Jun
21
SCG's 2023 Family Philanthropy Town Hall — REIMAGINE: Power and Practice
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Dimple Abichandani
Fellow, National Center for Family Philanthropy
Dimple Abichandani is a nationally-recognized philanthropic leader, writer, and innovator who has spent the last two decades working to transform philanthropy. Dimple recently completed a seven year tenure as Executive Director of the General Service Foundation (GSF), a private foundation that supports grassroots organizations building power and shifting narratives to advance racial, gender and economic justice. She is currently a 2023-2024 Fellow at the National Center for Family Philanthropy and serves on the board of the Solidaire Network and on the Steering Committee of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project.
A lifelong student of social change and a passionate advocate, Dimple has advanced justice as a funder, lawyer and educator. Dimple served as the Executive Director of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law, the founding program officer of the Rise Together Fund at the Proteus Fund, a staff attorney and then later Director of Program Development at Legal Services NYC.
Dimple has served on the boards of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Northern California Grantmakers, Third Wave Foundation, Asian Law Caucus and Forward Together. She earned a JD at Northeastern University School of Law, and a BA in English with Honors at the University of Texas at Austin.
A lifelong student of social change and a passionate advocate, Dimple has advanced justice as a funder, lawyer and educator. Dimple served as the Executive Director of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law, the founding program officer of the Rise Together Fund at the Proteus Fund, a staff attorney and then later Director of Program Development at Legal Services NYC.
Dimple has served on the boards of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Northern California Grantmakers, Third Wave Foundation, Asian Law Caucus and Forward Together. She earned a JD at Northeastern University School of Law, and a BA in English with Honors at the University of Texas at Austin.
Betty Avila SCG Member
Program Officer, Self Help Graphics & Art
Betty Avila’s (she/her) work has centered on the intersection of the arts and social justice, with particular focus on community building, public space, and youth empowerment. She grew up in the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Cypress Park and has held positions with the Getty Research Institute, The Music Center and the Levitt Pavilion. Betty joined Self Help Graphics’ leadership in 2015, an organization with a 48-year nationally-recognized artistic legacy of empowering the Chicana/o and Latinx communities of Los Angeles through the arts. She is the Chair of the Latinx Arts Alliance, and sits on the boards of Little Tokyo Service Center, the Center for Cultural Innovation, and was a founding board member of People for Mobility Justice. Betty is a passionate arts advocate, centering equity and justice, and she sat on the inaugural Advisory Committee for Los Angeles County's Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative. She recently joined the Los Angeles County Commission for Women as an appointee of Supervisor Hilda Solis. Betty has been invited to speak for the Ford Foundation, The Getty Foundation, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, California Association of Museums, Western Art Alliance and more. In 2017, Betty was named one of C-Suite Quarterly Magazine’s NextGen 10 in Philanthropy, Arts and Culture and an Impact-Maker to Watch by City Impact Labs. She received her B.A. in Literature at Pitzer College, has an M.A. in Arts Management from Claremont Graduate University, and is a 2008 Fulbright Fellow to Korea.
Shelley Bruce
Founder & CEO, The Heart Dept
Shelley Bruce is Los Angeles native sharing her service work with a focus on the arts, healing and social justice. With two degrees in Ethnic Studies and Fine Art, for the past 15 years, Shelley has performed poetry at countless shows, directed nonprofit organizations, and organized social justice programs throughout Southern California. She has most notably has traveled to Washington DC, New York, Ghana, London, and more sharing her painting. Her first publication of poetry is titled On Blooming (2018) and first recorded poetry album Heaven Here (2021). Shelley is also the founder of grassroots movement Day of Healing, and BIPOC community center The Heart Dept located in downtown Los Angeles. Her central focus is to create well-being for all people through compassion-centered, sustainable movements.
