Daniel Lopez, President

Daniel Lopez elected to his second term as LACYD President, Daniel currently serves as a Legislative Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian. Daniel’s interest in politics first began within his family, who instilled in him a strong commitment to civic engagement, and with values that mandate fighting for those less fortunate. Daniel’s love of politics was cemented during as a student in a Government and Politics class at Los Angeles’s Loyola High School.

While still a student at the University of Southern California, Daniel became involved in the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign going on to work in both Texas and North Carolina, where he was fortunate to work directly with Secretary Clinton and Former President Bill Clinton, all while maintaining a full class load at USC. Daniel credits the Clinton campaign with opening his eyes to the tremendous effect that politics and public service can have, and how truly lucky we are to live in a free democracy.

Following the Clinton Campaign, Daniel worked as the New Media Director for the Antonio Villaraigosa Re-Election Campaign, where he created all of Mayor Villaraigosa's now vibrant Social Media platforms. Daniel built on that experience joining then-Assemblymember Paul Krekorian’s successful bid for LA City Council.

Daniel graduated from USC with a degree in International Relations and Economics. Daniel is also a big sports fan and enjoys baseball, football, and basketball. Daniel is a lifelong resident of the Pasadena area of the San Gabriel Valley.

Jason B. Levin, Vice President of Communications

Jason Levin is serving his fifth term as the Vice President of Communications.  In this role, Jason coordinates and manages LACYD’s external and internal communications, including the organization’s social media presence. In his professional career, Jason is a sought after communications and public relations consultant working at the venerable Los Angeles-based public affairs firm, Cerrell. Previously, Jason served as Communications Director to Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.  A veteran of both government and campaigns, Jason has worked in and outside of government as Communications Director for then-LAUSD Board Member Nury Martinez and as Press Secretary for former Congressman and LACYD co-founder Howard Berman’s 2012 re-election campaign. Jason has also served Valley communities as a field representative for Congressman Howard Berman and State Senator Fran Pavley.

Born and raised in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley, Jason is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

Derek Mazzeo, Vice President of Programming

Derek Mazzeo has been an LACYD Board Member since 2015. A lifelong Southern Californian and Democrat, Derek serves as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s state and federal liaison. The child of two public school teachers, Derek has a deep passion for social justice.

In 2008, he worked as a field organizer for the Barack Obama presidential campaign in three states while a freshman at Occidental College. After the Obama campaign, Derek became President of Occidental College Democrats before joining the office of then-Council President Eric Garcetti. More recently, he has served as Deputy Campaign Manager for Mayor Eric Garcetti's successful reelection campaign.

In his free time, Derek enjoys going to Dodger games, exploring Los Angeles on foot, and volunteering.

Marcos is serving his third term as LACYD’s Vice President of Administration, responsible for coordinating the activities of the legislative, political and membership recruitment and engagement activities of the organization. Professionally, Marcos serves as the District Director for Councilwoman Nury Martinez. Born in the north east San Fernando Valley, Marcos is dedicated to expanding opportunity and improving the quality of life in his community. 

Anna Hovasapian, Vice President of Finance 

Joey Freeman, Corresponding Secretary

Joey Freeman was elected to his second stint on the LACYD Board in January 2017 after previously serving in 2014. He is the Southern California Director and Chief Policy Consultant for Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. He directs the Lieutenant Governor’s agenda surrounding various policy issues including early childhood, K-12, public higher education, workforce development and criminal justice, and staffs Mr. Newsom on the University of California Board of Regents and California State University Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining the Lieutenant Governor’s office, Joey served as the Political Director and Deputy Communications Director on a high-profile congressional campaign and completed the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs in Los Angeles. He has worked for a member of the Los Angeles City Council, a United States Senator, and campaigns at the local, state and federal levels.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Joey graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in American Studies and a minor in Public Policy. At Berkeley, Joey was elected as the ASUC External Affairs Vice President, representing the student body to the local, state and federal levels of government, and served as Finance Officer of the UC Student Association. In those capacities, he cofounded a statewide coalition called Fund the UC, worked with former Speaker John Perez to pass the Middle Class Scholarship Act and launched a successful four-year campaign to pass citywide charter reform in Berkeley, creating the nation's first student-supermajority City Council district. Active in the Jewish community, Joey currently serves on the Board of Directors of Berkeley Hillel.

