Meet the L.A. Works Team
Natalie Aguilar,
Public Health AmeriCorps Program Coordinator
Natalie is a first-generation college graduate, born and raised in San Fernando Valley. She received her Bachelor's in Public Health, Psychology, and Criminology from UC Irvine. She became a volunteer coordinator with AmeriCorps VISTA program then went on to obtain her Master's in Public Health from Cal State LA. Natalie is excited to return to the nonprofit world to help support the community. In her spare time, she enjoys going on walks with her fur pup, traveling, watching new shows, and trying new food spots.
Deborah Brutchey,
Executive Director
Deborah has proudly led the L.A. Works team since June 2009. Prior to her role at L.A. Works, Deborah fundraised in Santa Barbara for a family service agency and led a program at Stanford University serving children impacted by a parent with cancer. In 2001, Deborah was interim Executive Director of the AT&T Center for Service Leadership at the Pennsylvania State University. Deborah has served on the City of Los Angeles "We Serve LA" Community Service Advisory Cabinet and the Points of Light's Corporate Institute Leadership Faculty. She is a graduate of the Los Angeles Chamber Leadership Los Angeles class of 2014 and was named one of the City's 2020 Impact-Makers to Watch by Stratiscope. Deborah completed her MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business with a focus on social entrepreneurship. As the mother of two young girls, Debbie tries to model a healthy work-life balance to her team by spending her non-work hours at the pool, beach, with friends, traveling, and just enjoying the time with her family.
Social Impact Lead
Responsible for building relationships with Los Angeles change-makers, Nahtahna's appointment as the V.P. of Strategic Partnerships continues her life's work creating opportunity and change through advocacy, education and community outreach. With two masters degrees, she's an experienced educator having worked in high schools and colleges with opportunity youth, incarcerated adults, and returning students. As a Bohnett Fellow, she worked with Mayor Villaraigosa on his education reform agenda. At CASA of L.A., she recruited hundreds of volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children. She enjoys running and spending time with her morkie, Sia.
Jessica Carrera,
Director of Americorps - Seniors RSVP
Jessica is a Stockton native who became an Angeleno while earning her BA at Mount St. Mary’s University. Jessica went on to work at her alma mater for three years post graduation in Student Financing where she served as the Co-Chair of the Committee on Staff Affairs. As an AVID graduate and Dell Scholar Jessica feels very passionate about empowerment through education. During high school, she volunteered as a tutor and looks forward to promoting educational programs through her role in the RSVP program. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, decorating and traveling - especially to her parent’s hometown ranch in Michoacán, Mexico.
Alisha Cathirell-Tanzer,
Director of Americorps - State & National, VISTA
Alisha is an LA native, and comes from deep roots of activism and community involvement, in particular with education and youth athletics. She is currently enrolled as a full-time student at Arizona State University, where she is working online towards a BS in Public Service and Public Policy. Before resuming her education, Alisha volunteered for years as the Player Agent for Central Altadena Little League, managing players and coordinating between families, coaches, and league administrators. When not driving her future-astronaut daughter to and from cheer practice, Alisha can be found gaming with friends around the world, moderating fan groups, and listening to podcasts.
Margaret Daly,
Climate Action Fellow
Margaret recently moved back to California after living abroad in the United Kingdom for three years and Austria for two years. With the intensification of climate change, particularly in her home state of California, she felt compelled to take action of some kind. Joining CCAC with LA Works seemed like a great way to get hands-on experience in capacity building for climate resilience. In her free time, Margaret likes to swim, hike, read, and make music.
Jamie Cho,
Climate Action Fellow
Jamie was born in South Korea and spent her teenage years in Saipan, a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. After being deprived of sunlight for 10 years in Seattle, Jamie has been enjoying soaking in all the warmth of the sun in Southern California. Jamie worked in the social work field serving immigrants and refugees for seven years and is now ready to serve her communities by combating climate change. Jamie recharges herself by sightseeing in nature, bird-watching, taking photos, and exploring different cultural cuisines.
