Alumni & Friends Updates
Recent News
Dr. Jerome Hunter
FPLA '69, Vice Chair of Coro Southern California Board of Directors
Dr. Jerome Hunter is retiring as Chancellor of the NOCCCD on July 1. Among the many accomplishments during his eight-year tenure as the District’s leader, Dr. Hunter was instrumental in the passage of Measure X for a major construction and renovation program impacting
Dileepan Sivapathasundaram
FPLA' 01
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) press update on Dileepan:
WASHINGTON D.C. - Dileepan Sivapathasundaram, a US citizen and senior program officer with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), was released by Zimbabwean authorities today after being detained illegally for six days. He is now safely out of the country.
"NDI is thankful that Mr. Sivapathasundaram has been released unharmed and wishes to thank those around the world who worked to secure his freedom," said former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, chairman of the NDI board of directors. "His illegal detention was another indication of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, where the government has yet to release results from the presidential election held more than 10 days ago."
NDI also calls on the government to release all others who have been detained for purely political reasons.
Mr. Sivapathasundaram was taken by authorities last Thursday from the Harare airport as he was attempting to leave the country and underwent days of intensive questioning by Zimbabwe authorities, who had confiscated his passport and computer. For the first 22 hours of his detention there was no word from him, and police in the capital denied any knowledge of his whereabouts despite efforts by US diplomats and Zimbabwean human rights lawyers to determine his location and status.
He was in Zimbabwe as part of NDI's work over the past several years to support the efforts of non-partisan civic groups to monitor the Zimbabwean election process. The assistance provided by NDI was in accordance with Zimbabwean law and international standards that recognize the right of non-partisan civic organizations to observe and monitor election processes. NDI has worked in Zimbabwe since 1999.
"It is time for the government of Zimbabwe to provide an honest accounting of the results of the March 29 presidential election," Dr. Albright said. "Its citizens made a choice at the polls and they have a right to have those reported without manipulation. The delaying tactics now being employed by Robert Mugabe's government underscore once again his seeming intention to retain power at any cost."
For the PDF of NDI's press release: http://www.accessdemocracy.org/library/2296_zi_release_StaffHeld_en_041008.pdf
For more information: National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (www.ndi.org)
For further articles: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89870776
http://www.theworld.org/audio/0416082.mp3
http://www.newsweek.com/id/132444
http://www.accessdemocracy.org/library/2296_zi_release_StaffHeld_en_041008.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/world/africa/04zimbabwe.html?em&ex=1207454400&en=41b2e4663b18b808&ei=5087%0A
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/world/africa/05bearak.html
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL09933073.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN04309148
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jaGkiD_oeuNCWUEr7YyXikc7dKZQD8VUHR100
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jaGkiD_oeuNCWUEr7YyXikc7dKZQD8VROB2G0
Matthew Mornick
FPLA '07
Matthew Mornick (pictured above at left) has been a part of a UNESCO team to build temporary schools in Peru after the devasting 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck in August 2007. The Miami Herald recently wrote an article on Matthew's experience.
2007
Most recent updates on alumni and friends are now found within the email newsletters. Go to 2007 issues.>>
March 2006
Coro Board Member and alum (FPPA-LA '92), R.J. Comer, has joined the land-use firm of Armbruster & Goldsmith.
New contact information:
R.J. Comer,
Partner,
Armbruster & Goldsmith LLP
10940 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: (310) 209-8800, Direct: (310) 443-1860, Fax: (310) 209-8801
Email: rj@ag-landuse.com, www.ag-landuse.com
Dylan Kendall, (FPPA-LA '04) has founded and is managing the building campaign for Hollywood Arts (www.hollywood-arts.org), an art-center that will provide a variety of creative classes and activities for at-risk, run-away and homeless teenagers. The center will provide "out-of-school" classes in music, the performing and visual arts in the service of two goals: one) to provide inroads to emotional well-being, self-respect and community for a highly vulnerable population and two) to teach life and vocational skills that will help graduates transition out of homelessness and other high-risk situations. The center is slated to open at Hollywood and Western late summer. Dylan can be contacted at dylan@hollywood-arts.org.