Ben Seinfeld, Recording Secretary

Antonio Villraigosa, Jr., Parliamentarian 

Stephanie Uy, Regional Board District 1

Stephanie Uy found her passion for social justice at UCLA where she graduated with a B.A. in Asian American Studies and minor in Urban and Regional Planning. As a student organizer, Stephanie served as a long-time advocate for communities of color and worked towards college affordability and accessibility.

During her senior year, Stephanie got her start in politics as an intern in the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. In 2012, Stephanie worked as a field organizer for the Barack Obama presidential campaign in Colorado. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Stephanie worked as a community organizer for public health issues, a political organizer on a local city council campaign, and as a deputy for Councilmember Paul Krekorian and Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez.

Stephanie is currently the Legislative Deputy for Councilmember Mitchell Englander. She specializes in issues relating to parks, public works, and homelessness. In her spare time, she continues to serve her Pilipino American community by sitting on the Board of Directors for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA). Stephanie is an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan and tennis player.

Patrick is a native Angeleno who grew up splitting time between South L.A. and Culver City. He graduated from Loyola High School and the University of Arizona, where he studied Business Administration, Communication and Africana Studies.

Patrick currently serves as Civic Engagement & Public Policy Associate for a non-profit child care agency. He is dedicated to advocating for early childhood education and supporting parent engagement in South Los Angeles. Previously, Patrick served as a Senior Field Representative in the State Assembly.

Patrick is active and with the Loyola High School African American Alumni Society, where he works to support prospective applicants, current students and engage recent alumni. Patrick is motivated by the vision of a better future for South Los Angeles. He views educational equity, environmental justice, and housing affordability as the key issues facing Los Angeles millennials.

In his free time, Patrick enjoys going to Dodger games, playing golf and basketball, and trying new restaurants with his wife, Raquel.

Brian Gavidia, Regional Board District 3

Brian is serving his second term as LACYD Board Member. Professionally,Brian represents the San Fernando Valley as Mayor Eric Garcetti's East Valley Area Representative. Previously, Brian served as Field Representative for Congressman Tony Cárdenas.Brian holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University Northridge, and a Bachelors Degree in Latin American and Iberian Studies and Spanish from the University of California Santa Barbara. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Brian is dedicated to improving the quality of life in his community. 

Christopher Wilson, Regional Board District 4

Christopher Michael Wilson was born in Whittier, California, home of the last Mexican Governor of California (Alta California) Pío Pico. Born of working class parents, Christopher quickly understood the value of hard work, commitment and dedication. While Chris' mother marched alongside Cesar Chavez in support of civil and worker rights, his dad went on to become a successful businessman for AT&T before suffering a stroke that caused him to retire early.

Working for the Pico Rivera Parks and Recreation Department and the Whittier Union High School as a Vocational Specialist at the age of 16, It wasn't until July of 2008 when Chris began his work with the California Legislature as an Intern then Project Coordinator to California Assemblymember Wilmer Amina Carter. Representing cities in the Inland Empire, Chris hit the ground running to assist Assemblymember Carter with field representation and constituent services that cut red tape for people having trouble with state departments and agencies.

Chris continued his service in the Assembly when he joined Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal’s Administration in February of 2009. Serving as her Case Manager in a district that encompassed over 400,000 constituents, Chris assisted district constituents on issues relating to unemployment benefits and state disability, healthcare, housing, veterans services, social services and more. He also served as a Field Representative for the City of Signal Hill working with the mayor and city council, police officials, the city's chamber of commerce and local businesses on issues of legislative concern.

After working for Assemblymember Lowenthal for four years in her district office, Chris transitioned from her office in Long Beach to join her capitol team in Sacramento. As a Legislative Aide, Chris advised Assemblymember Lowenthal on legislation relating to revenue and taxation, arts, entertainment, sports, tourism and internet media, animals, immigration, veterans, jobs and economic development. Chris also staffed Assemblymember Lowenthal on the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review, the committee in charge of identifying savings and efficiencies in the management of state government, reviewing and studying the implementation, operation, and effectiveness of state programs and agencies.  In addition, Chris worked on and served as the lead staffer on AB 2545 to address the needs of victims of military sexual assault and AB 1525 to allow for couples to get married locally. Both legislative bills passed out of the legislature and were signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014.