Stephen Davalos,
Vice President of External Affairs
Stephen joined the L.A. Works staff after having worked in the baking industry for 10 years. Growing up in Los Angeles, Stephen always loved the city. In 2016, he realized he felt called to do more to serve his community and began the hard process of changing careers. Since then, Stephen has been working for his church in Pasadena, playing music, and leading the youth group. In 2018, Stephen started working for City Service Mission and began to understand the nonprofit landscape of LA. In 2019, Stephen married the love of his life, Allison. Stephen and Allie live in Pasadena with their stubborn dog, Bosco. In his free time, Stephen enjoys hiking, baking, and throwing pottery.
Estefany Espinoza,
RSVP Social Connections Coordinator
Estefany was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Master of Social Work from the California State University of Northridge. Her previous work experience is in the mental health field and suicide prevention. She is passionate about helping others and contributing to the healing of disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles. When she is not helping others, she can be found hiking, meditating, or reading at the park.
Christine Gonzalez,
Associate Director of RSVP
Christine was born and raised in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Growing up, she participated in the leadership mentoring program, which led her to become a devoted volunteer since the age of 13. Having volunteered at several nonprofits, Christine’s passion grew in helping others. Christine worked in expanded learning for 10 years with LA’s BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program. As Program Coordinator in LA’s BEST, she launched the intergenerational partnership with AARP Foundation Experience Corps program, which brings together older adults to mentor and tutor students in need. In 2018, Christine graduated from Pacific Oaks College with her B.A. in Human Development with a concentration in Social Change. In 2020, she earned her M.A. in Nonprofit Management at Antioch University Los Angeles and her credential as a Certified Nonprofit Professional. When Christine isn’t at Dodger games with her husband, she enjoys swimming with & baking cakes for her 3 rescues, Dodger, Honey & Daisy.
Ray Huerta,
Disaster Relief VISTA
Ray Huerta is a third-year college student at the University of California Davis. She is currently studying International Relations with a minor in Environmental Studies. She also works alongside UC Davis athletics and has volunteered with UNICEF, the National Honors Society, and the California Scholarship Federation throughout high school and college. Hobbies outside school and volunteering include surfing, writing, and biking.
Maurissa George,
Disaster Relief VISTA
Maurissa George graduated from the University of South Alabama, with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and a B.A. in International Studies. She has an interest in community/cultural resiliency factors that support psychological wellness and promote healthy lifestyles as preventive healthcare. After many years working and traveling through Asia and making Japan home, she has relocated to Los Angeles. When not exploring her new home, she can be found spending copious amounts of time with her stylish exotic songbird, Mr. Finch. For those interested, he is a shaft-tail finch from central Africa.
Karen Hoang,
Climate Action Fellow
Karen was born and raised in Los Angeles. As a Posse Scholar, she attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a BS in Biology and Environmental Science. While in college, she loved the friends and community she encountered while volunteering and organizing service trips in different places around the US. She is excited to be back in LA and continue her service work with L.A. Works and the California Climate Action Corps. In her downtime, Karen loves to read, get coffee/boba with friends, go to the beach, and dream up her next trip.
Velma Jones,
Climate Action Fellow
Velma Jones completed her undergraduate degree in Communications at NYU. She graduated with her MBA from California State, Los Angeles, in 2021 and has joined L.A. Works as a California Climate Action Corps Fellow. With a background in management, operations, and communications strategy, Velma utilizes her degrees and past work experiences to cultivate consistent messaging across all business platforms. She believes working on diverse teams is required to succeed and will serve her community with this approach in mind. While working towards her MBA, Velma investigated how far systemic inequities run within America. Such injustices are especially present concerning the environment, health care, and food security as one moves from community to community. Velma wants to continue educating herself on these issues to contribute to improvement in these areas. Working with L.A. Works provides a fantastic opportunity to hone her skills further while contributing to the change she wants to see in the world around her.
