Alison De La Cruz is a senior artivist leader, facilitator, cultural organizer, multi-disciplinary theater artist, educator, contemporary ritualist and elder. De La Cruz has over thirty years of experience facilitating circles and spaces for youth, strangers, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and collaborators to explore diverse communities and break down bias and systemic inequity. De La Cruz has collaborated with local artists and produced community events of all sizes, developing Los Angeles’ world class cultural ecosystem for over 20 years. They have raised over $3.2 million throughout their career to capacitate artists, communities and the organizations that serve them.

De La Cruz served as Executive Producer of the LA premiere of the Broadway musical ALLEGIANCE (2018, EWP & JACCC) at the historic Aratani Theatre followed by the world premiere of TALES OF CLAMOR (2019, JACCC & NCRR) in the Aratani Theatre Black Box. De La Cruz was previously the Vice President of Programs at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center where they oversaw programming in Performing Arts, Culinary Arts, Visual & Cultural Arts, Community Engagement, and Neighborhood Placekeeping work with Sustainable Little Tokyo.

Directing credits include the world premiere of Nathan Ramos-Park’s AS WE BABBLE ON (2018, East West Players), Claudia Rodriguez’s MIDNIGHT STEEL (2016, Grand Performances / DCA); Post Natyam Collective’s SUPER RUWAXI (2014, Fury Factory), East West Players’ EVOKE FESTIVAL (2013 & 2012), TeAda Productions’ TEADAWORKS (2010 & 2008). Their individual artistic work has been presented at venues across the country including Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Asian Arts Initiative, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Highways Performance Space, and East West Players.

De La Cruz has led at the intersections of dramaturgy, adaptation, youth development, generative processes, community organizing, dialogue, workforce investment and playwrighting on over 10 Youth Arts productions by Shakespeare Center Los Angeles, About Productions and East West Players.

As a gathering practitioner, DeLa organizes the circle as producer for the LA County multi-community song, drum, dance, circle practices known as FandangObon. DeLa is currently spending time as a Community Self-Determination and Cultural Transformation facilitator working with the cultural legacy organization Self Help Graphics and most recently, working with Vallejo, CA residents towards the birth of the Vallejo Arts Fund. DeLa is the Project Lead for the Vallejo Arts Fund.

sergio (ser) marín luna is engaged in the reorientation of philanthropy in support of wellness, equity, and power-building in communities historically and systemically excluded from shaping society and sharing in its rewards and freedoms.

ser’s education began in his/their family and neighborhoods - an inheritance from a long line of migrants, luchadores, and compassionate justice-seekers. In his/their youth they learned valuable lessons about displacement, belonging, immigrant scapegoating, gender, queerness, and individual and structural racism. He/They found hope and empowerment by connecting to communities committed to dismantling systems of inequity. Through these connections, he/they began to develop the tools and discernment necessary to engage historical, institutional, geographic, and systemic factors exacerbating communities’ opportunities for real change.

He/They have lived out these values, practice, and inheritance as a Math & Science Teacher in a historically under-resourced city of color; a Program Specialist with the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ); a Program Manager with Public Allies-Los Angeles; an Assistant Director of the Draper Center for Community Partnerships at Pomona College; a Program Officer at the Hyams and Marguerite Casey Foundations; and a Philanthropic and DEI consultant & facilitator.

ser was privileged to receive a couple of degrees that shaped their journey - a Master’s in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Carimah is a writer and the proud owner of Brighter Sun Media, a digital storytelling, strategy, and content development company. She amplifies the work of creatives, entrepreneurs, and advocates who aim to empower and transform their communities.

Many moons ago, Carimah was a criminal (in)justice reporter who covered policing, prisons, prosecutors, and the people working to disrupt the carceral system. She also dabbled in culture criticism, drawing on her love of television, movies, music, and low- stakes mess. Her work has appeared in Slate, ThinkProgress, The Root, and The Appeal. 

Ric has spent 40+ years serving students in higher education, with 30+ years at the senior management level. He has extensive experience building administrative and programmatic capacity to achieve institutional goals and objectives. His expertise also extends to student program evaluation and project management. Ric has dedicated many years to training and supervising residential staff, developing and implementing environmentally sustainable living policies, and creating community-building programs for students. His greatest passions are supporting student leadership development and providing mentorship.  

Ric truly values collaboration and developing innovative solutions to address student needs. He works best when participating in teams. Speaking of teams, he loves the Red Sox and Celtics (like a true Boston native).