MVP Bench
Learning For Equity is proud to offer the Most Valuable Partner (MVP) bench as an extension of Learning for Equity’s offerings. As we continue to support local communities with capacity strengthening initiatives through the delivery of online courses and certificates, we have had to adapt to the growing needs of our community. As a response, we have established the MVP bench, comprised of consultants, facilitators, subject matter experts, coaches, and other thought partners who will enrich L4E projects and course offerings.
Christopher Temblador
My Elite Coaching
Christopher is the owner of The Elite Coaching Experience, where he serves as an independent consultant and provides services for growth to micro-enterprises, small businesses, and non-profit organizations in South Los Angeles.
He is passionate about empowering minority run businesses and community leaders.
Sandra Noemi Torres
Plan Your Company
Sandra is a marketing and communications professional. She currently operates her own consulting business where she focuses on digital marketing and small business coaching. Sandra is dedicated to bridging gaps by empowering minorities, up and coming brands, and small businesses through personal development and professional growth.
James Huynh
UCLA
James is a health policy research scholar, committed to using research to advance health equity through policy change and building cultures of health. James is passionate about issues of health inequities in communities of color, immigrants, refugees, Indigenous people, and LGBTQ people. His doctoral work focuses on incorporating intersectionality theory and queer of color critique into mixed-methods public health research.
Gabriella Nolan
Consultant
Gabriella is a business development professional with 7 years experience in creating and supporting small businesses. She has experience in lending, consulting, establishing entrepreneurial education programs, grant writing and compliance, and supporting community – driven economic development projects. Her work combines her international micro – entrepreneurship experiences with a trauma – informed framework.
Denecia Jones
Jadestone Solutions
Denecia has owned and operated Jadestone Solutions for over 20 years. She works with companies to improve their productivity, work-life balance, employee retention, and efficiency long term. Today, she works with individuals and organizations on resolving challenges with customized strategies to improve desired results while reducing overhead cost. Her mission is to coach others on how to create more inner peace, success, and happiness from the inside out.
Sonali Sangeeta Balajee
Our Bodhi Project
Sonali is a proud mother, artist, organizer, facilitator, mindfulness/yoga instructor, and emerging health practitioner who works at the intersection of belonging, equity, and deep transformative change. She is also the owner and founder of our Bodhi project. Bodhi was born out of Sonali’s desire to elevate the connection between social and spiritual wellbeing, focusing on artistically embodying and animating the web of health, belonging, collective care, and liberation.
Salina Harrigan
Guiding Peace
Salina has been providing compassionate care as a Licensed Clinical social worker within her community for more than 18 years. Salina provides Motivational Interviewing (MI) education to community providers to better understand oppression and structural violence, and to ensure the best possible care to clients. Salina is passionate about providing people of color the education and support needed to have a peaceful and natural death that is not traumatic.
Eric Gurna
Independent Consultant
Eric Gurna is an experienced nonprofit executive and consultant committed to supporting the work of organizations dedicated to community & youth development and social justice. From 2015 to 2021, Eric served as President & CEO of LA’s BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program. During his tenure. Eric brings a deep commitment to positive youth development to his work, and a national reputation for thought leadership in the Expanded Learning movement.
Mike Valentine
TruEdge Consulting
Mike Valentine is the founder and Managing Partner at TruEdge Consulting, a firm that provides change leadership and team consulting services to a variety of organizations. Mike has over 30 years of experience as a Human Resource leader, consultant, and coach working to contribute positive business results in a wide range of sectors. Mike is passionate about developing teams, increasing human resource capacity, and enhancing leadership effectiveness.
Kevin Cruz Amaya
Independent Consultant
Mary Anne Mendoza
Independent Consultant
Dr. Mendoza is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Cal Poly Pomona. Her research focuses on how the content and process of education shapes the development of national identity in colonial subjects. In particular, she studies the post-colonial legacy of educational policies and separatist rebellion in the Philippines and Burma (Myanmar). This involves the use of archival work in comparing the onset of rebellion between ethnic groups. Her broader research agenda bridges Comparative Politics and International Relations to better understand patterns of political violence, nationalism, and colonial legacies in Southeast Asia.
Siobhan Skerritt
Independent Consultant