January/February 2006
Andrea Foggy-Paxton, FPPA-LA ’95, has re-located to the East Coast. Her new information is as follows: National Urban Fellow, Annie E. Casey Foundation, 701 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, Work (410) 547-6600.
Ben Golembeck, press aide to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and FPPA-LA ’05 alumnus, was featured on the front page of the Daily News December 28, 2005. The reason? He was shown taking a picture—camera in hand—along with a bevy of journalists covering his boss fill pothole No. 80,173.
Karnig Kazarian, FPPA-LA ‘05 has been promoted to Executive Assistant to Governor Schwarzenegger Chief of Staff Susan Kennedy.
Joe Cislowski, LSC ’97, has stepped down as SCLN president and can now be reached at following: 552 Westmount Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90048, (323) 854-4410, Fax (310) 659-9302, jcislowski@sbcglobal.net.
Dr. Daniel Castro, FPPA-LA ’73 and former Coro Board Member, was selected as the President of Riverside Community College. Dr. Castro served as the President of Los Angeles Trade-Tech College for five years and will no doubt bring his record of success to his new job.
Beverly Ryder, LSC ’92 and current Coro Board Member, is an executive-on-loan to the Los Angeles Unified School District from Southern California Edison.
Leslie Patterson, Coro City Focus ‘91, was elected vice chairperson of the City of Long Beach Human Relations Commission. The Commission makes recommendations to the City Council in the areas of research and education for the purpose of lessening racial and religious prejudice and of fostering attitudes among various groups to lead to civil peace and inter-group understanding.
Philip Holmes, FFPA-LA 05, has accepted a position with Red Gate Communications, a public relations firm that has been hired to coordinate building and communications for a statewide ballot measure dubbed the “Clean Alternative Energy Initiative.” If approved, the measure could raise as much as $380 million a year to develop alternative fuels.
November 2005
In remembrance:
Coro Southern California is saddened by the loss of civic leader Bob Jones. As the Founding President of Leadership Southern California Bob Jones leaves behind a rich legacy of service and dedication to the leadership landscape of southern California.
Former Coro Field Supervisor, Edward R. Roybal, passed away in October. Fellow program alumnus and current Councilmember Alex Padilla spoke at his funeral at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels.
Congratulations to the following:
New York alum, Majora Carter, a community/environmental activist who created a nonprofit called Sustainable South Bronx, who was just announced as a MacArthur 'genius' Award winner.
Coro KC alum Tim Kaine, the governor-elect of Virginia. He has been mayor of Richmond and Lt. Govenor.
Keith Weaver, Coro Board member, for his promotion to Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Jonathan Cowan FPPA ’03 for his promotion to Executive Director, Government Relations, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Former Bradley administration deputy, Coro alumnus and former Coro Board Member, Jane Usher, has been appointed by Mayor Villaraigosa to the Los Angeles Planning Commission
Architect, Coro alumnus and former Board member, Bill Roschen, has been appointed by Mayor Villaraigosa to the Los Angeles Planning Commission.
Former Coro board member, John Perez of the UFCW, who was appointed to the City Redevelopment Agency by Mayor Villaraigosa.
John Arboleda FPP-LA celebrates his two year anniversary living in Europe. He has been establishing an EMBA program with the inaugural class of students has expressed their satisfaction with the delivery of this new and exciting program.
Ryan J. Smith FFP-LA’03 a researcher for the LA Times Editorial pages for his article, "Can't fight this power - From Baghdad to Baltimore, Big Boi, Young Jeezy and countless upstart rappers are changing the world."
August 2005
Coro Southern California congratulates Board member Peter Villegas of Washington Mututal, who was named Chair of the Orange County Business Council.
