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Event Description

A new ballot measure this November will provide LA County with the opportunity to establish the first-ever guaranteed local revenue stream exclusively for housing production, preservation, and renter supports. Measure A applies lessons learned from Measure H to future investments in homeless services and affordable housing; affordable housing preservation; expanded access to mental health care; and protection of low-income renters. This informational session will provide funders with a deeper look at the measure, its potential implications for LA County, and key considerations for private funders and their grantees working on the issue. Join us to hear from housing and homelessness experts in philanthropy, direct service, and government.

Speakers

A portrait of Mike in front of a black backdrop. Mike has a beard.

Mike Dennis SCG Member

Senior Director of Housing Justice, Liberty Hill Foundation

Mike oversees Liberty Hill’s housing justice portfolio, which includes fundraising, grant making, program implementation, and movement strategies. He also directs the foundation's Liberty Vote program which provides funding for democracy and civic engagement strategies across LA County.

Mike was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. A core area of Mike's expertise is focused on building political power and movement-based coalitions that fight and win housing justice policies. Mike began political and issue based organizing more than 20 years ago. He's spent the past 15 years of his career organizing to protect working class and working poor families from displacement, and creating permanent systems that reverse and prevent homelessness across LA County. Mike has co-founded several LA-based coalitions working on housing issues, and co-led the efforts to pass Measure J, Measure ULA, and create the LA County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA). Before his time at Liberty Hill, Mike oversaw policy, advocacy, and power building campaigns for both East LA Community Corporation, and The United Way of Greater LA. Mike holds bachelor degrees in Political Science and International Affairs from Cal State University, Fullerton and UC Davis.

Mike is an avid long-distance hiker, skier, and photographer.
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Isela Gracian

Senior Deputy, Housing and Homelessness, LA County Board of Supervisors, 2nd District

Isela Gracian serves as Supervisor Mitchell’s Senior Deputy on Housing and Homelessness, leading the Supervisor’s housing, homelessness, and planning policy. She brings to the second supervisorial district over two decades of experience in grassroots community work. She served as President of East LA Community Corporation, where she led policy campaigns, community wealth building programs, and development of affordable housing. Isela is a recognized leader in community driven development weaving together the intersection of housing, income generation, environmental justice, and culture.
ommy is wearing a blue shirt, has brown hair and blue eyes, and did not have a beard at this point.

Tommy Newman SCG Member

Vice President, Public Affairs & Activation, United Way of Greater L.A.

Tommy Newman is the Vice President of Public Affairs and Activation at the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. He is responsible for the organization’s advocacy, engagement, and public affairs work.

Tommy’s passion is in building powerful coalitions to drive justice-centered change forward. In his time at United Way he has had the privilege of helping to create the Everyone In campaign, which now has over 100,000 constituents, as well as push forward multiple ballot measure and legislative campaigns.

Tommy lives in L.A. with his wife, Mary, and daughters Josephine and Isabel.
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Dr. Ryan Smith

President & CEO, St. Joseph Center

Dr. Ryan J. Smith serves as the President and CEO of the St. Joseph Center in Los Angeles, CA. For almost fifty years, St. Joseph Center, one of LA County's largest service providers has been at the forefront of supporting no income and low-income families, as well as unhoused men, women and youth across Los Angeles County.

Prior to joining St. Joseph Center, he served as the Chief Strategy Officer for Community Coalition. In this capacity, Dr. Smith spearheaded the organization’s strategy and power-building efforts. Notably, he managed the successful Make LA Whole anti-poverty campaign, securing over $200 million in city funds for high-need communities. Additionally, he acted as the executive lead for Community Coalition’s South Central Youth Empowered Through Action (SCYEA) program.

Before his tenure at Community Coalition, Dr. Smith served as Interim CEO and Chief External Officer for LA Unified’s Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, an organization supporting 15,000 students and their families in Watts, Boyle Heights, and South LA. Dr. Smith provided instrumental support in the development, communications, policy and advocacy, and family and community engagement programs. Notably, he founded the award-winning Parent College program, benefiting over 10,000 youth and families in marginalized communities by empowering them with knowledge of their rights, roles, and responsibilities.

A native Angeleno, Dr. Smith is an Affordable Housing Commissioner, dedicated to uplifting and embracing the assets of marginalized communities across Los Angeles. His commitment to civic engagement is underscored by his recent receipt of UCLA’s first-ever Excellence in Civic Engagement Award.

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