SCG's 2024 Policy Conference: Long-Term Visions, Lasting Change

Megan Castillo (she/her) is a grassroots organizer originally from South Central Los Angeles, CA. Megan's experience as a working-class, first generation college student, as well as a Black woman, has greatly informed her lens as an abolitionist organizer.

Megan is highly committed to upending state sanctioned violence, fighting for liberation and building a better quality of life for Black, Indigenous and other people of color. She has dedicated her career to improving the lives of our most vulnerable populations. This includes uplifting community-led campaigns around racial justice and divesting resources from carceral and harmful institutions and instead investing in systems of care.

Currently, Megan is the Policy and Advocacy Manager at La Defensa and the Reimagine LA- Coalition Coordinator for Measure J, which passed in November of 2020. Most recently, Megan was appointed to the Los Angeles county Measure J- Care First Community Investment Commission.
Megan is the cofounder of #BlackatLMU and in 2019, and was awarded the Black community impact award for her dedication and efforts to raise awareness amongst her community. She is Women's Policy Institute Alumna, Gilman Scholar Alumna, and a Norman Topping Scholar Alumna. Megan has earned both her Bachelors in Psychology and African-American studies and her Masters in Social Work, with an emphasis in Social Change and Innovation.

Megan has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Spectrum 1 News, The Appeal, and the LA Progressive for her advocacy and organizing.

Elena Chávez Quezada is Senior Advisor on Social Innovation for Governor Newsom, where she spearheads the State’s partnerships with philanthropy to advance shared priorities. Prior to her role in the Governor’s Office, Chávez Quezada was Chief Impact Officer of End Poverty in California (EPIC), an effort led by former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, and spent a decade in philanthropy, most recently as Vice President of Programs at the San Francisco Foundation. She also worked at the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and Tipping Point Community. Before her time in philanthropy, Chávez Quezada worked on policy and programs related to economic opportunity at various nonprofits, including Single Stop USA and the Aspen Institute. Chávez Quezada earned her Bachelor’s and Master of Public Policy degrees from Harvard University, and lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons.

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).

Lili Gangas is the Chief Technology Community Officer at the Kapor Center, an operating foundation at the intersection of technology and racial justice, providing research and thought leadership, operating programs, supporting strategic partnerships and investments to increase diversity across the tech ecosystem--from K-12 education through entrepreneurship and venture capital - aiming to level the playing field in tech. Lili co-leads the Kapor Center’s Equitable Tech Policy Initiative with a focus on inclusive technology policy with special interests in closing digital divide, scaling new tech workforce models, advocating for responsible emerging technology as well as providing foundational support across civic engagement issues and tech enablement of civic organizations.

Samantha Gordon is an experienced leader in the space of workers’ rights and social justice. She served for over twelve years with the two-million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU); most recently as Division Executive Director for SEIU Local 1000, which represents 96,000 state workers across California.

In her time at SEIU, she focused on strengthening member engagement and leadership development programs across the country. Samantha trained and developed SEIU local union chapters on political education and small-donor fundraising, helping SEIU become one of the largest political action committees in the U.S. prior to Citizens United. In addition, she played leadership roles for SEIU in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections in Arizona and Florida, respectively. Samantha moved from SEIU’s national organization to its largest public-sector local union chapter, SEIU Local 1000, to drive a culture-change initiative across its statewide organizing program. She served as key advisor to elected leadership and ultimately directed three major program areas of the union: organizing, politics, and communications.

Chris Hoene, Executive Director, leads the strategic direction of the organization, acts as primary spokesperson, and works with the board of directors and community partners to advance the organization’s values, policy directions, and development. Chris is a dynamic leader who strives to build relationships and a collective vision with a range of partners and people, including the Budget Center team, policymakers, advocates, organizers, the media, and funders to improve the lives of Californians, particularly those who have been barred from sharing in California’s prosperity. 

