OUR TEAM

David Carroll is the Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development. Mr. Carroll brings 15 years of experience in youth development through his work with community-based organizations in Los Angeles County and across the United States. He holds a deep personal commitment to creating opportunities for youth to thrive, having benefitted from such opportunities himself. 

Mr. Román started his career as a Social Worker, then progressed into administrative work. As a second-generation County employee, his family has a long history of helping to make the lives of LA County citizen’s lives better.

Mr. Valle’s background is in Social Work, with a focus on youth development in government and non-profit sectors. He is inspired by the growth he has seen people make in their lives when given culturally relevant opportunities and support.

Ms. Aberra’s background is in non-profit project management. She is inspired by the young people and community members that advocated for youth-centered and intentional development priorities and the vision of a more equitable future.

Mr. Albert’s background is in service provision, program development, education and training, and research for youth diversion, gang desistance, and reentry. He is inspired by equity and empowerment for youth, their families and communities.

Ms. Foreman’s background is in international reproductive health, community engagement, and systems change. She is inspired by the vision that all youth in LA County deserve the same opportunities to thrive, grow, and be loved.

Ms. Glass’ background is in juvenile and criminal justice reform. She is inspired by the impact that investing in young people has and the understanding that when youth are supported they grow grow into healthy and whole adults; building better, healthier communities.

Ms. Goudarzi’s background is in transformative justice, challenging the cycle of harmful systems, and empowerment and service for young people impacted by policing and incarceration. She is inspired by powerful demonstrations of creativity, love, and kinship by young people and their expertise in their own lives.

Mr. Zurita’s background is in education with a focus on youth development services for children in South and East Los Angeles. He is inspired to do this work from his own experiences growing up in East Los Angeles and by the amazing mentors he had during his adolescence.

Ms. Petti’s background is in facilitating restorative justice interventions, skills-building trainings and harm prevention practices. She is inspired by the belief that when we co-create sustainable opportunities to address harm, we create healthy, healed and whole communities.

Ms. Cina’s background is in policy and community organizing. She is inspired by the youth leaders she has gotten the chance to work alongside and her resilient peers who are using their stories, knowledge, and voice to make an impact.

Ms. Gonzalez’s background is in community and youth organizing, transformative justice, and alternatives to youth justice. She is inspired by knowing that when youth and youth development are at the center, they bring creativity, care, safety, and intergenerational transformation.

Ms. Hernandez’s background is in Social Work, with experience serving children, youth, and families across South LA and the San Fernando Valley. She is inspired by her family and community, many of whom have been negatively impacted by justice and immigration systems.

Ms. Huston’s background is in community building with a focus on a holistic approach to youth development. She is inspired to do this work by the families in her community that she has seen adversely affected by systems that have not prioritized equality, equality, and justice for all.

Ms. Matthews’ background is in mental health with an emphasis on psychology and criminology, law, and society. She is also a licensed Marriage, Child, and Family Therapist who is inspired to give back to the communities that that have raised her.

Ms. Newell’s background is in public policy, having worked to transform the youth justice system in LA County through various policy and leadership roles. She is inspired by the young people who pushed for years for a youth development department, and by the hope of creating a world without incarceration.

Ms. Lee’s background is in nonprofit and social justice program implementation, project management, policy advocacy, and funding development. Born and raised in South Los Angeles, she is inspired to improve access to resources and positive outcomes for youth coming from the same neighborhoods she came from.

Ms. Mitchell’s background is in community engagement and communication through centering community needs and cultivating safe, healthy, positive and engaging spaces. She is inspired by the creativity, vision, and tenacity of the forthcoming generations.

Mr. Nichols’ background is in Juvenile Justice and he has served in jurisdictions leading efforts to implement transformative youth justice models across the nation. He is inspired by the truth that he is the community he serves.

Ms. Schooley’s background is in public health research, with a focus on developing collaborative, evidence-informed strategies for health equity. She is inspired by the youth leaders who have taught her so much over the years and the dream of a future that is more peaceful and more just.

Ms. Busby’s background is in program and service coordination in the public sector with an emphasis in youth, adult and family services. Her passion and commitment to support and advocate for youth and families is inspired by her community and its leaders.

Ms. Canlione’s background includes qualitative research and policy development with a focus on youth development as well as direct services for system-involved youth. She is inspired by the many folks she has interviewed, worked with, and learned alongside.

Ms. Levingston’s background in public health includes youth empowerment, engagement, and education. She is inspired to do this work because she believes that youth deserve the opportunity to thrive and be successful.

Ms. Moheize’s background is in public health research & adolescent development, with a focus on social determinants of health. As a Palestinian woman, she is inspired by the collective fight against injustice in the face of oppression and erasure.

Ms. Reyes has a background is in social welfare and providing culturally-rooted, healing-centered coordination and programming. She is inspired by her community, her culture and family, and the resilience of young people who are working towards creating a safer and equitable future.

Ms. Vartanian’s background is in public health education and communications. She is inspired by the ambition and creativity of young people in Los Angeles County.