RSVP Pro Bono Coordinator
Meredith joined the L.A. Works team after working for various museums and art galleries since 2010. Growing up with roots in both Los Angeles and Chicago, Meredith is a California girl with a Midwestern sensibility. Meredith earned her B.A. in the History of Art and Architecture from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and her M.A. in Art History from the University of Oregon. She is currently in her last semester at San José State University where she will earn her MLIS with a focus on archives and digital preservation. When she does not have her nose in a schoolbook, Meredith loves spending time with her dad, getting cuddles from her rescue cat Toulouse (Yes, he is named after Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec), watching movies, gardening, or laughing at TikTok videos.
Johnathan Lopez,
Senior Corporate Event Manager
Johnathan was born and raised in the Los Angeles County. He went to Cal Poly Pomona where he received a Bachelor's in Music and has worked in several fields both during and after his studies. Johnathan has worked in the food service industry, as a music tutor for lower and upper division music students, as a legal assistant for a personal injury lawyer and even as a dialogue editor for animation. When Johnathan isn't working, he enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends, maintaining his character in the FFXIV MMO, or exploring new cities with his boyfriend.
Disaster Relief VISTA
Angel is from Chicago and has been in Los Angeles for about 8 years now. Moving to LA, he experienced being homeless and certain challenges that got him started on his journey of helping different communities. He became an HIV counselor for LA county, where he did a lot of work in Skid Row. While counseling, he volunteered with the LGBTQ+ community with certain barriers around sex education, food insecurity, and substabnce abuse issues. He spent another part of his journey working with youth experiencing homelessness in the Venice Beach area where he took a holistic approach. When he is not working, he enjoys dancing, meditating, and being of service. He believes we're all here to take care of each other and is just doing his part in the world.
Jasmine Leyva,
Workplace Development Coordinator
Jasmine C. Leyva, a Washington DC native, is a independent documentary filmmaker, who tackles social issues relative to communities that experience discrimination and/or exclusion. She has served on several social justice panels regarding food justice, she has taught screenwriting at California State University, starred in several big brand commercials and she has been a TV producer on big name shows like America's Got Talent, Behind the Music, ect. During her time in the entertainment industry, she began doing work with Kidsave, a nonprofit that advocates for at-risk youth in the foster care system and she went on to foster children with her partner, Kenny Leyva. After being exposed to the realities of children in the system, she is now dedicating her time and energy into being a part of the solution.
Steven Mendoza,
Climate Action Program Coordinator
Steven Mendoza is a California native; he grew up hiking local foothills and swimming in chilly ocean waters. Steven graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Biological Anthropology and is working on his M.S. degree in Environmental Studies at California State University Fullerton. He has worked in various fields ranging from environmental tourism at Pacific Islands Club Guam to museum education at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. In his spare time, you can catch him exploring the outdoors, going for a surf, or sitting outside drinking coffee and watching his tortoises roam.
RSVP Outreach Coordinator
Raymond came to L.A. Works through a personal search for volunteer opportunities and a desire to get involved in the greater Los Angeles community. An actor by profession, Raymond received his MFA in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Raymond has been an arts educator and advocate since 2004, working with nonprofits and grant organizations while teaching acting at Universities and professional studio programs. A native of Tennessee and a resident of NY/NJ for ten years, Raymond still can't get over the sunshine, beaches, deserts, and mountains. So, when he's not organizing volunteers, acting, teaching, or writing, Raymond can be found in the outdoors or "fiddlin" around with a carpentry project.
Kelsey McRae,
Corporate Event Manager
Kelsey grew up in the mountains of Colorado. After graduating from Colorado State University with a BA in Communications & Media Studies and a Minor in Ethnic Studies, she moved to Los Angeles in 2013. She started her life in a very- LA fashion, writing challenges for a cooking show and eating everything she could get her hands on. After a few years of eating professionally, Kelsey started working in programming at a non-profit that raises funds for the 73 Los Angeles Public Library Branches. She continues to be the person at the party telling everyone of all the benefits of being a library card holder. In her free time Kelsey spends time with her friends and (light of her life) cat, Franklin, watches too much TV, reads books, embroiders – and does every other perceivable craft known to mankind.
