Mandy Breuer is the Assistant Principal at Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, Ca. After receiving her B.A. in Public Relations from Texas Tech University and her M.A. in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University, Breuer began her quest to see environmental justice with public education. While at LMU, Breuer was selected as a recipient of the coveted Dean’s Award for her work in Social Justice.
Prior to beginning her tenure with Environmental Charter Schools, Breuer served in the Compton High School counseling department and as a founding director for a 5th grade transition program. Since joining the ECS effort, a counselor by trade, Breuer has built a counseling department from the ground up and spends her time designing learning spaces that build the whole student—academically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Breuer has mentored new teachers, counseled students, designed family outreach workshops, created a student leadership program, built an internship program and one of the strongest college preparation departments in Los Angeles. Before her journey into public education, Breuer spent her time in marketing with FOX Broadcasting Company.
Outside of ECS, Breuer works closely with The Nature Conservancy’s Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future program, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, the urban green space renewal organization—From Lot to Spot and Loyola Marymount University’s School of Education. Breuer also enjoys music festivals, playing the guitar and backpacking in State and National Parks.
Nadia Gonzalez is Communications Manager for Time Warner Cable Sports where she leads media relations, government relations and community outreach for Time Warner Cable Deportes, the new Spanish-language home of the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Galaxy, LA Sparks and the CIF. Prior to joining TWC Deportes, Gonzalez managed community outreach for Club Deportivo Chivas USA and prior to that, she served as communications manager at the Partnership for LA Schools under the direction of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Early on in her career, Gonzalez served as Spanish-language media specialist for the Los Angeles Unified School District, a position she held prior to her start in the field of communications with Univision’s flagship Spanish-language news station, KMEX 34 Los Angeles.
Outside of her career, Gonzalez is committed to a number of causes that include PADRES Contra El Cancer and Donate California. She is a firm supporter of environmental awareness and the need for green spaces in inner-city communities. She is honored and humbled with the opportunity to lend her support to From Lot to Spot. Gonzalez holds Bachelors Liberal Arts degree from Loyola Marymount University. She enjoys running half-marathons, spending time with her family, travelling, reading and live sports and music events.
Michael Hee is an Associate at the Landscape Architecture firm SWA Group and has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a minor in Sustainable Environments from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Hee is a Landscape Architect and at SWA, Hee is tasked with the QA/QC services and production for a varying range of projects both domestically and in China. Hee likes to play sports (especially futbol), hiking and spending time with his construction site rescue dog Mookie. Favorite teams are Dodgers, Clippers, Kings and Galaxy!
Monina Verano is a wife, mother of two (bears), 20 year resident of Los Angeles, and creative entrepreneur. She is the Founder of an agency and post production studio called SLAQR, where she leads a dynamic team in branding and producing promotional campaigns for clients in entertainment and new media. She is a firm believer that passion, perseverance, and creativity can accomplish anything, and she is excited to share her energy and resources with FLTS and the community of Los Angeles.
Julia Vázquez is Supervising Attorney and Adjunct Associate Professor with Southwestern Law School’s Immigration Law Clinic. Her work includes direct representation of low income U visa and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status clients, supervision of law students as well as development and implementation of course curricula for the Clinic and the Immigration Appeals Practicum. She is dedicated both professionally and personally to social justice and issues of equity for underrepresented communities. She is a member of the Executive Board of the National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles Chapter, a bar association which values human rights over property rights. Prior to earning her law degree, Julia earned her Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in critical pedagogy from UCLA. She worked for several years as a Bilingual Urban Educator and Dual Language Coordinator in South Central Los Angeles. As an educator she helped spearhead a coalition of students, parents and educators dedicated to student language rights in LAUSD.
Julia is an alumna of UCLA School of Law with specializations in both Public Interest Law & Policy and Critical Race Studies. At UCLAw she served as Co-President of the Immigration Law Society, Co-chair of La Raza Law Students Association, and Articles Editor for the Chicana/o Latina/o Law Review and Writing Advisor in the First-Year Lawyering Skills Course. She clerked with organizations such as Public Counsel’s Immigrant Rights Project, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund and the Executive Office of Immigration Review. Julia is most proud of the fact that her life experiences as the daughter of working class immigrants continuously frame her dedication to social justice.
Will Wright is the Director of Government & Public Affairs for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. As the chief design advocate for AIA|LA, Wright cultivates awareness about the importance of design excellence in the built environment. In this role, he works with local government leaders, firm principals and other non-profits organizations on strategies to help make our urban system more equitable, healthier and more complete. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Business Federation and is a Public Member of the Board for the Los Angeles chapter of BOMA-PAC. Wright has also served on the steering committee for Climate Plan. Wright graduated from the Art Center College of Design with an MFA, and has a BFA from Southern Methodist University.