Registration

Event Description

Join our upcoming Workforce Funders Group Meeting at the new AltaSea Center of Innovation in the Port of Los Angeles to learn from funders, schools, out-of-school time programs, and employers helping youth in Los Angeles’ Port communities forge successful connections between high school and work. Approximately 56,276 teens and young adults ages 16-24 live within Los Angeles City Council District 15 in communities such as Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts, and Wilmington. They are growing up next to an economic engine for the entire West Coast that is also home to half of the City of Los Angeles’ public housing projects. Funders are invited to learn from the educators, nonprofits, and industries helping these young people build skills, experiences, and relationships that will allow them to thrive as adults and make the Ports communities greener, safer, and stronger. Tours of AltaSea will be available following the program.

Who should attend: Funders interested in education, environment, health, workforce, child welfare

Speakers

Female with glasses

Lindsey Kozberg

Senior Director, The Smidt Foundation

Lindsey Kozberg is Senior Program and Community Engagement Director at The Smidt Foundation, the private charitable foundation inspired by Eric Smidt’s commitment to supporting courageous people building, repairing and making our communities safe. She oversees a portfolio of capital and major gifts in support of that mission and assists the foundation’s Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program, which invests in schools and teachers offering high school students pathways to graduation, opportunity, and careers in the skilled trades. Lindsey has led strategic communications and government relations at the nonpartisan RAND Corporation and at Truth Initiative, the public health foundation dedicated to ending tobacco use. During the George W. Bush Administration she was director of public affairs for the U.S. Department of Education and a White House special assistant responsible for advancing national service and civic engagement. Trained as a land use attorney, Lindsey has helped to adapt and build projects across Los Angeles working with real estate developers and sports, civic, and education institutions. A graduate of Princeton University and Stanford Law School, Lindsey supports the creation and growth of excellent and equitable public schools and systems by serving on the boards of ExED, GPSN and the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools as well as Coro Southern California.
Mike Lansing

Michael Lansing

Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

Mike Lansing began his lifetime of youth advocacy and engagement at the age of twenty when he started teaching and coaching and continued in that profession for eighteen years. In 1988, Mike founded the San Pedro Youth Coalition, a volunteer non-profit agency that promotes youth issues and sponsors youth development programs. The Coalition is still active today. In 1995, Mike became executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor which now totals “24” locations in the Los Angeles Harbor area communities of San Pedro, Wilmington, Lomita, Harbor Gateway and Harbor City. Major programs developed under Mike’s tenure are the nationally recognized College Bound program, the Arts Academy project and Career Bound/Workforce Development opportunities for youth and young adults ages 16-24. Arts Academy is a daily program and provides FREE beginning to advanced arts instruction for youth 5-18 including fine arts, music, dance, audio recording, photography, computer graphics, video recording, animation and 3-D modeling. The College and Career Bound programs provide higher education and career pathway support (including skills trades training) to over 1800 high school students annually. In 1999, Mike was elected to the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District representing District 7. Mike served as the Chairman of the important Facilities committee which oversaw the construction of over 80 new schools within Los Angeles. Mike was re-elected to the LAUSD Board of Education in 2003 and retired from the board in 2007. Mike has his Business Finance degree from CSU Long Beach and his California Teaching Credential and Masters in School Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills.
Photo of Erin Loveridge.

Erin Loveridge

Senior Development Director, Port of Los Angeles High School

Erin manages POLAHS’ fundraising strategy and public relations. In addition to donor cultivation and stewardship, she secures grant funding from corporations, foundations, and government entities. Erin has raised over $15 million for a variety of programmatic and capital improvement projects at POLAHS, including the Career Technical Education (CTE) and Special Education programs; PIXELS Art Gallery; science laboratories; and PE facilities. Erin also serves as POLAHS’ Linked Learning Coordinator and Skilled Trades Summer Program Lead.

Erin is an alumnus of Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Business Administration. She attended the University of Southern California, earning a Master's of Communication Management with an emphasis in Strategic Leadership. She holds certification in Grant Writing and Administration from
California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Photo of Aaron Thieme.

Aaron Thieme

Associate Director, Training, Pacific Maritime Association

After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Business Administration, Aaron accepted a position with the Pacific Maritime Association ("PMA"). Over the last 17 years, Aaron has worked in various departments within PMA focusing on process improvements and cross-functional efficiencies. Additionally, during this time, Aaron earned his Master's in Business Administration from UCLA Anderson.

For the previous eight (8) years, Aaron has managed the Southern California Training Department. In his role, he strives to implement technology in training and improve the overall experience of training for students and instructors to produce skilled labor that benefits both the ILWU and PMA member companies.
Photo of Mary Tran.

Mary Tran

CEO, EXP, The Opportunity Engine

Mary Tran is CEO of EXP – The Opportunity Engine, a nonprofit organization focused on youth development and career education. Founded as International Trade Education Programs by maritime leaders in the San Pedro Bay and rebranded in 2018, EXP helps young people gain experience, unlock doors, and build confidence to succeed in school, career, and life. Serving over 8,400 high school students across 15 Southern California high schools, EXP brings together schools and industry to create new ways of learning, knocking down barriers, and offering genuine opportunities to every student. Before joining EXP in 2023, Mary was the Executive Director for High School Inc. Academies Foundation, transforming the organization, serving over 1,700 students annually with a 98% graduation rate. She was recognized as the 2023 Difference Maker for Small Nonprofit Leader of the Year by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce for her unwavering commitment to uplifting the community. She holds roles such as the Steering Committee Chair for the OCCF's Future is Working Giving Day and is a member of the OneOC advisory council. Her journey as the daughter of refugee parents and a first-generation student fuels her mission to challenge the status quo, fostering a culture of understanding, compassion, and inclusivity. Mary has her bachelor's degrees in Family Life Education and Child Development from California State University, Long Beach.

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