Event Production Coordinator
Stephen was born and raised in Southern California. Earned a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration in Human Resources and Management from Cal Poly Pomona. He developed his sense for community service from his time in BoyScouts that continued into working local community events around Los Angeles including community outreach and volunteer coordination. Stephen has worked in a wide variety of fields including food service industry, sales, Disney, and election services. When Stephen isn’t working, he spends his time cooking, playing Dungeons and Dragons, or hiking.
Director of Corporate Engagement
Jessica moved to Los Angeles in March 2021 from her hometown of Wellington, FL. After graduating from the University of Florida with a BA in Business Administration (with a focus on the European Union and Innovation), she jumped right into the nonprofit world as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps NCCC, and then continued her nonprofit career as an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader in Flint, Michigan. Her passion for nonprofit events was formed during her time working for Girl Scouts as a Girl Experience Manager, designing and implementing programs and events for girls across South Florida. She is passionate about connecting volunteers to meaningful projects in the LA community and inspiring others to be a force of good. In her free time, she loves to travel to new destinations, hike in the wilderness, go to live music shows, and read just about anything.
Systems Administrator
Synjin holds a B.F.A. in Studio Art/Printmaking & B.S. in Art History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After college, she set out became a DJ and found a day-job as global pop-up & event manager for Skrillex's record label, OWSLA. Her formal training in art plus a decade of managing small businesses led her to discovering how much she loves working building the digital infrastructure behind opportunities for advocacy. When she's not behind her laptop, she DJs at music festivals, restores discarded furniture, and shops for cute clothes for her Sphynx cats.
Disaster Relief Program Coordinator
Rachel was born and (mostly) raised in Portland, Oregon. On the very long list of things she enjoys, here are just a few: traveling, running, working with the community, gardening, and sewing. She attended Northern Arizona University where she studied Anthropology, Biology and Spanish. While in University, she was apart of multiple volunteer organization including a personal favorite, Global Medical Brigades which combined travel and medical volunteering. After university she served as an AmeriCorps member at the Clark County Food Bank where she taught gardening classes to the community. The adventure didn’t stop there, at the end of her service, she moved to China in the Fall of 2019 to teach English. This past September she moved home after two years in China, and with AmeriCorps in mind. Eventually the road led her to L.A. Works and L.A. Some of her biggest passions are traveling and volunteering, so any way to combine these often determines where she goes hence, the relocation to L.A.
Sarah-Jane Oska,
Director of Community Impact
Sarah-Jane was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to LA in 2017. She has a diverse history in the education sector including: teaching in remote Aboriginal communities; classroom teaching in London, UK; tutoring; as a camp and education specialist at the Los Angeles Zoo; and most recently as the Education Programs Coordinator at Community Nature Connection, a non-profit that aims to increase access to the outdoors. In her free time, Sarah-Jane likes spending time outdoors, seeing live music, cooking, and dog watching at cafes.
Vice President of Programs
Gyasi {Jah-C} got his start in volunteerism with HandsOn Bay Area our San Francisco affiliate back in 2009 where he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA and Corporate Project Leader. After his term of service as a VISTA, he spent two and half years with The Mosaic Project as their Youth Leadership Project Director. When he’s not promoting volunteerism here at L.A. Works, Gyasi enjoys songwriting and performing music around Los Angeles. He’s an LA native and San Francisco State University graduate with a deep passion for giving back and creating opportunities for others.