Before joining the Budget Center in 2012, Chris worked as the director of the Center for Research and Innovation at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C. He also worked as an analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C. and the Public Policy Institute of California in San Francisco. Chris holds a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Idaho. In 2011, Chris was elected as a fellow into the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in recognition of his service to the state and local community.

Chris is married to Darrene Hackler and, in their free time, they can be found hiking, playing tennis, paddleboarding, traveling, cooking, and seeking out good wine — not necessarily in that order, but ideally in the same day!

Veronica Lewis, Master of Public of Administration is a recognized leader in Los Angeles County in the Homeless Services, Substance Use Support and Reentry sectors and is the Director of the Homeless Outreach Program/Integrated Care System Division of Special Service for Groups (SSG/HOPICS) where she oversees more than 110 million dollars in annual funding for multi-service programs including: mental health, substance use disorder treatment, reentry support, homeless services, permanent housing programs and sites, and trauma-focused services. Under her leadership as Director since January 2011, HOPICS’ annual budget has increased by 2100 percent and the workforce tenfold in 13 years. Under her leadership, HOPICS has permanently housed more than 6000 homeless families within the last decades. Veronica has represented the interest of SPA 6 and the LA Continuum of Care (CoC) as member and Chair of the CoC Board and Coordinating Council. Veronica is also a Los Angeles County Public Social Services Commissioner appointed by LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

Veronica served as the Chair for two years of the Los Angeles Care First and Community Investment or CFCI (formerly Measure J) Advisory Committee and led the process of developing a recommended transformative spending plan that resulted in LA County funding $287 Million for the first two inaugural years (FY 22-23) of investment into alternatives to incarceration and addressing racial inequities. She is a member of the Steering Committee for the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP). In addition to her contribution to local Los Angeles City and County homeless/housing, reentry and SUD systems, programs and policies, Veronica also lends her expertise to help shape policies, best practices and projects at the state and national level through her participation as a Councilmember on the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) appointed by Speaker Anthony Rendon.

Hannah Orbach-Mandel, State Policy Fellow, conducts research and analysis on gender equity and supporting California workers. The goals of her work are to advance policies that promote equitable working conditions for all workers, especially women and people of color, and to improve the lives of California women and families.

Before joining the Budget Center in 2022, Hannah received a master’s degree in public policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University, where she focused on policies to support survivors of sexual misconduct in higher education and in the workplace, and on paid parental leave policies. While getting her degree, she worked at TIME’S UP where she conducted research on best practices for workplace sexual harassment policies. Hannah earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Kenyon College.

Hannah was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and enjoys swimming, biking, and running. When she isn’t exercising, she loves cooking, reading, and watching sports, especially the University of Michigan Wolverines.

Silvia Paz is the Founder and Executive Director of Alianza Coachella Valley, a non-profit alliance of residents and non-governmental organizations working at the intersection of community engagement and policy development. Silvia is dedicated to improving the communities she calls home, and is at the forefront of the climate change issues affecting the Salton Sea region. She has served in various volunteer, appointed, and elected positions. In 2021, she was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Extraction of Lithium, where she served as Chair, and has served on the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Education since 2018. Prior to founding Alianza Coachella Valley, Silvia was a high school teacher at Coachella Valley High School, a fellow at the Harvard University Planning Office, and a senior policy analyst in the office of Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez.

Laura is Research Director for the California Budget & Policy Center. She leads the Budget Center’s research and methodology strategy and best practices. Additionally, she conducts research to strengthen California’s early care and education system. Prior to joining the Budget Center in 2023, Laura was an Associate Director at Social Policy Research Associates in the Equity Education and Community Change Division where she led multiple research and evaluation projects. She earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in quantitative methods and evaluation from the University of California, Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.

