Phone: (213) 201-3912

My name is Oscar E. Cruz and I am an executive leader with more than 18 years of experience in the nonprofit field. I was born in Guatemala and arrived in Los Angeles in 1986. My parents came to the United States to provide a better life for me and my siblings. Although both of my parents only attained a 5th grade education, they strongly believed that access to higher education was the gateway out of poverty and the path to the American Dream.

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Phone: (213) 201-3917

Karla has extensive management experience in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. The skills she has acquired in her toolbox allow her to work effectively with multiple professional and administrative staff as well as executives in finance operations and public affairs. Since 2013, she’s partnered with foundations and nonprofits in Southern California, providing financial and strategic management consulting under SOS Strategies.

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Phone:(213) 201-3914

I am dedicated to equitable access to education, and family/ community engagement. I bring over 15 years of combined, local, state and national experience in the fields of civic engagement and professional development, to my role as the Vice President of Programs.

I am a graduate of the University of Arizona, and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Sociology. It is a as a result of my studies in juvenile justice that I found a passion for first for working within the juvenile courts, then the school system and ultimately within the communities which I live and serve.

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Phone: (213) 201-3911

I advocate for underprivileged families whose lives are often overwhelmed by circumstances of peril, poverty, and race. All families have a right to see their children grow up healthy, and receive a quality education that prepares them to graduate, college and workforce ready.

My passion for social justice was ignited when as one of thousands of Los Angeles Unified students, we walked out in protest of the treatment by teachers and administrators because of our Mexican heritage. 

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Phone: (213) 201-3924

I strongly believe in the mission of Families In Schools.  I have seen the impact parents and families have on their children’s education in both my personal life, and throughout my professional career.

As the Director of Training and Capacity Building at Families In Schools (FIS) I work to develop curricula, trainings, tools and resources in order to build the capacity of both school and community organization staff, as well as the families they serve, so that they are better able to work in partnership with one another.

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Phone: (213) 201-3926

I joined Families in Schools as the Director of School Partnerships in 2018. In this capacity, I oversee the implementation of various direct service delivery grants. Prior to FIS I served as the Program Director for the California Student Opportunity & Access Program (Cal-SOAP), a program instrumental in improving the flow of information about post-secondary education to students living in regions with documented low college participation rates. For three years I worked at Rio Hondo College and was instrumental in developing the RHC Transfer Academy, a program that helped students successfully transition from community college to a 4-year university.

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Phone:(213) 201-3906

I have eleven years of experience serving parents and students from the Los Angeles Unified School District. I currently serves as the Program Manager for Skills for Success, committed to providing program services that foster a Growth Mindset. Prior to being a Program Manager, I took on different leadership roles with GEAR UP 4 LA developing projects that promote college awareness for parents and students. As a community representative, parent leader and program assistant I implemented post-secondary service programs for under-represented families.

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Phone:(541) 510-3555

My name is Jeffrey Wiser and education is what inspires me. My mother taught me to read at a young age, setting me on a path for educational success. Looking back at the support from my family and my teachers, it’s clear that I couldn’t have done it alone.

In my current role, I manage and facilitate two Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) – one in the Central Valley (in partnership with Californians for Justice) and one in Los Angeles. Through this work, we bring together parent and community engagement leaders from local LEAs to build capacity around key state priorities (LCFF, LCAP, California School Dashboard, Cycles for Continuous Improvement, etc.) and help LEA participants identify and overcome challenges.

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Phone: (213) 201-3906

Alison has a strong educational justice background, having taught second grade at Tohatchi Elementary School on the Navajo Nation as a New Mexico Teach For America Corps Member. After her corps experience, Alison used community based theatre techniques to teach middle school youth at a summer camp in Ramallah, Palestine before becoming a Leadership for Educational Equity Community Organizing Fellow at Parent Revolution, where she focused on building community partners and \Parent Trigger Campaigns.

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Phone: (213) 201-3905

I am the current Office Manager at Families In Schools. I provide administrative support and coordination to the Training and Curriculum Development team. As a native Angelino, I’ve worked in the nonprofit community in Los Angeles for the past 13 years. Early in my career, I developed a strong sense of commitment for the nonprofit sector while working with children in a much-needed community. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for how nonprofits seek to advocate for quality education for all.