Coro Southern California applauds Andrew Baldonado, FPPA-LA ’91, who has been promoted to Vice President of Government Affairs for the Western Region at Anheuser-Busch.
Coro would like to congratulate Juan Francisco Lara, Ph.D, Coro alumn and Assistant Vice Chancellor, University of California, Irvine who is being honoroed by the Orange County Community Housing Corporation. Details on the event.
We would like to congratulate Paul Kim, retired Commander LAPD and Board member for his appointment by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa to the Board of Transportation Commissions.
Coro congratulates Cynthia Ruiz, Coro alum, who was appointed by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa as President of the Board of Public Works. Read an interview (external website)
Coro Southern California would like to congratulate Gloria Gasca FFPA-LA '04 who will be starting this fall at Pepperdine in the Masters of Education credential program.
Coro Southern California commends Mike Levin FPPA-LA '02 who after graduating from Duke Law School, will be starting as an attorney at Aleshire & Wynder, LLP, a full-service public agency, employment, environmental, and public finance law firm especially dedicated to serving the legal needs of municipalities throughout California.
We extend our congratulations to Ryan J. Smith, FPPA-LA ’04. He is a research associate for the Los Angeles Times. Ryan was hired to bring a youthful local perspective to the editorial board and is responsible editorial content, web development, and myriad of research needs.
Coro is proud to recognize Ben Golombeck, FPPA-LA ’04, who has taken a job with the newly elected Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. After working on the Mayor's campaign, Ben has joined the press office in City Hall.
We congratulate Rusty Hicks, FPPA-LA ’04 who is currently working on Ted Lieu for the 53rd Assembly District Special Election
Congratulations to Erica Shinohara, FPPA-LA’02 and Fernando Casaras, FPPA-LA ’01 as they will be working for the City of San Jose as "Management Fellows".
Coro is especially pleased to congratulate Rafael Gonzales, Coro alumn, as he is now working with the Office of Mayor Antonio Villaragoisa as Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Services under Deputy Mayor Larry Frank. Rafael with remain involved with Collective SPACE as a board member.
July 2005
Coro Southern California extends a warm farewell to Andy Thorp (FPPA-StL, 95), who has served as the Coro Leadership Center St. Louis Executive Director for the past two years. Andy has been with the Coro Midwestern Center for 10 years, first as a Fellow, then program director and finally as Executive Director. Andy has been a dedicated member of the Coro family, and will be missed.
Coro is proud to recognize Robin Kramer (FPPA-LA, 76, Former Coro Executive Director, Former Coro Board Chair, Former Coro National Board), who mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa has named Chief of Staff for his mayoral administration.
Coro congratulates Board Member Peter Villegas, who will be honored with Union Hispana Newspaper's Corporate Good Citizen award at their August 5th awards dinner.
Coro is pleased to announce that Andrew Baldonado (FPPA-LA, 91) will take the office of Coro Board Vice-Chair for 2005-2006. Andrew joins Coro alumni Kerry Morrison (FPPA-LA, 81) and Beverly Ryder (LSC I), who will continue their posts as Chair and Treasurer, respectfully. Coro offers a huge THANK YOU to outgoing Vice-Chair Joe Lumarda (OC I), whose new position overseeing strategic planning at the California Community Foundation precludes him from continuing his leadership role on the Coro Board.
Alumni updates from the San Francisco area:
Lori Vacek Engelhardt, FPPA-SF ’82, is a philanthropic consultant in the Washington, D.C. area, currently affiliated with the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Michael Frank, FPPA-SF ’87, is the Director of Administrative Services for the City of Santa Rosa. Michael’s previous experience in city government has included work with the cities of Fremont and San Francisco.
John Johnson, FPPA-SF ’48, was recently honored by Avenidas, a non-profit agency helping mid-Peninsula seniors, for making significant professional and community contributions in the Palo Alto/Peninsula area. John and six other seniors received the Lifetimes of Achievement awards.
