Hildred Brown

Hildred Brown is owner of Earlez Grille at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards. Ms. Brown is financial secretary for the Cowan Avenue Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Ms. Brown serves as room parent for Cowan Avenue Elementary Schools Room 19, 5th grade magnet class. She co-chaired the 2011 Culmination Class. Ms. Brown previously served as two-term executive vice president of the Cowan Avenue School Parent Teachers Association. Ms. Brown was a three-term board member on the 8th District Community Advisory Committee and two terms on the 8th District Empowerment Congress. Ms. Brown has served on the Leimert Park Steering Committee for the revitalization of the Leimert Park community. Ms. Brown has four sons and nine grandchildren.

Willie Brown
Willie Brown is founder and president of Ads Up Advertising, Inc., publisher of Inglewood Today, Todays Magazines and L.A. Crenshaw Today. Mr. Brown has spent more than 25 years in advertising, marketing and publishing specializing in serving small inner city businesses. Mr. Brown has served as vice president of the California Black Media Association and West Coast Black Publishers. He has served on the board of 100 Black Men of Los Angeles. He chaired the City of Inglewood Civil Service Board of Review, and founded the Inglewood Business Opportunity Network (lBON). Mr. Brown has served as a board member of the El Camino Community College Trust, Inglewood Boys and Girls Club, Inglewood Neighborhood Housing Service, Inglewood Redevelopment Project Area Committee, and Inglewood Airport Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Access to Capital and Credit Committee. Mr. Brown was named Publisher of the Year in 2008.

Roderick Castro, Ed.D.

Roderick Castro is assistant principal of Crenshaw High School and University of Southern California (USC) Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program. Dr. Castro implemented the first education intervention program targeting the specific needs of gifted Latino students who were underachieving academically in high school. Dr. Castro has served as an assistant principal at the elementary and middle school level. He has worked as an elementary school teacher, bilingual programs coordinator, and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program consultant. Dr. Castro earned his doctorate in Education from UCLA.

John Choi
John Choi is a mayoral appointee to the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioners. Mr. Choi previously served as economic development director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, representing more than 800,000 workers and more than 350 affiliated unions. Mr. Choi managed policy advocacy campaigns for the L.A. County Federation of Labor that result in the creation and preservation of living wage jobs, with a particular emphasis on implementation of project labor agreements, development of transportation infrastructure, renewable energy and green tech industries, affordable housing, development partnerships with high-road employers, and workforce development programs. Prior to working for the L.A. County Federation of Labor, Mr. Choi served as special assistant to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He previously served as senior area coordinator for Los Angeles City Councilmember Martin Ludlow. Mr. Choi received his Bachelors degree in History from UCLA. He received his Juris Doctorate from the UCLA School of Law.

Mary Jones-Darks
Mary Jones-Darks is president of the Baldwin Village Community In Action (BVCIA), a community organization that serves residents in the Baldwin Village neighborhood. Ms. Jones-Darks previously served with the Baldwin Village Community Action Network (BVCAN). Ms. Jones-Darks has been active in Baldwin Village community improvement, neighborhood beautification and civic affairs since 1996. Ms. Jones-Darks was an original member of the 8th District Empowerment Congress. She has served as a member of the Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB), Park Advisory Board (PAB) Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Development Council (ECWANDC), and Los Angeles Mayors Gang Reduction Program.

David Ford
David Ford serves as regional manager for local public affairs for Southern California Edison; one of largest investor-owned power utilities in the U.S. Mr. Ford has more than 17-years of experience in the utility industry. Mr. Ford has received a national energy efficiency award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FAME Renaissance Award for environmental protection and NAACP corporate award. Mr. Ford graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has attended UCLAs John E. Anderson School of Management. He has served on the boards for the American Red Cross, California African American Museum, American Association of Blacks in Energy and California State University Fullerton Advisory Board.

Arna M. Fulcher
Arna Fulcher is executive director of First Community Development Corporation, an affiliate of Inglewood-based First Church of GodCenter of Hope. Ms. Fulcher has served as chief financial officer for the California Family Health Council, California State Northridge University Student Union, California State University Los Angeles University Auxiliary Services and California Community Foundation. Ms. Fulcher has worked more than 30-years in finance and business development with small businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Los Angeles Business Journal nominated her as CFO of the Year for 2007 for excellence in financial management for nonprofit organizations. Ms. Fulcher graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a degree in Corporate Finance from the Marshall School of Business.

Rev. Marcos J. Gonzalez Pastor

Father Marcos J. Gonzalez is pastor of St. John Chrysostom Catholic Church in Inglewood, a parish of more than 9,800 families served by St. John Chrysostom Catholic School, a Pre-kindergarten through 8th grade parochial school. Fr. Gonzalez is spiritual advisor to the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders in Los Angeles, board member on the California Association of Natural Family Planning and treasurer of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. He has been honored as a Knight Commander in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Chaplain to the Western Commandery of the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem. Fr. Gonzalez has worked in healthcare and insurance. His ministerial training includes elder care; work with developmentally disabled residents; education of elementary, junior high and high school students; youth and adult detention ministry and hospital ministry. Fr. Gonzalez is a native of Havana, Cuba. He has lived in Los Angeles since the age of nine. He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy and Spanish Studies and Masters Degrees in Theology and Divinity.

