Board Officers
President
Chris J. Villa
Vice President
Ronald Gonzales-Lawrence
Treasurer
Laura Sandoval
Secretary
Jacqueline Butt
Board Directors
Lorraine De La O
Director
Margie Loya
Director
Maria Garcia
Director
Pedro Navarette
Director
Annah Karam
Director
Isidro Rivera
Policy Committee Representative
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 | Chairman - Chris J. Villa
Chris J. Villa was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors in October 2008 after serving as Vice Chairman since 2006. His efforts include assisting in the restructuring of the organization and developing and implementing the annual "Movement for Improvement" resource fair. He has also developed youth prevention and re-entry programs for various agencies throughout Southern California Among those programs includes Project A.B.L.E., Ability to Build a Life of Excellence, a comprehensive approach to youth recovery and leadership development with weekly group meetings for substance abuse education, anger management and HIV/AIDS prevention.
He is involved in public policy on the county and state wide levels including being appointed Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Health Services in 2006. The Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Health Services serves as an advisory board to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Currently he serving his second term. (hivcommission-la.info)
Since 2002 Chris has been involved in the planning and executing of over 100 conferences, seminars and community fairs bringing much needed information to thousands of members of our community. Just recently, he has partnered with the Department of Mental Health to provide a training in a variety on venues called "The Changing Face of Addiction - What Parents & Practitioners Need to Know"
He can be contacted at chrisv@plazadelaraza.net or (323) 332-7559. |
 | Vice Chairman - Ronald Gonzales-Lawrence
Ronald Gonzales-Lawrence was elected to the Little Lake City School District Board of Education in November 2007. He is the youngest person to be elected to that school board at age 22. Mr. Gonzales-Lawrence has lived in the district all of his life having attended schools in that district and whose work and volunteer efforts revolve around the district.
He has been active in the community for many years having been appointed to serve on the City of Norwalk Youth Commission and the Southeast Los Angeles County Work Force Investment Board Youth Council. Later, he was reappointed to service another 2 year term on the youth commission.
At age 18, Ronald became the youngest person in state history to serve as a Field Representative for a Member of the State Legislature. He worked in the communities of Norwalk, Little Lake City School District and Cerritos Community College District representing Assembly Member Rudy Bermudez (ret.). Prior to that, he served as an Intern for State Senator Martha M. Escutia (ret). He worked closely with the staff and the District Director on projects that affected the 30th Senate District
Ronald was elected to serve as the chairman of the 56th Assembly District Democratic Committee of the California Democratic Party. He was the youngest person to serve as an Assembly District Committee Chairman in party history. He also served as a member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee, a member of the Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club and a founding member of the Southeast Los Angeles County Young Democrats.
Mr. Gonzales-Lawrence is the Community Relations Officer for Environmental Management Enterprises, Inc. and is a public affairs consultant.
Ronald can be contacted at Ronald@RonaldGonzalesLawrence.com, Ronald.Lawrence@plazadelaraza.net or (562) 929-4081
www.littlelake.k12.ca.us Little Lake City School District |
Treasurer - Lorraine De La O
For over 20 years, Pico Rivera native Lorraine De La O has worked for the County of Los Angeles in various capacities including administration to the director and faculty of psychiatric department of LAC+USC Medical Center. With a passion for people she also spent many of those years volunteering in her local community and serving on various boards of directors. With vast experience in mental health and support services, her volunteer work has enabled her to receive various awards including:
- Spirit of Service Award, Human Services Association (HSA) 2008
- Recognition and Thesis Presentation "Community Partnerships and Collaborations" to Pico Rivera City Council 2007
- Women of the Year, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano 38th District 2005
- Recognition, Member Arts and Culture Committee, Pico Rivera 2006
- Hope In Action Recognition, City of Pico Rivera 2004
- Outstanding Volunteer, by then, Assemblywoman Hilda Solis 1999
- Volunteer Recognition, Supervisor Gloria Molina 1998
- Family Matters Award, Point of Light Foundation, Washington DC 1997
Volunteer Activities:
- Board Member, Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, Inc.
- Commissioner, Chair Parks and Recreation, Pico Rivera
Her longest appointment to a board of directors is the Volunteers of East Los Angeles (V.E.L.A.), a non profit organization dedicated to special, yet underserved populations of our community including the elderly, disabled and veterans. With the recent passing of the founder, Lorraine and their board has worked diligently toward expanding the dream of her friend and mentor, Elena Valencia.
Her Pico Rivera work also included the Pico Rivera Peace Project, a non-profit agency dedicated to gang violence eradication and bringing unity throughout the community; the Pico Rivera Lions Club, and Arts and Culture Committee.
Lorraine received her Masters in Leadership and Management and her Bachelors in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. Is a mother of 4 graduates from El Rancho High, Pico Rivera and a Grandmother.
Pedro Navarrete, Community Representative - Student
Maria Garcia, Community Representative
Maria Garcia is a special education pre-school teacher at El Rancho Unified School District. She is currently attending California State University, Los Angeles and is in the Early Childhood Special Education Program. Before becoming a special education pre-school teacher Maria worked for Whittier Area Cooperative Special Education Program (WACSEP) servicing Head Start and State Pre-School students with speech and language needs. With her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work Maria has also worked as a Mental Health Worker servicing children and pre-teens in school, home, and therapeutic environments. Maria was a recent high school graduate when she began her mission of educating and helping children as an L.A.U.S.D paraprofessional and simultaneously entering California State University, Los Angeles.
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Policy Committee Chairperson Isidro Rivera
For the last three years, Isidro Rivera, has dedicated countless hours of volunteerism to the Policy Committee. Initially he served as a Delegate representative and later served as the Executive Vice Chairperson of the Policy Committee. He is serving his second term as the Policy Committee Chairperson and Board representative. During his tenure he has contributed and served on the following activities:
o Male Involvement Committee Chairperson
o Standing Committees: Fiscal, Research and Evaluation, and By Laws
o Los Angeles County Office of Education Head Start Representative
o Los Angeles County Office of Education Training and Education Committee
o Agency Self Assessment
It is through his distinct leadership abilities that Plaza's Policy Committee has been recognized as one of the most outstanding committees in the Los Angeles County. Upon the conclusion of his term as the Policy Committee Chairperson, Mr. Rivera hopes to continue serving the children, families and community as a Board member.
He is the proud father of two, Carlos and Ashley. His favorite pastimes include dancing and teaching quinceaņera waltz', reading, listening to music, and sports
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Anthony Rendon, Ph.D., Executive Director
Rosalina Cabunoc-Fine, Assistant Director of Administration and Compliance
A.J. Mumtaz, Fiscal Officer
Jeffrey Krakauer, Personnel Officer
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