Muriel Johnson, WP-SF ’83, is the director of the California Arts Council in Sacramento. She was most recently a county supervisor in Sacramento.
Luis Mendez, FPPA-SF ’03, after finishing graduate school at Columbia University, heads to Ethiopia this summer with the U.S. State Department where he will be monitoring and evaluating U.S.-sponsored programs in refugee camps throughout the Horn of Africa. He will start work with the Foreign Service in September.
Larry Miles, FPPA-SF ’76, was elected to the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education near Sacramento last November. SJUSD is the 13th largest in California, serving 47,000 students with 78 schools.
Clayton Schloss, CFP-SF ‘04, is the Director of Capital Markets Intelligence at Thomson Financial in San Francisco.
Christine Solari, CF-SF ’04, is the director of Stanford Upward Bound at the Haas Center for Public Service. She was most recently an associate director at California Campus Compact.
May 2005
Coro Southern California joins the Los Angeles community in mourning the loss of former Coro Board member Miguel Contreras, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and a local, state and national leader. Miguel’s family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to the Contreras Family Trust, c/o Amalgamated Bank, 60 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101.
Coro is proud to recognize Robin Kramer (FPPA-LA, ’76, Former Coro Executive Director, Former Coro Board Chair, Former Coro National Board), who has been named to lead the transition team for mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa.
Coro is especially pleased to congratulate Kerry Harrington Morrison (FPPA-LA’81, Current Coro Board chair) for her upcoming honor with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Distinguished Service Medal, which is the highest civilian award given by the LAPD and recognizes exceptional service to the police department.
We extend our congratulations to Former Congressman Vic Fazio (FPPA-LA, ’66, Chair, Coro National Board) on his new position with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as a senior advisor in Washington. Mr. Fazio will advise clients on a range of public policy and government relations issues.
Congratulations to Joe Turner (NLP-05) and Mary Wong (NLP-05) for their honors as “Pearls” by Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.
April 2005
Karen Stubbs, Executive Director for Coro’s Kansas City Center, will be retiring this month. Karen has been a part of the Coro system for over 15 years, having served a placement supervisor, board member and staff member. She has carried the spirit of the Kansas City summer program and she will be sorely missed. We wish her only the best in this exciting new phase of her life. After her retirement, Karen can be contacted at:
4550 Warwick Blvd. #210
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 931-9320
In May, Coro will welcome Mary Corcoran, PhD as the new Executive Director of Coro Kansas City. Mary’s extensive background in leadership, career development and management consulting has spanned such organizations as AOL Time Warner, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the North Kansas City Hospital and Arthur Anderson. Mary will be a wonderful addition to our national network.
Congratulations to Jonathan Cowan (FPPA-LA, ’03) who was recently promoted to Director of Government Affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Best wishes to Jenny Yang (FPPA-LA ’02) who recently became a Research Associate at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660. Jenny will be providing strategic analysis and research expertise to support our organizing efforts and protect workers’ rights, and will work closely in areas of contract negotiation and enforcement, and local and state public policy, with a focus on the budgeting and policy of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Jenny can be contacted at her new job:
Jih-Fang "Jenny" Yang
Research Associate
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660
500 South Virgil Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90020
jyang (at) seiu660.org
direct: 213-738-8412
general: 213-368-8660
February 2005
Coro is sorry to report the passing of Former Coro Trainer Alex Hartley (FPPA-LA, ’72), who passed away suddenly on December 1. Alex was a long time trainer for Coro, working in both Los Angeles and Sacramento. Michael Johnson, a 1987 graduate of the St. Louis Fellows Program and a Fellow trained by Alex said, “Alex was an extraordinary individual who had the knack for bringing the best out in people. Alex believed deeply in Coro’s mission. He had a positive impact on many people.” Alex is survived by his wife, Josie. Her contact information is: 1668 Davis St., Moreno, CA, 92557.