Phone:(213) 201-3932

It’s a joy working with families and the larger community in Los Angeles. Since my initiation at Families In Schools I have had the privilege of working in a variety of projects across all departments. As a Communications Coordinator, I developed external communications review procedures, overall strategies and campaigns. Through this we were better able to show the variety of work my brilliant colleagues accomplished and provided a way for families and community members to communicate with the organization.

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Phone:(213) 201-3913

I am driven by a desire to give communities a voice, a platform that inspires people, leaders and organizations. As the Communications & Programs Coordinator at Families In Schools, I manage our public communications efforts through community outreach, branding, from preparation to coordination, and marketing of our program workshops, trainings, conferences, and other special events. I work to build relationships and spread awareness of the issues that impact our communities.

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Phone:(213) 201-3928

I am the program coordinator for the SKILLS Grant and the School2Home partnership. I am also part of a team that provides various professional development at various schools and agencies. I began my professional journey with Families in School as the program coordinator for GEAR UP Project STEPS. As a student I was part of the first GEAR UP Project STEPS grant at North Hollywood High School where I also graduated from. After graduating, I attended California State University Northridge, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Central American Studies. While earning my Bachelors I worked as a consultant working directly with students and parents.

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Phone: (213) 201-3913

As the first high school graduate and first generation college student in her family, Lissette understands the vitality of parental involvement for student success. With her degree in Anthropology from UCLA, Lissette uses her knowledge of diversity and culture to encourage, empower, and highlight the importance of education. Lissette is passionate about student and parent learning especially in under-served and under-represented communities. As a Latina, she understands the importance of preserving one’s cultural identity, and utilizing it to bridge the gap in education. In her spare time, Lissette likes to attend Los Angeles Clipper games, watch soccer, hike, read, and learn.

Phone:(213) 201-3919

I believe in the transformative power of education, and education as a force to combat poverty and injustice. As a first-generation college student, my passion is in supporting under-represented and communities of color to achieve career success and higher education. As program manager here at Families In Schools, I get to pursue my passion by overseeing our partnership with GEAR UP 4 LA, a federally funded program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Through parent centered programming, such as workshops, field trips, and family summits, we address the challenges faced by the low income, first-generation, and students of color.

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Phone:(213) 201-3933

As Program Manager with Families In Schools, I am committed to providing families the tools and resources to enable them to reach their educational goals. The time you take to invest in a family by providing valuable information, can make a world of difference to the academic success of their children.

I was raised in the working-class community of Wilmington in Los Angeles, California. A place where the community can struggle economically to raise a family, but a community that I call home. I was fortunate enough to have parents and educators that invested the time to teach me the value of an education and that obtaining one was one way to be successful in life.

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Phone: (213) 201-3922

Growing up in South Central LA, so many students considered college but didn’t have a guide to support them through the whole process in high school and provide support once they were enrolled. I understand the pressures of high school and generational trauma that prevents African American young people to achieve their educational goals and I look to elevate and support them in their journey. My love for serving the LA community began when I was 8 years old, volunteering at Rakestraw Memorial Community Education Center, the non-profit my grandparents ran in South Park.

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Phone:(213) 201-3918

I have nearly 40 years of accounting and administrative experience, 28 years of which are within the non-profit sector. Prior to joining Families In Schools I worked as Director of Finance for several Los Angeles County community-based organizations that provided a variety of community services, including child welfare and educational services. I specialize in organizational capacity building and restructure. As an L.A. native, I hold a Bachelor’s of Science degree from California State University Dominguez Hills as well as a teaching credential from the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Phone:(213) 201-3923

Carolina Hernandez-Malone grew up in South America and immigrated to the United States when she was 13 years old. Her educational experience and struggles have led her to advocate for an improved educational experience that focuses on high expectations for immigrants like her.

She currently serves as a Senior Consultant supporting the development of curriculum, professional development sessions, and mechanisms for schools that help families understand the Pre-k-12th system, explore college and career options, and advocate for an educational experience that ensures college and career readiness.

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