Annie Chang SCG Member
Vice-President, Community Engagement, Nonprofit Finance Fund
Annie leads Nonprofit Finance Fund’s national strategy for engagement with BIPOC nonprofits and strategic partners towards NFF's mission of equitable flow of capital and funding to communities historically denied resources. Annie joined NFF in 2015 as a consultant and in that role, she helped build the financial management capacity of the social sector through designing initiatives and delivering customized financial management consulting with partners including LA partners California Community Foundation, Black Equity Collective, The California Endowment, Liberty Hill, Asian Pacific Community Fund and others. Before joining NFF, she was a Senior Program Officer at First 5 LA, working with Los Angeles funders and early care and education organizations to develop programs and coalitions to help young children and their families thrive. She was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting's Human Capital practice, where she supported Fortune 500 and government clients with leading organizational change and she started her career as a Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow and Legislative Consultant with the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy. Annie received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from UCLA, and her Master of Public Policy from USC (but stays true to cheering for the Bruins!). She currently serves on the board of Affordable Living for the Aging and the South Pasadena Library Board of Trustees. Annie is inspired daily by her experiences being raised by an immigrant mom in southeast LA and by her three young children to make their future world brighter and more just.
Matt D'Arrigo
Director | Creative Youth Development, Clare Rose Foundation
Matt D’Arrigo has dedicated the past 22 years of his life to being a champion and advocate for the arts and young people. He is the Director of Creative Youth Development at the Clare Rose Foundation and the Co-Founder of The Clare Rose Center for Creative Youth Development (CYD) in San Diego, CA. The Center is a backbone organization and philanthropic intermediary established to ensure that CYD funders, practitioners, organizations, and young people have access to the resources, tools, opportunities, and relationships they need to thrive. With a small team, D’Arrigo oversees local, regional, and national strategy, investments, advocacy, coalition building, and field building activities.
Prior to joining Clare Rose Foundation, D’Arrigo was the Founder and CEO of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a nationally recognized CYD organization based in National City, CA. His work with ARTS was the subject of the 2013 Academy Award winning documentary short Inocente, featured on the Today Show, was a case study in the New York Times best-selling book Decisive by Chip and Dan Heath, and profiled in Darius Graham’s book Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World. His work in philanthropy with Clare Rose was featured in the New York Times in September 2020. He works tirelessly to advocate for philanthropic practices that are trust-based, equitable, and flexible.
D’Arrigo is co-founder of the National CYD Funders Forum and Arts Amplifying Youth (AAY!). He sits on the boards of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and is Vice-Chair of the San Diego Regional Arts & Culture Coalition. He also sits on the National Partnership for Creative Youth Development and the Arts Ed Impact Group for Grant Makers for Education.
Prior to joining Clare Rose Foundation, D’Arrigo was the Founder and CEO of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a nationally recognized CYD organization based in National City, CA. His work with ARTS was the subject of the 2013 Academy Award winning documentary short Inocente, featured on the Today Show, was a case study in the New York Times best-selling book Decisive by Chip and Dan Heath, and profiled in Darius Graham’s book Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World. His work in philanthropy with Clare Rose was featured in the New York Times in September 2020. He works tirelessly to advocate for philanthropic practices that are trust-based, equitable, and flexible.
D’Arrigo is co-founder of the National CYD Funders Forum and Arts Amplifying Youth (AAY!). He sits on the boards of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and is Vice-Chair of the San Diego Regional Arts & Culture Coalition. He also sits on the National Partnership for Creative Youth Development and the Arts Ed Impact Group for Grant Makers for Education.
Christine Essel
President and CEO, SoCal Grantmakers
Christine Essel joined SCG as President and CEO on February 1, 2013. As president, she sets the strategic direction and priorities for the organization, overseeing programming, communications, member services and public policy. Prior to joining SCG, Essel held leadership roles in the government, corporate, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, where she has shaped legislation and public and corporate policy. She brings a wealth of experience to SCG including a deep knowledge of the region and a passion for forging creative solutions to complex community challenges, along with extensive relationships and expertise in corporate philanthropy, finance, real estate development, government and community relations. For over three decades, she worked at Paramount Pictures, serving as Senior Vice President, Government and Community Affairs, a department she built from the ground up. In that role, she was responsible for the studio’s philanthropic efforts and for shaping Paramount’s civic presence while managing all political and legislative activity, corporate social responsibility and fundraising activities. During her tenure she was also responsible for overseeing in excess of $500 million in real estate development projects on the studio lot.
Most recently, she served as CEO for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA), with an annual budget exceeding $600 million, a staff of 260 employees and 32 project areas throughout the City of Los Angeles. In response to a statewide call by the legislature, Essel's leadership helped lay a critical foundation for the dissolution of the agency, leading to a successful redistribution of resources for schools and local governments, while ensuring the completion of many crucial affordable housing projects and other developments vitally important to the economic growth of the region.