Malcolm Amado Uno (FPPA-LA, ’01, Former Coro Staff) has started a new position as the Policy and Outreach Coordinator for Preschool California, based out of Oakland, California. For this position, he will work with over 20 partnership organizations throughout California in an effort to build the necessary movement and momentum to gain Universal Preschool for all California 4 year-olds. You can learn more about Preschool California online at www.preschoolcalifornia.org. Amado can be contacted at the address below:
Malcolm Amado Uno
Policy and Outreach Coordinator
Preschool California
414 Thirteenth Street, Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 271-0075 x302
Cell: (510) 813-4649
E-mail: muno(at)preschoolcalifornia.org
Congratulations to Anh Truong (FPPA-LA, ’96), who has started his own law office, TRULAW in Century City, which is focused on servicing small-medium business needs, both litigation and transactional. He also represents individuals on a case-by-case basis. Anh was a former litigation attorney at Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan LLP in Santa Monica. One of the benefits of Anh’s new practice is that it will allow him to dedicate more time and energy to public affairs. Anh’s new contact information is:
Anh K. Truong
TRULAW
1800 Century Park East, Suite 600
Century City, CA 90067
310-407-5161
fax: 310-496-0673
atruong (at) tru-law.com
Brandon Hamilton (Arts Leadership, ’96) writes from Chicago, where he is a full-time business professor at DeVry University in Tinley Park, Illinois. Since relocating to the Chicago area, Brandon has rekindled his commitment to public service. He has devoted countless hours working the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Community Relations consulting to a website project that facilitates community building. A United States Department of Education Technology Innovation Grant funds this Chicago Neighborhood Learning Network (CNLN). [See http://www.cnln.cps.k12.il.us] In partnership with the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Urban League, the Chicago Housing Authority, and the Office of Catholic Education, Brandon and his team of consultants developed an infrastructure that connects schools, families, community-based organizations and other community members in a unique learning environment. Brandon can be reached via email, hamilton_brandon(at) hotmail.com.
January 2005
John Arboleda (FP-LA, ’99), is moving from Munich (Germany) to Frankfurt to begin a new position as Program Manager for the new Duke-Goethe Executive EMBA Program (www.duke-goethe-emba.org). The program offers a joint Executive MBA Degree between Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Frankfurt University's Goethe Business School.
John invites anyone passing through the Frankfurt area to contact him for a warm Coro welcome to Germany. John can be reached via email, arbol1(at)hotmail.com.
Rene Topalian (FPPA-LA, ’71, Former Coro Board, Former Friends of Coro Board) has retired after almost 34 years of service to Los Angeles County. Most recently, Rene had served as an acting director of human resources for a 23,000 employee local goverment agency, and as a division chief within human resources. Rene plans to continue to consult in the areas of general human resources, administrative investigations and representation in mediations and administrative hearings. He can be contacted via email: nailapot(at)aol.com.
Jennifer (Emi) Labrado (FPPA-LA, ’99, Former Friends of Coro Board) recently left the Orange County Transportation Authority to serve as Public Information Officer for the Irvine Unified School District. Her new email address is JLabrado(at)iusd.org.
Albert Lord (NLP, ‘03) has accepted a position with Councilman Martin Ludlow as the South East Area Coordinator for the City of Los Angeles Council District 10. His areas of service include the entertainment industry and Recreation and Parks. He recently finished production on 34 South in South Africa. Albert worked as Sound Designer/Supervisor and Associate Producer on the independent film, which is the first film to be directed by a Black South African woman (Maganthrie Pillay) in over 100 years of South African Cinema. Albert can be contacted via email, PSPSound(at)aol.com.
Angela Reddock (FPPA-LA, ‘92) is running for Los Angeles City Council District 11, which includes the Westside communities of Brentwood, Del Rey, Mar Vista, Palisades, Playa del Rey, Venice, Villa Marina and Westchester. You can learn more about Angela’s campaign at www.angelareddock.org, or (310) 215-9740. You can also contact Angela via email, angela(at)angelareddock.org.