Workforce Development Manager
Paulina was born and raised in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. In her formidable years, she volunteered at church events, community 5K walks at Griffith Park, and competed with JROTC. Soon after graduating from Roosevelt High School, she moved out of her comfort zone and attended UC Davis where she studied Community and Regional Development with a minor in Chicano Studies and Sociology. Through an upper division internship, she received an opportunity to work as a research assistant to Sacramento State University Faculty with the Institute for Social Research. While working as a research assistant, she began tutoring elementary-aged youth part-time and it was this program that started her non-profit career in Expanded Learning. For eleven years, Paulina has worked in many roles with the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, Sacramento's premier Expanded Learning non-profit organization. Paulina has worked with the Sacramento Unified School District as both Summer Program Coordinator and Expanded Learning Program Manager. In her tenure as Program Manager for a middle school, she has earned certifications in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Developing After-School Leadership Academy, and Social Emotional Learning. During her downtime, one can find Paulina exploring the current EDM scene, indulging in the area's up-and-coming dining hot spots, or making her way to East L.A. to visit her family with her two furbabies, Pankake and Juneau.
Jacey Pulusani,
Director of Operations
Jacey is a Kansas native but has proudly spent nearly half her life living in California. An alumna of Occidental College, she has always been interested in the intersection of people and place and is most energized in a buzzing urban environment. After earning a degree in Urban and Environmental Policy, she has worked with children & families as well as in the hospitality space specializing in wine and stellar customer service. A caretaker at heart, in her spare time she enjoys cooking, hiking, and giggling with her husband and young son.
Corporate Event Specialist
Nathan was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from McGill University in 2018 with a BA in History. Before joining L.A. Works, Nathan was an international development consultant at a D.C.-based firm. At the beginning of 2022, Nathan moved to Los Angeles and fell in love with the city. With L.A. Works, Nathan has had the incredible opportunity to meet and collaborate with his community and fellow Angelenos as they build towards a better future for the city we adore. In his spare time, Nathan enjoys music, live events, movies, chess, and exploring everything his new home has to offer.
Social Media Coordinator
Elisa is a first-generation college graduate, born and raised in Los Angeles County. She received her B.A. in Film, Television and Media with a minor in Theatre Performance from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Her social media experience includes freelance work for small businesses and content creators. While outside of work, Elisa loves to travel, hike, go to the movies and cook with loved ones.
Public Health AmeriCorps Program Coordinator
Jenevieve was born and raised in San Francisco. Growing up in a mixed Chinese/Mexican household, she developed a passion for supporting her community, especially for youth from underserved populations. After graduating from the University of San Francisco with a B.S. in Biology, she moved to Los Angeles to serve as a VISTA at a nonprofit focused on supporting youth experiencing homelessness and eventually transitioned to VISTA Leader at L.A. Works. Jenevieve is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at the University of Southern California but during her spare time, she enjoys gaming with friends, binge-watching shows, playing with her cats, and checking out new food places.
Steve Schaeffer,
Grant, Audit Compliance Manager
Steve Schaeffer is a writer and event producer whose work has been featured by many of America’s top not-for-profits and corporations across the country. As an event producer, he has created gala fundraising events and meetings for some of New York City’s top not-for-profit companies, including Roundabout Theatre Company, The College Board, Atlantic Theater Company, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and MCC Theater. Steve is a graduate of UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film and Television and also studied at the University of Hull in England. Outside of work, Steve is usually ingesting pop culture of all kinds: movies, tv, theatre, books and podcasts…oh, so many podcasts! He also manages to go outside frequently, too.
RSVP Workforce Development Coordinator
Born and raised in Lancaster, CA, Justin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside making him the first generation college graduate. After graduating from UCR, Justin began working for a local coffee shop in Santa Clarita, then quickly began his own venture in the coffee world sharing his story with the communities of LA County. Through his experiences in leadership, Justin discovered his passion for the people of Los Angeles and inspiring those communities to never give up on their dreams, hence the opportunity to work with LA Works. When Justin is able to find some time, he absolutely loves spending time with his girlfriend, reading motivational books, playing guitar, playing Smash Ultimate, and going on adventures to new coffee shops!