Currently, Chris serves as a Senior Representative for Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson who was sworn in to represent the 64th Assembly District in November 2014, a district that includes nearly a half million people and ranks as one of the impoverished districts in California.  Among his responsibilities includes representing Assemblymember Gipson in the communities of Carson, Wilmington, North Long Beach, Lynwood and Harbor Gateway.  He also serves as the lead staffer on Assemblymember Gipson’s social media handles, and covers issues that include: transportation, ports, business, economic development, veterans, LGBTQ, revenue and taxation, and arts and entertainment.  In the first 7 months of working for Assemblymember Gipson, Chris assisted Mr. Gipson with securing $3 million for the for an associated greenbelt expansion park project in East Wilmington in addition to a “Welcome to Wilmington” that is currently in its final stages.

Chris' volunteer service includes serving as a Strategic Development Council-member for Ability First, Secretary to the 100 Black Men of Long Beach, Treasurer of the Sacramento County Young Democratic Club, former Assembly District 54 State Delegate, several federal, state and local democratic campaigns and initiatives, Vice President of the Long Beach Democratic Club and Phone Tree Captain for the Mark Twain Democratic Club.

Faith Lee, Regional Board District 5 

Based in San Gabriel Valley, Faith Lee was the Lead Cantonese Anchor/ Reporter at Chinese TV Station, Skylink TV, in Los Angeles. She reported on public policies and political stories concerning the Asian American Community. Her interest in politics began to grow and was involved in various political campaigns. Faith currently works for Assemblymember Chris Holden as a Field Representative, with a focus on education, housing and 710 issues.

Faith spends her free time volunteering for different community organizations and events. She is the Director of Special Events for Asian Professional Exchange, and was the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Golden Dragon Parade in Los Angeles Chinatown and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California’s Golden Spike Award.

Brittany Ulrich, Board Member

Brittany is currently a doctoral candidate in Physiology at UCLA

and actively volunteered for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential campaign with the fundraising team. After the election, she was more motivated than ever to get involved and elect leaders she could believe in. Progressive values are very dear to her, particularly regarding access to education, as she was the first in her family to attend college and because she plans to become an educator after getting her PhD.

As a board member for LACYD, she hopes to provide a new perspective as a scientist. She wants to work toward electing more progressive candidates and more diverse candidates. She hopes to raise women up, by empowering them to get involved in politics and to run for office. She looks forward to working with the board and with the members of LACYD to make Los Angeles County a leader in the resistance and in progressive politics in our country. 

 Chloe Rodriguez, Board Member

Prior to her work with the Assemblymember, Sarah interned at City Hall in the Department of Public Works and participated in the prestigious UCDC program where she worked for a former California Congressman.

Sarah has worked for the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and the William C. Velasquez Institute and is a Board Member of the Wise Latina Network; a multi-generational network inspiring the Latino community through educational outreach, programming and philanthropic efforts. 

Ellie Caple, Board Member

Ellie Caple is an At-Large Board Member with LACYD. Ellie is also Senior Associate at SCN Strategies, where she brings diverse and high-level experience in management, policy and communications.

Before joining SCN, Ellie served as the primary aide to Attorney General Kamala D. Harris during her successful 2016 U.S. Senate campaign. During that time, Ellie prepared and staffed the candidate for all statewide and national appearances; managed the candidate briefing process and content creation for debates, speeches, and editorial boards; maintained relationships with key stakeholders; and executed strategic staff and volunteer Get Out the Vote efforts.

Previously, as Policy Associate for FWD.us, Ellie developed policy objectives for Mark Zuckerberg and the board of directors regarding the organization's mission and future objectives. She also worked at the Center for American Progress where she coordinated the work of seventeen policy and communications departments.

Ellie has also worked for Ann McLane Kuster's successful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as for Congressman Ed Markey, Governor Deval Patrick, and the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence. She graduated with honors from Tufts University with a B.A. in Peace and Justice Studies.

Sarah Rohani, Board Member

Diana Yedoyan, Board Member 

Jennifer is a small business owner and the C.F.O of a non-profit organization currently serving both California and Nevada. Jennifer officially began her political career in 2016 when she ran and was voted delegate during the Presidential primary. She is now a delegate for California's 57th Assembly District, serving 11 cities in Los Angeles County. During her time studying she earned notable scholarships that she then used to study abroad, travel, and learn different languages. Early on, she was instilled with a sense of social responsibility & civic duty. She's been active in her community since childhood, whether it was helping her mother make and deliver self-funded care packages to the homeless or host fundraisers with her grandmother's Costa Rican humanitarian society, there was always something to be done. Jennifer has worked and continues to work ardently alongside the LGBT community, racial justice, social justice, women’s rights, health, and environmental justice groups in issues threatening rights and equality. Jennifer believes that in order to make a difference you have to be the change you want to see. Moving forward Jennifer plans to continue to make efforts for positive change through political channels with no intention of abandoning any of the necessary feet-on-the-ground hands-on work. 

