People

Christine Essel

Chris Essel is President and CEO of Southern California Grantmakers. Since her appointment in February 2013, Chris has led SCG to triple its membership base, foster relationships with government agencies, innovate on programming, and build a strong advocacy arm. 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.

Michael Fleming

Michael Fleming is the Executive Director of the David Bohnett Foundation, a grantmaking foundation charged with “improving society through social activism”. Fleming has served on numerous boards and commissions including the Los Angeles Board of Water Power Commissioners―the five member panel that oversees the nation’s largest public utility. He previously served as the President of the East Los Angeles Area Planning Commission and as a Commissioner on the Board of the Los Angeles Convention Center. In 2010, President Barack Obama named Fleming to the White House Council for Community Solutions. He is the past Chairman of the Board of public radio powerhouse KCRW and an adjunct professor of organizational development and public policy at UCLA.

Joanna S. Jackson

Driven by her commitment to equity and justice, Joanna has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic and public sectors. Joanna joined Weingart Foundation in 2008 and after five years on the leadership team, Joanna was appointed interim President & CEO as of October 1, 2023.

Jennifer Price-Letscher

Jennifer joined the Foundation in 2011, bringing a broad range of nonprofit and philanthropic experiences, including leadership and capacity-building roles at the Sterling-Dorman and Whitecap foundations, and various positions in arts, education, the environment, and youth development.  She holds an MSc in positive organizational development and change management from Case Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School of Management, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, and professional certifications in appreciative inquiry, sustainability, coaching, and college counseling.  Jennifer serves on the boards of Westside Neighborhood School, SEED School LA, and Southern California Grantmakers, as an advisory council member for East West Players, and on the LA County Arts Commission as a Supervisor Barger appointee.  She was a 2017 Council on Foundations Career Pathways Program Fellow.

John Wagner

John A. Wagner is the Executive Vice President of First 5 LA’s Center for Child and Family Impact (CCFI). In this role, John is responsible for leading the CCFI’s systems change efforts to change policy and practice and build public will to prioritize and improve outcomes for young children in Los Angeles County.

John first joined the early childhood advocacy and public grantmaking organization as Chief Operating Officer in December 2012, building on his nearly two decades of experience in running a number of state departments in the health and human services arena. In August 2016, John was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President. Prior to joining First 5 LA, John served as Director of the California Department of Community Services and Development from 2011-2012, and Director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) from 2007-2011. At CDSS, he oversaw a budget of over $20 billion and programs affecting California’s most vulnerable residents including foster children and youth; children and families receiving aid through the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs); and children and adults in state-licensed community care facilities.

John has served as senior policymaker and advisor to both Republican and Democratic administrations in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and California. Prior to coming to California, he served as the Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, where he coordinated policies and programs across many state agencies. Additionally, John served as the state’s Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, overseeing the state welfare agency from 2002 to 2007.

John earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University.

Rochelle Alley

Rochelle Alley is CEO of Big Orange Splot, LLC, specializing in cross-sector social enterprise management for nonprofit, governmental, philanthropic, and for-profit entities working to realize a better world for children and families. Alley’s commitment to child well-being work started as a tutor to incarcerated mothers. This formative experience sparked a lifelong journey that spanned teaching preschool, coaching gymnastics, overseeing wide portfolios of social services, and ultimately 20+ years leading and consulting for organizations nationwide.

Kate Anderson

Kate is the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic Partnerships where she synergistically and strategically combines LA County government and local philanthropic foundations expertise and resources to improve child welfare. In addition, Anderson develops and strengthens new and existing partnerships to leverage federal, state and private dollars to serve LA’s youth, families and communities. Anderson advocated for better policies and systems while working with area nonprofits and as Director of Children Now, where she connected the organization’s policy work to the community. Anderson previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Jane Harman, trained as an attorney and served as Counsel to the U.S. Congress, Government Reform Committee, in Washington, D.C.

Olivia Celis

Olivia Celis worked with the L.A. Department of Mental Health for nearly 15 years, beginning as a child and family therapist and ending as Deputy Director for the Children’s System of Care. After leaving DMH, Olivia worked in a variety of consulting roles, both statewide and with community-based organizations, with an emphasis on underserved communities. Olivia was also an associate professor in the DSW program at USC. She worked with Casey Family Programs and the Center to support L.A. County’s implementation of Continuum of Care reform and 21st Century Child Welfare initiatives, with a special focus in the Antelope Valley. Most recently, she has been leading COVID prevention and vaccine efforts targeting disproportionately affected communities and geographic areas. Olivia recently accepted the position of Los Angeles Field Office Senior Director for Casey Family Programs.

Jacqueline Chun

Jacqueline worked steadily in the non-profit sector for over 20 years before transitioning to the public sector in her role at the Center for Strategic Partnerships. Prior to joining the Center, Jacqueline was the Chief Programs and Operations Officer at The Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation for 16 years where she was responsible for managing the Foundation’s strategic grantmaking and daily operations.

During her time there, she regularly held leadership positions in strategic public private partnership committees, all of which aimed to advance healthier communities, achieve equitable access to education, housing, and services, and promote community-driven solutions.

Jill Currie

Jill Currie is a communications strategist with a passion for equity, community-led solutions, and the written word. She specializes in creating stories and experiences that advance human services systems change and ultimately improve the lives of children, youth, and families.

Sandy Escobedo

Sandy Escobedo is a daughter of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador. Her identity as a daughter of immigrants is what fuels her desire to make Los Angeles a model for shared prosperity in the 21st century. As a consultant, she enjoys working on strategic planning, project management, and fund development.

Dr. Tamara Hunter

Dr. Hunter is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families. She is a macro-practitioner deeply invested in transforming the child welfare system and dedicated to improving life outcomes for children and their families.

Piper Kamins

Piper Kamins is a program officer at The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and strategic liaison to the Center team.  Her previous nonprofit experience includes program management in homeless services and youth development, and consulting in criminal and juvenile justice.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley, and a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.  Piper was born and raised in Los Angeles.

Kaci Patterson

Kaci Patterson is Owner and Principal of Social Good Solutions, a boutique consulting firm in Los Angeles. Kaci brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and is widely recognized for her expertise in equity-centered grantmaking and community-driven design. In her role as Sr. Director for the LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, Kaci organizes philanthropic engagement for the LA County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM), a public-private-community partnership working to advance joyous and healthy births for Black mothers and families in LA County.

Tamara Sanders

Tamara joined the Center for Strategic Partnerships team as a Staff Assistant, CEO. She assists with supporting cross-sector collaborations that transform Los Angeles County systems, policies, and practices to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families using an equity lens. She holds degrees in Communications and Social & Behavioral Sciences.

Lisa Watson

Lisa Watson is an experienced leader who supports organizations in their strategic efforts to create positive social impact through collaboration. Passionate about equity, Lisa’s expertise lies in finding solutions to homelessness, with a focus on housing.