Gene Hale
Gene Hale is chief executive officer of G&C Corporation, Gence Corporation and G&C Service and Supply Corporation three leading firms in the sale and leasing of construction equipment with offices in Los Angeles, Gardena, Washington, DC and Arlington, VA. Mr. Hale is chairman of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, Los Angeles Business Council, and Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission. Mr. Hale has been chairman of the Black Business Association of Los Angeles and the Federation of Minority Business Associations of Los Angeles. Mr. Hale is an Alabama native. He graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a degree in Business Administration.

Marvin K. Jackmon
Marvin K. Jackmon is region manager of Local Public Affairs for Southern California Edison (SCE) serving L.A. Countys South Bay area. He formerly served as a senior manager with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). He has more than 20-years experience in the utility industry. Mr. Jackmon manages government affairs activities for SCE in the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne, Compton, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. He is as a board member with the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce, and the Peninsula and Hawthorne Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Jackmon serves on the executive board of the Centinela Education Foundation. Mr. Jackmon studied for his Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Management from California State University Fresno. He also studied at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and Northern Arizona University.

Michael S. Jones
Michael S. Jones is chief executive officer of Los Angeles-based Success Management; a professional seminar firm specializing in personal life training and coaching for businesses and individuals. Mr. Jones serves as president and CEO of the Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. He is president of the City of Los Angeles Quality and Productivity Commission. Mr. Jones has served as a senior account sales and professional training executive for Burroughs Wellcome Pharmaceuticals Co., now known as GlaxoSmithKline plc. Mr. Jones served as development director for the YMCAs of South Los Angeles and Crenshaw YMCA, where he managed a staff of 70 and a $2 million annual budget. Mr. Jones is past president of the Friends of Baldwin Hills and former board member of the Baldwin Hills Estates Homeowners Association.

Patrick J. Jordan

Commander L. A.County Sheriffs Department

Commander Patrick J. Jordan is Chief of Los Angeles County Metro Police and Security. He commands 400 deputy sheriffs, 300 security officers and more than 50 support staff, providing security and law enforcement services for Metros bus and rail lines within Los Angeles County. He is a 27-year veteran of the L.A. County Sheriffs Department Commander Jordan is co-chair of the Surface Transportation Security Committee, a federal, state and local agency working group responsible for securing Southern Californias transit, freight rail and trucking infrastructure. He represents L.A. County on the Regional Transit Security Working Group and the Critical Infrastructure Sub-Committees for the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative. Commander Jordan has worked in field and investigative assignments in West Hollywood, Carson, Compton, Century, and Crescenta Valley. Commander Jordan was assigned to Transit Services as a Lieutenant in 2002. He promoted to Captain in 2005 and commanded the Transit Services North Bureau until his recent promotion to Commander, Homeland Security Division, Transit Services, in November of 2010. Commander Jordan earned his Bachelors degree in Political Science with a focus on Public Administration. Commander Jordan and his wife, Pierrette, have two children in college, Sean and Jenna Jordan.

Sharron King
Sharron King is general manager of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Ms. King oversees operations, finance, accounting, marketing, design, construction, administration and leasing at the 550,000-square-foot retail complex. She has more than 25-years experience in the shopping center industry. Ms. King served as marketing director for Carson Mall and oversaw the malls conversion to South Bay Pavilion at Carson. She began her career with the Hahn Company. Ms. King is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. She has served as an appointee on the City of Carson Economic Development Commission. Ms. King is a Los Angeles native and graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc T. Little
Marc T. Little, Esq. is a Los Angeles-based attorney and entrepreneur with a private practice specializing in business management and transactions involving music industry and professional sports clients. Mr. Little is President of Inglewood Partners for Progress and a board member of Forum Enterprises, Inc. He serves president of the L.A. City Commission for Community and Family Services and is a member of the Diversity Community Council for News Corporation, the parent company of FOX. Mr. Little is a graduate of USC. He received his law degree from the USC Gould School of Law.

Taylor Mayfield
Taylor Mayfield is a member of the board of SCOPE/AGENDA. Mr. Mayfield is president of Crenshaw Neighbors, Inc. He chairs the Empowerment Congress Public Safety and Justice Committee. He was two-term past president and a founding member of Baldwin Village Community in Action (BVCIA). Mr. Mayfield served five years on the 8th District Community Action Council (CAC). He also served on the West Area Neighborhood Development Council and 8th District Empowerment Congress. Mr. Mayfield has been an active member of the Crenshaw community for more than 20-years.