As a Los Angeles County Young Democrat board member, Jennifer will continue to support alleviating issues affecting families and the working class by providing better access to a good education, better working conditions, veteran's resources, accessible health care, a healthier planet, and basic human rights.

Erica Kwiatkowski, Board Member 

Erica has a broad range of strategic and campaign experience – having worked extensively with candidates, state and local ballot measures, global private companies and non-profits. Erica has managed a diverse portfolio of projects since joining SCN Strategies in 2012 from media relations, planning and production of television, digital, radio and direct mail advertisements, data and analytics, and debate prep in addition to managing SCN's client relations and operations. Erica has advised on strategy, paid media, and managed the data and analytics for campaigns from a BART Board race, to a Central Valley Congressional, to the historic Soda Tax campaigns in San Francisco and Oakland. In 2014, Erica focused on Libby Schaaf's successful bid for Mayor of Oakland, leading media relations, fundraising, TV advertising, and direct mail campaign efforts.

In addition to her work at SCN, Erica is the Co-Founder and Board President of California Women’s List, a Political Action Committee dedicated to supporting pro-choice Democratic women running for office in California. Since the 2016 election, she has worked with the many organizations dedicated to increasing women’s political representation through the Women’s Action Network and the California Women’s Collaborative.

Erica has trained or spoken to her political experience with up-and-coming civic leaders for the DCCC, Emerge California, Coro Northern California, NLC – SF, and Stanford Women in Politics.

Before moving to SCN Strategies’ Los Angeles Office in July 2017, she served on the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee Endorsements Committee and as the Development Director for The UCSB Young Alumni Group of San Francisco. She recently joined the Olé LA Host Committee to continue her work engaging UCSB Alumni in California.

Erica graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a BA in Political Science.

Katie Prisco-Buxbaum, Board Member 

Katie Prisco-Buxbaum currently serves as Finance Director for Gavin Newsom for Governor. In previous cycles, she served as Deputy Finance Director for Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate; Campaign Manager for Andrea Campbell, who was elected to represent District 4 in the Boston City Council after ousting a 32-year incumbent; Call Time Manager and Deputy Finance Director on Martha Coakley's gubernatorial bid; and as a Field Organizer, Intern Coordinator and Deputy Press Secretary for the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Katie has been very involved in non-profits focused on advancing women and girls. She formerly served as Vice President of Communications for the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass NOW), Communications Director for the Massachusetts Equal Pay Coalition, and was an active member of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts' Organizing Board. She is an alumna of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

Adam Z. Bierman is a Deputy City Attorney in Los Angeles, where he focuses on issues around housing and criminal justice.  Previously, Adam served in the administration of Mayor Eric Garcetti, in his Office of Budget and Innovation, where he worked on risk management and reducing the city’s growing civil liabilities. 

Prior to public service, Adam practiced law at Latham & Watkins, LLP, as a member of the Litigation Department.  Adam received his BA in Political Science from UCLA, where he graduated summa cum laude, and his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), graduating in 2012 and being awarded Order of the Coif. 

In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the nooks and crannies of Los Angeles, attempting new cooking exploits, rooting for the Dodgers, and playing and listening to music.

Adam is an attorney with Latham & Watkins LLP. He represents clients in complex civil litigation, primarily involving antitrust and administrative law, including constitutional and statutory challenges to legislation and regulation. He also represents low-wealth communities in impact civil rights and voting rights litigation across the country, advises the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights on educational civil rights issues, and serves on California Forward's Housing Action Team and as Secretary of the American Constitution Society in Los Angeles. In 2016, he was elected to the board of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats and appointed to serve on the Mid-City West Neighborhood Council. 

Adam received his J.D. with distinction from Stanford Law School, where he served as founding President of the Stanford Law Democrats and Editor of the Stanford Law & Policy Review. He received his A.B. summa cum laude from Columbia University, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and awarded the Charles A. Beard Prize for best graduating thesis, as well as the Edwin M. Robbins Prize for his commitment to public service. He grew up in Encino.

