learning and development professional. Dr. Jen has served as a consultant for the past 20 years. She is the Chief Executive Officer for the boutique consulting firm, Integral Prudence Solutions, which specializes in working with businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and health organizations. 

For over a decade, Dr. Jen directed programs in gang prevention, child abuse prevention, and substance abuse prevention and worked with public and community health initiatives. She has developed programs for at-risk youth and low-income families. Her expertise in human development, psychology, and education is connected to her work in leadership, strategic planning, community relations, talent development, program design, implementation, and evaluation. Her interests include working with diverse populations in developing strategies to increase motivation, reduce social isolation, promote resiliency and provide alternatives for health and wellness. 

Dr. Jen's career in motivational speaking spanning two decades has culminated to her TEDx talks for TEDxPCC in repurposing negative energy and TEDxCityofIndustry Youth in "Dare to Be My Age." In her current role, she focuses on talent development, specifically in instructional design and executive coaching. At the national level, she served as a National Advisory Council member for the U.S. Health and Human Services Center for Mental Health Services in her appointment from 2016 to 2021. Currently, she serves as President for Chinese American Citizens Alliance – Los Angeles, the longest serving Asian American civil rights organization. She also serves as co-chair for Harvard Graduate School of Education Los Angeles Region Alumni Ambassadors, and she is a member of the Sierra Madre Playhouse Asian American Cultural Alliance that promotes diversity on theater stages. 

Dr. Jen received her education from University of Southern California, Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology; Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, Ed.M., Human Development and Psychology; University of California, Irvine, Administrative Credentials; University of California, Irvine, Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential with CLAD; University of California, Irvine, B.A., Social Science with specialization in Public and Community Service, minor in Educational Studies; Dale Carnegie, Certificate, Effective Communication and Human Relations; CSU Dominguez Hills, Certificate, Higher Education Administration and Leadership; and University of California, Berkeley, Certificate, Data Science.

Alexander C. Kim

Alexander Kim is Founder & Principal of Three Kings Public Affairs, a government, business & community affairs consulting company helping with clients with accessing the government and providing outreach to community leaders in the Southern California region. With over 20 years of  experience in government and community affairs, he served in the positions of Central Area Director  for City of Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, Deputy Director-Greater L.A. Region to State of  California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senior Advisor to City of Los Angeles Councilmember  David Ryu (4th District), Public Affairs/Community Manager of SoCalGas (a Sempra Energy utility), &  most recently as District Director to State of California Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (73rd District) representing the beach cities of South Orange County. 

Alexander has been appointed to many domestic and international government commissions. For the State of California, he has represented the Board of Optometry, Board of Naturopathic Medicine Committee, & Board of Behavioral Sciences. He currently serves on the government committees for the Orange County District Attorney - Korean-American Advisory Board & the Orange County Transportation Agency (OCTA) Diverse Community Leaders Committee. Alexander also graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) Citizens Academy to provide community assistance to the agency. He is a U.S. Navy Ambassador as a “Key Influencer” to help recruit ethnically diverse Naval officers. Recently, he has been appointed by the Republic of Korea Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Energy as, one of eight Honorary Ambassadors around the world to help connect American businesses on the U.S. West Coast to trade with Korean industry. 

Alexander graduated with a MBA from Pepperdine University and is a frequent guest lecturer on campus as a subject matter expert on government/public affairs. He is a Network of Korean Americans (NetKAL) Fellow at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work.  Alexander obtained a B.S. in Biology/Minor in Political Science at the University of California at Irvine (UCI) where he co-founded the UCI Korean American Alumni Chapter as its founding president and remains active as an alumni in the Anteater community.

Tova Leibovic-Douglas

Tova Leibovic-Douglas (she/her) is a Rabbi, spiritual counselor, ritualist, educator, facilitator, speaker, podcaster and consultant based in Los Angeles. She has created, developed, and implemented programs for many communities, including Community Mikveh at American Jewish University, Beit T'shuvah, Ikar, Miller Introduction to Judaism Program, NuRoots, Sinai Temple, and Camp Ramah. 

Tova believes that each of us is a unique holy soul and is determined to build a world where everyone knows this truth and feels a sense of belonging. She is the founder and director of The Ritual House, a space that invites individuals, groups, and organizations to access ritual pathways through The Ritual House Podcast, downloadables, spiritual care circles, new moon gatherings, spiritual coaching and more. She received her BA in Jewish Gender Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a BA in Art History from Columbia University and is an alum of several fellowships including: the Center for Rabbinic Innovation, M2, and NewGround. 