Erica serves as Interim Director for the Equity, Arts and Culture team. Born in Argentina, raised in Los Angeles - Erica combines her years organizing within the immigrant rights movement, her training in alternative medicine and her life-long creative practice together for programming, consulting and healing work that is unique, rooted and versatile. Prior to joining SCG, Erica served as Director of Youth Programming at the Miguel Contreras Foundation (MCF) where she led social justice programming for immigrant communities. A leading voice in bridging healing and social justice work, Erica has been invited for speaking, teaching and consulting engagements with California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance, Chuco's Justice Center, MCF, SHIFT, LA-USC Wellness Center, InnerWayLa, Peace Over Violence, California Conference for Equity and Justice, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and The African American Policy Forum. Since 2018, Erica has been commissioned each year by UCLA’s Wesley Foundation to create and teach a Healing+Justice Series for UCLA students. In 2019, Erica was awarded the UMC grant to create No Estan Solos, a multidisciplinary healing and advocacy program for Latinx undocumented and refugee youth. Erica also served as Ayurvedic Practitioner and Counselor at WeSpark Cancer Support, making her the youngest woman to ever serve as lead Ayurvedic Practitioner in an integrative health center for cancer patients and survivors. In 2019, Erica founded the Women’s Healing Course, a series inspired by the intersection of race, gender and healing that has been offered all throughout California and, due to national recognition, is now being offered virtually to global audiences.

Erica is informed by her background as a seasoned writer and performer. She is a founding member of the Dancing Diaspora Collective, a collective of POC artists and healers dedicated to honoring, sharing, and reimagining practices of the Latin & African diasporas in dialogue with local and global histories of cultural resistance. Most recently, her solo work “I am my Mother’s Daughter” about mothers and migration has been performed for over 8,000 people at UCLA’s historic Pauley Pavilion and has been selected for KPCC’s Unheard LA live series.

Erica holds a BA in World Arts and Cultures from UCLA and an AWP (Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner) certification from Southern California University of Health Sciences.

Bamby Salcedo is a prominent and celebrated transgender Latina activist, known all over the world for her passionate and productive social, political, and economic influence. As the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, Bamby steadily leads this nationally recognized organization that advocates for and addresses the issues of transgender Latinas throughout the United States. Bamby received her Master’s Degree in Mexican and Latin@ Studies from California State University, Los Angeles, and also developed the Center for Violence Prevention & Transgender Wellness, a multimillion, multipurpose, multiservice space for Trans people in Los Angeles.
Bamby’s wide-ranging activist work has brought visibility and given a voice to not only the trans community, but to countless others whose efforts focus on critical topics that include immigration, HIV, at-risk youth, LGBTQIA+ issues, incarceration, and more. Through her dynamic leadership, Bamby has developed several organizations that have created networks and connections where there were none, and she, to this day, tirelessly advocates for the rights, dignity, and humanity of those who are often silenced. Determined to affect change at every level, Bamby actively engages and supports many local, national, and international organizations and planning groups.

Gloria Soto was born, raised, and educated in Santa Maria. She is the daughter of immigrant farm-worker parents, who made numerous sacrifices to ensure she would have a better life. Gloria took advantage of opportunities afforded to her by her family and community; she is a proud past participant of Future Leaders of America (FLA) and Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Gloria has dedicated her young professional career to serving her community. She is currently the Executive Director of Future Leaders of America (FLA), one of California's largest Latinx youth-serving organizations. Before joining the FLA team, Gloria served in various positions at Planned Parenthood California Central Coast (PPCCC), including education, public affairs, and development. As the Director of Public Affairs, she expanded access to quality reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion, through community engagement and public policy.

In 2018, Gloria was the youngest woman elected to the Santa Maria City Council as part of the national wave of young women of color seeking representation in local governments. Gloria is a proud member of The Fund for Santa Barbara family, having served as a Grant Making Committee member and a current Board Member. She also currently serves on the boards of the Allan Hancock Scholarship Foundation and is currently an MBA student at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Today she and her family reside in Santa Maria. Gloria is bilingual, bi-cultural, and deeply connected to the many communities on the Central Coast. Gloria attended Pioneer Valley High School and earned her Associate Degree at Allan Hancock College and her B.A. at Chapman University.