She has been named to numerous Boards and Commissions over the years, serving as chair of the California Film Commission, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, the Hollywood Community Advisory Council, Alternative Living for the Aging and Central City Association. She also served as Vice‐Chair of the California Workforce Investment Board and FilmLA and was a member of the powerful Los Angeles World Airports Commission, Grand Avenue Project Joint Powers Authority and Los Angeles Development Fund. Essel has been honored by esteemed organizations such as City of Hope, National Women’s Political Committee, Alternative Living for the Aging, Weingart Center Partners, Central City Association and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, she received the Leader of the Year Award from the Southern California Leadership Network. She has been named to the Non‐Profit Times “Power and Influence Top 50” for the past two years (2016 and 2017).
Most recently, she served as CEO for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA), with an annual budget exceeding $600 million, a staff of 260 employees and 32 project areas throughout the City of Los Angeles. In response to a statewide call by the legislature, Essel's leadership helped lay a critical foundation for the dissolution of the agency, leading to a successful redistribution of resources for schools and local governments, while ensuring the completion of many crucial affordable housing projects and other developments vitally important to the economic growth of the region.
She has been named to numerous Boards and Commissions over the years, serving as chair of the California Film Commission, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, the Hollywood Community Advisory Council, Alternative Living for the Aging and Central City Association. She also served as Vice‐Chair of the California Workforce Investment Board and FilmLA and was a member of the powerful Los Angeles World Airports Commission, Grand Avenue Project Joint Powers Authority and Los Angeles Development Fund. Essel has been honored by esteemed organizations such as City of Hope, National Women’s Political Committee, Alternative Living for the Aging, Weingart Center Partners, Central City Association and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, she received the Leader of the Year Award from the Southern California Leadership Network. She has been named to the Non‐Profit Times “Power and Influence Top 50” for the past two years (2016 and 2017).
Kameron Green
Vice President, Professional Learning & Family Philanthropy, SCG
As Vice President, Professional Learning & Family Philanthropy, Kameron plays a significant leadership role in developing and implementing SCG’s Professional Learning strategy and programs for members. This includes managing the day-to-day operations of SCG’s Professional Development portfolio, Family Philanthropy offerings, and relationships with peer and affinity groups. Kameron is also responsible for ensuring high quality professional learning experiences are made available to enable SCG members to continually increase their knowledge, skills, competencies, career development and networks.
Kameron is a member of The Prytanean Women's Honor Society, the Alliance for Women in Media, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP), a leading non-profit organization committed to advancing systemic change to benefit low-income communities through collaborations. Kameron graduated from The University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media Communications.
Kameron is a member of The Prytanean Women's Honor Society, the Alliance for Women in Media, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP), a leading non-profit organization committed to advancing systemic change to benefit low-income communities through collaborations. Kameron graduated from The University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media Communications.
Nike Irvin SCG Member
Trustee, Civil Society Fellowship, Trustee, The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, Trustee, HR&A Advisors, Trustee, The Durfee Foundation, Board of Directors, Nonprofit Finance Fund
<p>Nike Irvin serves as Managing Director of the Civil Society Fellowship for next generation community and civil society leaders, a joint partnership between the AntiDefamation League (ADL) and Aspen Institute and new offering of the Aspen Global Leaders Network (AGLN). Based in Los Angeles, Nike led California Community Foundation’s (CCF) grantmaking for six years, overseeing grants to arts, education, juvenile justice and health. Before CCF, Nike served as president of The Riordan Foundation for seven years. She is a trustee for Durfee Foundation, Southern California Grantmakers, High Resolves, Nonprofit Finance Fund, and The Broad Center.</p>
Jan Kern
Senior Philanthropy Advisor, Southern California Grantmakers
Jan Kern supports SCG's Family Foundation Information Exchange Groups. She also leads SCG's Family Philanthropy Advisory Council, the Family Foundation Advisory Group, and coordinates the annual Family Foundation Conference. With more than 25 years of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector, her expertise includes strategic program development and execution, staff management, team building, and relationship development.