Tova is also an Education Specialist and worked as a resource specialist before attending Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, where she earned her MA and ordination in 2018. Tova and her husband, Austin, are parents to two unique individuals who teach them the art of living in the moment. She is a proud work-in-progress and an advocate for looking up at the moon and ritualizing the little things.

Michael A. Mata

Michael A. Mata is an admitted city lover, who has conducted workshops, seminars, and courses across the globe on the role of the faith community in bringing positive community transformation in marginal neighborhoods.  His experience in nonprofit work, background in higher education, training in urban planning, and extensive engagement in community building makes him a sought-after instructor, speaker, and consultant.  Currently, he is the Director of Network Engagement & Leadership Development for TogetherLA.  Most recently he was the director of the graduate program in Transformational Urban Leadership at Azusa Pacific University.  His prior assignments have included the Tools for Transformation Director for World Vision U.S. Programs, the Mildred M. Hutchinson Assistant Professor of Urban Ministry and Director of the Urban Leadership Institute at the Claremont School of Theology.

Melanie Mathis

Melanie Mathis is excited to be a part of PBS SoCal in the capacity of a Community Advisory Board member. Melanie has an extensive history of working with communities through her employment with the Social Services Agency. Her employment gave her experience in engaging and collaborating with non-profit organizations and volunteer groups to provide services to the underserved and to families in crisis.  

She was part of the team that developed the Families and Communities Together (FaCT) multimillion dollar contracts, supporting families through community-based collaboratives operating family resource centers. These centers are serving the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Lake Forest, Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Stanton, Tustin and Westminster. Melanie developed contracts in partnership with non-profits, cities, and faith-based organizations. The services include providing basic needs, after school programs, counseling and 24-hour crisis response for families.

She was responsible for the procurement, development and administration of all Emancipation and Independent Living Program contracts in Orange County for a period of 5 years. The contracts included partnerships with non-profits, community colleges, local housing agencies, school districts and institutions of higher education, with the goal of assisting youth exiting the foster care system.

As a volunteer in the community, Melanie coordinated the collection and distribution of clothing, food, and toiletries for the homeless in the city of Orange for 12 years. 

Each of these experiences has given her insight into how important it is to stay connected with the needs of families in each community. Melanie looks forward to bringing their voices to the Community Advisory Board. 

Melanie was born in Inglewood and raised in the city of Orange. She currently resides in Anaheim Hills. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. She owned and operated a clothing store in Fullerton, she obtained a pharmacy technician license, and she did commercial work for television and cable for 8 years. She enjoys a variety of work experiences in addition to her 31 years with the County of Orange Social Services Agency. She is actively involved in many charities and community groups.

Melanie enjoys reading, attending jazz events and hiking.

Denise L. McIver, MAAM,MLS

"Whenever I have the opportunity to assist an information-seeker, whether it is a 9-year-old researching the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or a curator or Ph.D. candidate conducting research on an artist, I am thrilled. My goals have always been to support intellectual curiosity and the information needs of a wide variety of stakeholders," says Denise L. McIver, who has served as the Research Librarian at the California African American Museum since 2012.

Prior to becoming a librarian, Denise had a long career in the entertainment industry – first, in Programming for CBS Entertainment developing projects for the network, and later in production during the second season of NBC’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” But it was her love of hip hop and R&B music that led her to carve out a successful career in music and venue media relations. She has applied her writing and media marketing skills to Warner Bros. Records, Hidden Beach Recordings, Universal Music Group/Perspective Records, and the House of Blues in Chicago and Los Angeles.

As a published author, she developed the proposal and marketing plan for “Droppin’ Science: Straight Up Talk from Hip Hop’s Greatest Voices,” which was sold to and published by Random House. Her written work has appeared in Vibe, Right On, Upscale, and Odyssey Couleur.

She is a native New Yorker who holds degrees from Fordham University, St. John's University and more recently, Claremont Graduate University with a concentration in Arts Management.  

Denise resides in Los Angeles, and during her leisure hours, she can be found stretching at the ballet barre several times a week, conducting in-depth genealogical research on her family or on long walks with her canine companions Phineas and Tessa.

Sarah Muñoz

Sarah Muñoz is an award-winning storyteller with more than 20 years of experience in brand communications. She creates and implements strategies that heighten brand awareness, increase engagement, and drive philanthropic support.

In her current role as Executive Director of Brand Initiatives at California State University, Long Beach, Sarah oversees the planning and execution of major marketing-communications projects impacting philanthropy, advocacy, and other institutional priorities.

Prior to her position at CSULB, she was senior director of marketing and communications for Mental Health America of Los Angeles, where she redirected the communications strategy for one of the largest mental health nonprofits in the country. 