Before joining Latham, Adam clerked for the Civil Rights section of the U.S. Department of Justice and President Obama's Commission on Election Administration. At Stanford, he was a Mentor at the Levin Center for Public Service and taught in the Department of Public Policy. Adam's scholarship, which focused on the intersection of constitutional law and political theory, was awarded with Stanford Law School's John Hart Ely Prize. 

Dan Sheehan is an attorney and Yale Public Interest Fellow at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, where he works on consumer protection litigation. Dan previously taught middle school science in rural Alabama as a Teach For America Corps Member, where he founded the school's robotics team and served as assistant coach of the baseball team. He also worked as a data analyst at Facebook, focusing on combating identity theft and financial fraud, and he consulted for a think tank in Washington, DC. He has also consulted on policy and business issues for California elected officials and former Obama administration appointees.

Dan is a graduate of Yale Law School and Stanford University. During law school, he interned at the National Economic Council at the White House and at two Los Angeles law firms, served as president of the Yale Law Democrats and the Project for Law and Education at Yale, was an editor of the Yale Journal of Law and Technology, and was a teaching assistant in the Computer Science department.

Dan is a Bay Area native and recent LA transplant. He spends his free time enjoying LA's beautiful nature, getting out to Dodgers games, and teaching himself to cook.

Estevan Montemayor is the Director of Communications for Los Angeles Councilmember David Ryu representing Council District 4. He serves as the primary contact for reporters and anyone seeking public information regarding the Councilmember’s office and Council District.

Estevan previously worked at NationBuilder, focusing on educating local governments on new media techniques. Prior to that, he worked on the communications and research team for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the sole sponsor of the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8.

He has served in senior management positions for numerous political and advocacy campaigns. Estevan started his political career as a legislative aide to L.A. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. He currently serves as Chair of the Public Safety Commission in the City of West Hollywood, where he's lived over the past six years. A native of San Diego, Estevan graduated with a B.A. in Theater from UCLA.

Fernando Morales, 27, is a California Senate District 26 Senior Field Representative, political and voter engagement advisor, first generation immigrant, and Mid-City resident. Fernando studied Psychology and Sociology at James Madison University.

He began his career as an educator conducting behavior interventions at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Westlake/McArthur Park. This experience transitioned into public service career under the California State Assembly and currently to the California State Senate. Fernando's passions and priorities include fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, increased workers’ rights, campaign finance reform, and ensuring healthcare as a fundamental human right.

Fernando was an elected delegate for Senator Sanders at the 2016 Democratic National Convention and is currently serving as one of the Assembly District 54 Delegates to the California Democratic Party. He is also a board member of L.A.C.E.R. Afterschool Program in Hollywood. 

Andrew Lewis, Board Member

Andrew Lewis is a public service professional and dedicated life-long Democrat. Andrew has experience in the Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office in the Media Energy and Sustainability Departments, and former U.S. President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign in South Florida where he worked as a field Organizer helping to turn the State Blue In 2012. Andrew has also worked on several local and statewide elections and campaigns. Andrew currently serves on the Board of both the Los Angeles County and San Fernando Valley Young Democrats.

Andrew studied Political Science at UCLA, with an emphasis in American Politics. Andrew has remained engaged as an Alumni and currently serves on several UCLA Alumni Boards, including as founding Board Member for UCLA’s Mixed Alumni Association. Andrew is a native of Los Angeles, and enjoys photography, tennis, and staying civically engaged in Los Angeles in his free time.

Cameron Onumah, Board Member

Austin Ford, Board Member 

Andrew Blumenfeld, Board Member 

Marcos Rodriguez Maciel, Board Member

College – Kevork Kurdoghlian

Kevork Kurdoghlian is a recent graduate of UCLA, where he studied political science. In 2017, he will begin a graduate program in public administration at the University of Southern California.

He has been the Assistant Editor of the San Marino Tribune since April, 2016. He covers the city hall beat in San Marino. He is a volunteer for the Y’s Youth & Government program.

Prior to attending UCLA, he was a student at Glendale Community College. During his two years at GCC Kevork covered civic and school activities in Glendale and the Crescenta Valley for a local newspaper. In 2013, at the age of 18, Kevork launched a campaign to gain a seat on the La Cañada School Board and has also served on the La Cañada Youth Council.

College – Julia Raven

College – Edwin Saucedo

Labor – Michael Detoy