Orson Aguilar is a nationally-recognized leader in economic justice and wealth-building for communities of color. Driven by a deep commitment to social justice, Orson brings extensive experience in public affairs,…

John Bennett is the Initiative Director at the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy, a project of California Common Cause, which advocates for solutions to the threats that AI and…

Chandra S. Bhatnagar is executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.  Chandra joined ACLU SoCal in 2025. A leading expert on civil rights and human rights, he brings a…

Since becoming California’s 34th Attorney General, Bonta has led the California DOJ to take on some of the biggest challenges of our time — the lawlessness of the second Trump…

Michelle Byerly has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from University of California, Irvine and a Master’s…

Neil Chase is the Chief Executive Officer of CalMatters. He was formerly Executive Editor at The Mercury News and the East Bay Times and has worked as a journalist at…

Dr. Clark Harvey is a psychologist and the Chief Executive Officer of the California Behavioral Health Association (CBHA). CBHA is a statewide advocacy organization representing mental health and substance use…

Efrain is a visionary leader dedicated to systemic transformation through human-centered approaches across the nonprofit, government, and philanthropy sectors. As President & CEO, Efrain leads CNM’s work supporting a thriving…

Georgia is a passionate nonprofit executive with experience leading bold change throughout all life cycles of an organization. She has served as Executive Director of Thrive Alliance since 2016, where…

Jennifer Fearing is the founder of Fearless Advocacy, a Sacramento-based advocacy firm specializing in advancing the policy agendas of mission-based and cause-oriented organizations. Over her nearly two decades of lobbying,…

As CEO of KCRW, Jennifer Ferro has worked to transform the institution from Southern California’s flagship public radio station to a worldwide community that connects through the discovery of music,…

Susan Gomez is founding President/CEO of the Inland Empire Community Collaborative (IECC), an organization that is the result of nine years and 83 nonprofits working together to strengthen its organizations…

Geoff Green is CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a statewide policy alliance of more than 10,000 nonprofits speaking to government, philanthropy, and the public at large. A…

Glen Galaich’s professional mission is to support equity, justice, and dignity in solidarity with communities that have been denied these essential values throughout history. He is committed to reducing donor…

Jeff Hamond is an accomplished advocate for philanthropic organizations, the communities they serve, and the people and organizations that fund them. He was the top economic policy advisor for Sens….

May L. Harris is the Founder and CEO of For Purpose Law Group, where she leads with bold vision, operational clarity, and an unwavering commitment to empowering the organizations that…

Assemblymember Gregg Hart was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 37th Assembly District. With a deep understanding of local people and local issues,…

Gustavo Hernandez is the author of the poetry collections Bachelor (FlowerSong Press, 2025), a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, and Flower Grand First (Moon Tide Press, 2021). His work…

Chet Hewitt has served as a frontline group home worker, youth development counselor, community organizer, juvenile justice project director, Director of Alameda County Social Services Agency, Senior Manager at the…

Jan is a leading writer and thinker on nonprofit organizations with particular emphasis on boards of directors, business planning, and the role of nonprofits in society. Her books include Best…

Clara Mejia-Yuan is an emerging teen poet located in Orange County, California. She currently serves as the Youth Poet Laureate for Orange County, and was both a contributor and editor…

Senator Jerry McNerney was elected to the California State Senate in November 2024, after serving 16 years in the U.S. Congress. His 5th District includes Alameda County’s Tri-Valley area and…

Karl Mill advises a broad range of charities and foundations on non-profit organizations on the wide variety of legal issues that arise from their non-profit or tax-exempt status.  Karl founded…

McKenna Mustazza is a Policy & Executive Associate at NextGen Policy, where she supports the organization’s Higher Education policy work on student loan borrower protections, basic needs, and financial aid…

Hector Pereyra is a political scientist and advocate with years of experience advancing immigrant rights and social justice at the local, state, and federal levels. Throughout his career, he has…

Angela Pontes is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, leading the organization’s state public policy and budget advocacy. She has over a decade…

Melanie Sadek, CAWA, is President and CEO of Valley Humane Society, where she has served since 2011. Under her leadership, the organization has grown significantly in both reach and impact,…

Ellina Yin is the Founder and CEO of Dreaming Collaborative, a civic tech nonprofit working at the intersection of culture, technology, and civic life to reimagine democracy in local government….