Before pivoting to the nonprofit sector and higher education, Sarah spent more than a decade working in brand publishing as a travel writer and editorial director for tourism publications. Along the way she has found herself announcing departing flights in the island of Rhodes, losing her pants in South Africa's Orange River, and fishing for dinner up and down the Baja Peninsula. She has received professional awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the University of Arizona School of Journalism and the Florida Magazine Association.

Sarah's deep-rooted commitment to diversity and inclusion largely foretold her career path. She has purposefully chosen professional opportunities that allow her to celebrate and raise the voices of lesser recognized groups. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Sarah has a B.A. in Literature and an M.A. in International Relations.

Hope Pham

Hope Pham, a proud Vietnamese American, began her journey at UCLA, where her involvement in the Vietnamese Student Union and student association sparked her passion for community engagement and amplifying underrepresented voices. After graduating, she entered marketing and remains dedicated to supporting women's empowerment and gender equity. She currently works at a women-owned law firm, where she is involved in initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Representing the voices of Asian American and young adult communities, Hope is committed to ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in PBS SoCal's programming. 

Gary Phillips

Gary Phillips was shaped by years as a community activist around issues ranging from police abuse, the anti-apartheid movement, and economic inequality. He’s also been a union organizer, the outreach director for the Liberty Hill Foundation, and worked on local electoral campaigns. He’s currently a dues-paying member of the Writers Guild of America/West and seeks to create collaborations between the creative community and grassroots efforts at social change. 

Phillips has written various novels, short stories, comics, and edited anthologies such as the award-winning the “Obama Inheritance: Fifteen Stories of Conspiracy Noir.” He was a staff writer on “Snowfall,” an FX show streaming on Hulu about crack and the CIA in 1980s South Central where he grew up. And “Culprits,” also streaming on Hulu, is based on source material he conceived and co-edited, the linked anthology “Culprits: The Heist was Just the Beginning.” His latest novel, “Ash Dark as Night,” received a starred review in Publishers Weekly.

Darick J. Simpson

Darick J. Simpson is President of the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation. With his leadership The Miller Foundation transitioned from an invitation-only grant process to a more equitable open invitation. In addition, he has worked to form collaborations among local nonprofits and regional funders to share information and strategies that serve a greater community good. Before joining the Miller Foundation in 2019 Darick served as Executive Director of the Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP) and, as the Region IX Representative on the National Community Action Partnership Board. With his leadership LBCAP grew from 24 staff and a $1.3 million budget to a high point of 120 staff and $17 million. During this tenure, he also provided leadership in creating the Public Access Digital Network (PADNET.tv) which serves the Long Beach Community. PADENT has now grown its reputation for training community members, local teens and college interns from across the nation in video production.

Throughout his career, Darick has established an excellent reputation as a community leader with diverse experiences that include business development, community development, youth programs and entertainment. His myriad awards for Leadership and service excellence include prestigious regional and national recognition. In addition to corporate and community accomplishments, Darick is a motivational speaker, national CliftonStrengths Facilitator and a creative writer with four published books. He served as a member of the Recording Academy and a voting member of the Grammy Awards from 2008 - 2014. In 2020, he was honored to be selected as the California State University Long Beach, Leader in Residence. Darick is a proud father of twins, grandfather of five and alumni of the University of Alabama.

Loren Simpson

Southern California native, Loren Alexis Simpson, is a mother of four children ranging 3 – 16, a basketball lover, and a wife. Professionally, she is the former celebrity stylist and Director of Digital Communications for the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. Simpson oversaw digital strategy for Visit Long Beach, including content marketing, social media, public relations and eCommunications. She’s revamped the @visitLB voice on social media, doubling followings across platforms. National media wins include features in CNN Travel, MSN.com, Travel Age West, Orbitz and Travelocity.

Previously, she has worked under one the top celebrity stylists assisting on both cover shoots and red carpet looks for celebrities including Blake Lively, Ashlee Simpson, Molly Sims, and styled Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook, “My Father’s Daughter.” Simpson began fashion career as a Fashion Assistant for both Marie Claire and Domino Magazine. Was the content marketing strategist for celebrities and socialites alike. Currently, Simpson is a marketing and public relations strategist under her venture #expLOREN Strategies.

Since a child, her father instilled in her the importance of being an active member of her community. From planting gardens and community cleanups in her neighborhood as an adolescent to mentoring teens on entrepreneurship as a young single mom. Now she enlists her children in community work and being active members.

As part of the PBS SoCal Community Advisory Board, Simpson stands as a representative of families raising children check-to-check, in lower to mid-income neighborhoods striving to provide the best lives they can for their families and improve their communities. Loren Alexis Simpson is passionate about the digital space, travel, her community, and her family.