Madin Lopez
Executive Director, ProjectQ
Madin Lopez is an Emmy Nominated Gender Queer Speculative Activist. A theminist, an aspiring quiet egotist, a recovering born again christian, an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty and drive. It is their mission to grow towards a world free of houselessness through intergenerational healing and self worth implementation. They are all about radical vulnerability, Avenging the suffering of their ancestors, earning respect of future generations, and being transformed in the service of the work . Madin is the Executive director of ProjectQ, “ProjectQ invites Black and Brown trans youth to build trust and accountability by way of access to representation, wrap around services, self- discovery and creating equity through cycles of success.
Sam Prater
Founder and Executive Director, Los Angeles Room & Board
Born and raised in Detroit, MI. Sam is the 12th born of 14 children. After dropping out of high school and attending community college, Sam went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University (FireUp Chips!), a master’s degree from Fordham University (Go Rams!), and is finishing his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from California State University, Northridge (Go Matadors!). With nearly 15 years of experience in higher education as a student affairs practitioner, most of his career has been built in Housing & Residential Education.
Sam is passionate about fostering student success in the context of housing and has developed a keen sense of the critically important growth & development that occurs at the intersection of living in communities where students also learn.
Sam is passionate about fostering student success in the context of housing and has developed a keen sense of the critically important growth & development that occurs at the intersection of living in communities where students also learn.
Nick Tedesco
President & CEO, National Center for Family Philanthropy
Nicholas (Nick) Tedesco is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP). NCFP serves as a hub of learning, connection, and collaboration designed to resource and activate a community of families to be intentional philanthropic stewards. Nick is a passionate advocate for philanthropy and brings over a decade of experience partnering with donors and their families to establish and meet their giving goals.
Prior to joining NCFP, Nick served as a Senior Advisor in the J.P. Morgan Philanthropy Centre where he provided clients with insights and services to help meet their philanthropic objectives through innovative advice, thought leadership and opportunities for learning and collaboration.
Previously, Nick served as a Relationship Manager at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he helped launch the Giving Pledge—an effort led by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. In this role, Nick managed relationships with current and prospective members of the pledge, as well as their staff and advisors. He helped to connect global philanthropists with one another in effort to exchange knowledge and encourage collaboration.
Nick began his career in the social sector as the Deputy Director of the Children’s Health Forum—a national nonprofit focused on the prevention and eradication of childhood diseases that disproportionately impact underserved communities.
Nick was named to the inaugural Chronicle of Philanthropy 40 Under 40 ranking in 2016. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal MarketWatch, Time Magazine and other notable publications. He serves as a director of the Wild Elements Foundation—a conscious catalyst for change that accelerates efforts to restore our global ecosystem.
Nick received a B.A. from Villanova University and resides in Washington, D.C.
Prior to joining NCFP, Nick served as a Senior Advisor in the J.P. Morgan Philanthropy Centre where he provided clients with insights and services to help meet their philanthropic objectives through innovative advice, thought leadership and opportunities for learning and collaboration.
Previously, Nick served as a Relationship Manager at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he helped launch the Giving Pledge—an effort led by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. In this role, Nick managed relationships with current and prospective members of the pledge, as well as their staff and advisors. He helped to connect global philanthropists with one another in effort to exchange knowledge and encourage collaboration.
Nick began his career in the social sector as the Deputy Director of the Children’s Health Forum—a national nonprofit focused on the prevention and eradication of childhood diseases that disproportionately impact underserved communities.
Nick was named to the inaugural Chronicle of Philanthropy 40 Under 40 ranking in 2016. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal MarketWatch, Time Magazine and other notable publications. He serves as a director of the Wild Elements Foundation—a conscious catalyst for change that accelerates efforts to restore our global ecosystem.
Nick received a B.A. from Villanova University and resides in Washington, D.C.
Victoria Torres SCG Member
Director Community Impact, Samueli Foundation
Victoria Torres, Director of Community Impact for the Samueli Foundation is responsible for overseeing the foundation’s work as it relates to place-based grantmaking strategies in the City of Anaheim and addressing food security. Her role in the foundation is to serve as a resource for grantees by providing them with capacity building strategies, community relations and advocacy, connections to other grantees, evaluation and reporting. She has been volunteering and working in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. Born and raised in Orange County, she is passionate about making a difference in her community by educating and connecting people to enhance the innovative strategies that already exist in our communities.