AmeriCorps VISTA Program Manager
Jonathan was born in Orange County, but was raised in the Greater Los Angeles area. He went to California State University Dominguez Hill where he received his Bachelor’s of Art in Kinesiology. He graduated summer 2020, and was offered a job to be Physical Therapist aide at a clinic. While working there he grew more attached to his hobbies. Some of his hobbies are but not limited to hiking, cooking, swimming, traveling, and exploring new restaurants. He is very excited to start his career with L.A. Works, and anticipates a great year.
Pooja Singh,
Public Health Americorps Program Manager
From sunrise to sunset, Pooja’s love for sweet tea, art, and warm weather makes an exciting transition to the West Coast. With a soft spot for Los Angeles, this South Carolina native is returning back to the L.A. Works community. Pooja wants to get back into the volunteering sector and work alongside people who also share a vision to support a happier, healthier world, but to do so, we must lead by example. With previous experience in non-profit and volunteering in the US and overseas, Pooja hopes to utilize her skills and experience to help build a stronger community and encourage others to do the same.
Nichole Torres,
VISTA Leader
Nichole was born and raised in San Pedro, CA and grew up with an appreciation for animals and the environment. She earned her degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism from California State University, Fullerton where she gained experience in talking to individuals from all types of backgrounds. Nichole is currently working on becoming a certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Nichole loves to utilize her skills in writing, interviewing, and social media marketing to tell stories of importance. She hopes to continue to provide a voice for those who are subjected to silence.
Director of Communications
Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Samantha grew up with a passion for community engagement. Her volunteer work with nonprofit organizations such as Black Women for Wellness, Little Miss African American and The K.I.S. Foundation allowed her to focus on the causes important to her – health, youth, and education. Upon earning her Master of Arts in Strategic Public Relations from the University of Southern California, Samantha served in various communications roles serving the nonprofit, corporate and consumer sectors. She has garnered coverage for her clients in a variety of local and national media outlets, including KABC-TV, Essence and 94.7 The Wave. When she’s not working, you’ll find her baking, at spin class, watching reality television or leading her team to victory at pub trivia.
Valerie Vazquez,
Disaster Relief VISTA
Valerie was born and raised in Pasadena, CA. She is a first-generation San Francisco State Univerity graduate with a BA in History and Political Science. She enjoys serving her community and volunteering as well as exploring new places, hiking, and spending time with family in her free time.
Greyson Yocom,
Disaster Relief VISTA
Graysen was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelors in History in 2022. His interests in non-profit work and disaster relief education led him to take on the role of Americorps Vista in conjunction with L.A Works. Outside of work, he enjoys writing novels, playing sports like basketball and tennis, and exploring Los Angeles with his friends and family.
Supporting Roles
P.J. Schumacher, Financial Consulting
PJ has been serving as a notary, business management consultant, controller, and tax accountant since 1985. He formed Schumacher Financial Consulting in 1991 to provide full-charge bookkeeping services to a wide variety of clients, as well as serving in the capacities of controller and tax accountant. P.J. joined the L.A. Works team in 1993.
Volunteer Associates
Enis Öcal, Corporate Event Logistics Associate
Enis worked in Fortune 500 companies in pricing, revenue management, and analytics roles. He has graduate degrees from Washington University in St. Louis (Missouri), The University of Manchester (United Kingdom) and Bogazici University (Turkey). He also has a bachelor's in industrial engineering from Bogazici University (Turkey). He became interested in social entrepreneurship and volunteering mainly after TA-ing a course on social entrepreneurship in graduate school, and has volunteering experience with children, adults, and animals.
Celia Tom, RSVP General Associate
Celia retired in 2014 as Director of Clinical Laboratories at the USC Health Science Campus after 30+ years. The responsibilities included laboratory oversight and management of the USC Norris Cancer Hospital and Keck Medical Center. This included Quality Assurance, budgets, personnel (hiring, firing, training), compliance with State, Federal, City regulations and national hospital and laboratory accreditations, etc. Her parents are from China, and she was born in Central California and raised in San Francisco Chinatown. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in Microbiology and a MS from CSU Dominguez Hills. Celia has 3 children, 5 grandchildren, 1 great grandson and a Standard Poodle.