Minister Sylvia V. Reid

Sylvia Reid is director of Auxiliaries and Guest Services for West Angeles Church of God in Christ. She is a licensed minister at First Church of God Center of Hope. Minister Reid manages more than 100 auxiliaries at West Angeles Church overseeing all arrangements for West Angeles Churchs ecumenical, political, social service, and artistic community guests. Minister Reid studied Organizational Leadership and Development at Biola University. She has served on the local, regional and national level with the Church of God. She served as executive coordinator for First Lady Serita Jakes of the T.D. Jakes Ministries and executive administrator for Dr. Wanda Davis-Turner. Minister Reid is the eldest daughter of Lady Pearl Reid and the late Bishop Benjamin F. Reid, past presiding prelate of the National Association of the Church of God.

Linda Ricks
Linda Ricks is chair of the Crenshaw/Slauson Community Advisory Committee. She serves on the Bylaws, Planning and Land Use Committee of the Park Mesa Heights Community Council and previously chaired the Park Mesa Heights Community Council Election Committee. Ms. Ricks is past president of Friends of Hyde Park Library. She is a member of Hyde Park Organization for Partnership Empowerment (HOPE) and Grandparents and Books (GAB). Ms. Ricks has been a Los Angeles resident for more than 40-years and a Hyde Park resident for the past 16-years. Ms. Ricks is a parent of two children. She has three grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Denny Schneider
Denny Schneider has held numerous science and management positions in the aerospace industry. He has spent several years working on the update committee for the Westchester-Playa Del Rey Community Plan. Mr. Schneider is a member of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Advisory Board for Integrated Planning for Water and Recycled Water. Mr. Schneider has been a 12-year member on the Neighborhood Council Westchester-Playa, past president of the Westchester Neighbors Association, president of Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion (ARSAC), chair of the LAX-Community Noise Roundtable and executive board member of Valley Vote. Mr. Schneider has done extensive work on air quality studies, transportation planning reviews, and land use issues. Mr. Schneider was raised in the Crenshaw area. He has lived in Westchester for nearly 40years. He built a 1,000 person multilevel marketing business and is active in local and state politics. He has earned technical and MBA degrees.

Karen Slade
Karen Slade is general manager of Inglewood-based KJLH-FM; the only African American-owned broadcast station in the greater Los Angeles area. Under Ms. Slades leadership, KJLH-FM has received the prestigious Peabody Award, one of the broadcasting industrys highest honors, and the NAACP Image Award. Ms. Slade oversees a staff of 37 broadcast professionals and parttime employees. Ms. Slade has worked for WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio and held top sales positions with Xerox Corporation in Ohio, Georgia and California. Ms. Slade is an Ohio native. She graduated from Kent State University. She received her Masters degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

Roland James Talton

Roland James Talton is president of the Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a 40-year resident of the City of Inglewood. He is a decorated military veteran, lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2122 and member of American Legion, Post 633. Mr. Talton is owner-operator of Star 1 Investigations. He is a member of the California Association of Licensed Investigators. Mr. Talton served for more 30-years in law enforcement as a 27-year career U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) criminal investigator/special agent and a City of Torrance police officer. Mr. Talton has served on the boards of the Los Angeles Alliance for Drug Abuse Prevention; Orange County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership; California Department of Education Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board; California Governors Office of Criminal Justice Planning, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and Inglewood Coalition for Drug and Violence Prevention.

Blair H. Taylor
Blair Taylor is president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Urban League, one of the nations leading civil rights organizations. Mr. Taylor oversees a staff of 300 and an annual budget exceeding $25 million. Mr. Taylor previously served as executive vice president of College Summit, a national higher education access initiative that has doubled low-income student college enrollment. He served as president and CEO of COI/ICD, a leading retail franchising company. Mr. Taylor has also held senior executive positions with Pepsico and IBM Corporation. He graduated from Amherst College and earned his Masters degree in Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management.

Theodore Thomas, Sr.

Theodore Thomas, Sr. is president of Park Mesa Heights Community Council. Mr. Thomas has worked with the council in making countless changes to improve and unify the residents in Hyde Park, Angeles Mesa, and View Heights communities since 2006. Mr. Thomas established the 59th Place Block Club in 1996. Mr. Thomas has been a Park Mesa Heights-View Park-Windsor Hills area resident for the past 17-years. He formerly worked for Purex. He was previously an elected United Auto Workers union representative.

Tunua Thrash
Tunua Thrash is executive director of Los Angeles-based West Angeles Community Development Corporation, the housing and economic development arm of the 25,000-member West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Ms. Thrash serves on the executive committee of the Greenlining Institute board of directors and a member of the Urban Land Institute. She previously served as director of innovation for the Greenlining Institute. Ms. Thrash serves on the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. She served as director with Washington, D.C.-based Green Door Advisors, LLC; a minority womenowned urban real estate advisory consulting firm. Ms. Thrash is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley and earned her Masters degree in City Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).