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Ana AguirreDirector, YouthSource & Education DepartmentAna Aguirre is Director of the YouthSource & Education Department (YSED). YSED operates youth workforce development initiatives in three areas: Pacoima/San Fernando, East Hollywood, and Pico-Union, and serves over 600 youth annually, providing case management, college and career support, academic services, and personal development opportunities. The frameworks used to support youth utilize trauma-informed practices and a youth-centered approach, both incorporating a strength-based perspective. The values of the department are knowledge, empathy, and youth-centered, and the overall goals are academic success and placement into employment, college, and careers, with the long-term goal of self-sufficiency. Read More |
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Marguerite Avé-WomackSenior Director of Community DevelopmentMarguerite Avé-Womack is Senior Director of Community Development. She oversees the new TechHire program, a signature initiative of the White House to launch innovative training and placement models for developing tech talent. Previously, Marguerite was the Director of Workforce Development at Jewish Vocational Service (JVS). At the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Marguerite served in roles as the Director of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Director of Operations. Read More |
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Karina Favela-BarrerasDirector of Operations, Los Angeles Promise NeighborhoodAs the Youth Policy Institute’s (YPI) Director of Operations for the Los Angeles Promise Neighborhood (LAPN), Karina is responsible for the short- and long-term coordination and implementation of cradle-to-college-and-career services for the communities of Hollywood and Pacoima. Read More |
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Heather FukunagaDirector of Grants DevelopmentHeather Fukunaga is the Director of Grants Development for the Youth Policy Institute and has a leading role in fundraising for the organization from a range of local, state, and federal agencies, including the US Departments of Education, HUD, Labor, Justice, HHS, Agriculture, and Corporation for National and Community Service. Read More |
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Angelica MartinDirector of Workforce Development DepartmentAngelica began her community-based service career over 20 years ago, supporting and managing workforce development programs. As early as high school and partially through college, she served as a Youth Employment Specialist for the Employment Development Department (EDD), State of California under the Youth Employment Opportunity Program (YEOP). Read More |
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Diana RodriguezDirector of Expanded LearningAs Director of Expanded Learning, Diana is dedicated to carrying out the agency’s commitment to provide technology, training, and resources to youth and adults across Los Angeles. In her four-year tenure, Diana has managed a portfolio of technology related projects totaling more than $9.8 million dollars, the most notable being a BTOP Public Computer Center (PCC) Grant that enabled YPI to deploy over 1,700 workstations across 83 PCCs throughout Los Angeles County. Read More |
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Enrique VillagranaDirector of Learning & DevelopmentEnrique Villagrana is the Director of Learning & Development for Youth Policy Institute. The Learning & Development Department provides training to 1,500 employees. Previous to obtaining his current position, Enrique was the Director of the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program, where he was instrumental in growing the program from serving 300 students during the first year to close to 3,000 students annually. In the past 11 years, he has supported with the implementation of AmeriCorps, VISTA, and other tutoring intervention grants at YPI. Read More |
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Aissa ZapataDirector of Early Head StartAissa Zapata is Director, Early Head Start, for Youth Policy Institute. The Early Head Start program provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families. The focus of the program is on Education, Health, Nutrition, Mental Health, Disabilities and Parent, Family & Community Engagement. These principles are designed to nurture healthy attachments between parent and child (and child and caregiver), emphasize a strengths-based, relationship-centered approach to services, and encompass the full range of a family's needs through a child's third birthday. The YPI Early Head Start program is funded to serve 89 infants and toddlers in a center-based setting in Hollywood and surrounding areas. Read More |