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Event Description

The 2022 report, Cultivating Hope Through Action: How Public Private Partnerships are Strengthening Child and Family Well-Being in LA County chronicles the impact of philanthropic and public sector partnerships on the County’s child welfare system. Join us for an interview on Cultivating Hope and the path forward with Wendy Garen, President and CEO of the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and Lizzie Cohen, Associate Director of the Center for Strategic Partnerships, moderated by Daniel Heimpel, Vice President of the Montecito Journal Media Group. During the quarterly meeting, we will also have an opportunity to reconnect with DCFS’ Interim Director, Brandon Nichols, learn pertinent Departmental updates, and engage in a Q&A.

Speakers

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Lindsey Horvath SCG Member

Supervisor, Third District, LA County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on November 8, 2022 after serving as a West Hollywood City Councilmember and the longest consecutively-serving Mayor. Supervisor Horvath’s career has been defined by tackling the hardest problems, building diverse coalitions, and delivering results for her community.

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath made history as the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She is the first millennial, and currently the only renter to serve on the Board, bringing a much-needed perspective to LA County leadership.

In addition to her work as a Councilwoman and Mayor, Supervisor Horvath previously served in a number of roles, including: President of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA); Board Member for CalCities (formerly the League of California Cities); Board Member for the National League of Cities (NLC); President of Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) for the National League of Cities; Chair of the Contract Cities Liability Trust Fund Claims Board & Oversight Committee; and Executive Committee Member and Legislative & Regulatory Chair for CleanPower Alliance of Southern California. Supervisor Horvath received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management & Fundraising from UCLA Extension. She resides in West Hollywood with her dog, Winston.
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Wendy Garen

President & CEO, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Wendy has played an integral role in the life of the Parsons Foundation, becoming President and CEO in 2008 after working for the Foundation for more than twenty years.

Wendy is currently Chair of the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families, serves on the advisory board of the Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy at USC, is Vice Chair of LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, and serves on the LA Coalition for the Economy & Jobs. She is a founding member of the Non-Profit Sustainability Initiative, the Los Angeles County Center for Strategic Partnerships, and the Los Angeles County Arts Recovery Fund.

Wendy formerly served as Chair of Southern California Grantmakers, helping transform the organization into an engine of collaboration and transformation increasing membership from 100 to more than 300. She was also on the board of the Broad Stage, First 5 Los Angeles, and The Trusteeship, the local affiliate of the International Women’s Forum. As a member of the Women’s Leadership Board at the Harvard Kennedy School, she traveled with delegations to Egypt and South Africa.

Prior to joining the Parsons Foundation, Wendy was Executive Director of the Los Angeles Child Care and Development Council, Program Manager at Children’s Home Society of Orange County, and founding staff member of the children’s nonprofit Crystal Stairs.

Wendy is a sought-after speaker and panelist at local, national and international meetings. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has a master’s in urban planning from UCLA.
Brandon Nichols, Interim Director DCFS

Brandon Nichols SCG Member

Interim Director, Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services

Brandon Nichols became Acting Director of DCFS in April 2022. He is well respected throughout Los Angeles County and is an accomplished professional with more than 20 years of expertise in child welfare, foster care, adoptions, and mental health.
Mr. Nichols previously served the DCFS as Chief Deputy Director and Acting Director. Prior to that, Brandon served as an attorney for the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office where he represented and advised DCFS for a number of years. Most recently, Mr. Nichols played a significant role in efforts to provide mental health services to inmates throughout the Los Angeles County jails, and worked as the Executive Director of the County's Jail Closure Implementation Team that focused on decarcerating and closing the Men's Central Jail.

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