Lifestyle & beauty expert Dawn McCoy is a host, motivational speaker, social media influencer and creator/editor of the blog, BeautyFrosting.

“Dine & Dish with Dawn,” her celebrity interview show where food, wine and giving back are the focal points, premieres in May 2016. Additionally, she’s a frequent guest on Dr.Oz, Hallmark Home & Family, Access Hollywood, Extra, The Real and more.

A proponent of “doing good,” she was the official spokesperson for Unite4Good in 2015, and is currently an ambassador for No Kid Hungry and Dress for Success. Her #Dear15Me philanthropic social media movement was featured on The Real this past November.

As a voiceover actor, she can currently be heard as the voice of Pandora Radio and Hampton Inn. As a social media influencer with over 200k combined followers on her channels, she has become a nationally respected tastemaker.

Dawn lives in Los Angeles, with her Maltese, Miss Ellie, in a place called “The Cupcake Palace.” Yes, seriously." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

June Ayers is the owner and administrator of a clinic providing abortion services for the women of Alabama for more than 37 years.

Ms. Ayers is one of the three independent providers still remaining in Alabama. She completed a Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 1978 when she began working for the clinic. She then went on to earn a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1998, giving her the ability to provide direct hands on care to the clinic’s patients.

Ms. Ayers is a recipient of the 2015 ACLU Medal of Liberty Award. She was graciously asked to take part in the documentary film, Trapped, produced by Trilogy Films, to lend a voice to the independent abortion providers and their never-ending struggle with hostile state governments. Trapped has premiered in such venues as Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest. The film will be airing nationwide on PBS in June 2016 when the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Texas HB2.

In December 2015, she met with members of a United Nations team to identify and highlight the barriers she and others are facing in providing services to women in the South. She is an advocate for women’s rights and other progressive issues. She resides in Montgomery, Alabama with her dog, Munchkin and parrot, Buddy.
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Maria Hall-Brown joined PBS SoCaL (KOCE-TV) in July of 1997.  As Executive Producer/for Arts and Cultural Programming on PBS SoCaL she currently produces and hosts the weekly program LAaRT.

For 16 years she worked as a producer/reporter for “Real Orange” PBS SoCal’s nightly news and public affairs program. She served as the producer/host of “Bookmark” an acclaimed author interview series, interviewing 300 plus authors from first time writers to Pulitzer Prize winners.

In addition to these programs, Maria is responsible for local documentaries which include a look at the history of Catholicism in Orange County “Matters of Faith”, “Bulgarian Rhapsody” the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra’s experience in Bulgaria and “Notes from Europe” the Pacific Symphony’s first European Tour.

For her work at PBS SoCal, she has garnered two prestigious LA Area Emmys and was awarded her sixth Golden Mike Award by the Radio Television News Association for the documentary “Be Brave: Samantha’s Story” a powerful look at the tireless crusade of Erin Runnion to protect children after the kidnapping and murder of her 5 year old daughter Samantha.

Maria believes in the power of public television as a tool for good and is delighted to have had the opportunity to get involved with a wide range of community organizations.

Maria received her degree from the University of California, Irvine and proudly received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.

She is a passionate supporter of the Arts." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Our Lady J is currently a writer on the Golden Globe and Emmy award winning television show, Transparent.

As a singer/songwriter, she released her first studio album “Picture Of A Man” to critical acclaim in 2013. As a pianist, she has collaborated with the likes of Sia, Lady Gaga, Scissor Sisters, and Broadway stars including Chita Rivera, Christine Ebersole, and Justin Vivian Bond.

Our Lady J holds the honor of being the first open trans woman to perform at Carnegie Hall and has been featured on Out Magazine’s “Out 100,” and the Huffington Post’s list of “transgender icons.”
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Schaffer comes to Women In Film from fourteen years at Outfest, as Director of Programming and Deputy Director before being appointed Executive Director in 2009. She is widely credited as having grown Outfest into the leading LGBT media arts organization that it is. During Schaffer’s tenure at Outfest, she launched three new programs for the organization: The Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, the Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival and OutSet, the Young Filmmakers Project from the Los Angeles LGBT Center and Outfest.

Kirsten has extensive experience in film programming, small business management and arts administration. She is a graduate of National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program and the Wells Fargo New Executive Director Institute and she is on the Board of Trustees for El Rio School.

Kirsten was named one of POWER UP’s “Top 10 Women in Show Business,” and in 2010 she received a “Women in Business” Award from Senator Liu.
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Angela Baker, Vice President of Human Resources for STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theatre L.A. LIVE and LA LIVE.

Angela joined the AEG Facilities team in November 2013 as the Director of Human Resources for the Los Angeles Convention Center. Angela was brought on by AEG to align the human resource strategies with the newly privatized Convention Center’s business objectives.

Prior to joining LACC, Angela spent more than 18 years in the luxury hotel industry opening and leading the HR team of The W Hollywood, and leading the HR efforts of The W Los Angeles-Westwood, Four Season Los Angeles, The St. Regis Monarch Beach and the former Westin Century Plaza.

Angela lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, Louis and daughters, Alison and Elizabeth." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Kristena D. Hatcher, PHR is an HR Executive, focusing on Talent Acquisition at Creative Artists Agency (“CAA”), the world’s leading full service entertainment, media, and sports agency. Kristena focuses on establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships across the business, while managing the recruitment of entry through executive-level functions for Motion Pictures, Television, Comedy, and Foundation client groups.

Prior to beginning her employment at CAA, she was an Executive Recruiter for Morgan Samuels, a retained executive search firm, where she was responsible for placing senior executives and C-level talent across industries including digital media and entertainment, consumer packaged goods, and engineering and construction.

Kristena holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama, she has received her Professional in Human Resources (“PHR”) Certification through the HR Certification Institute, and has also completed coursework in Human Resources Management at UCLA." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Tatiana is currently a Human Resources Manager for Nestlé USA at their corporate office in Glendale, CA where she provides strategic HR leadership and support to the Nestle Sales Division across the United States. Prior to that, Tatiana was a Human Resources Manager for Target Stores.

She has been proud to advocate for and actively engage in initiatives that promote employee engagement and development, diversity and inclusion, as well as improve the professional experience and landscape for women within her organizations.

Tatiana hold a BA in Communications from UCLA." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Emily Weprich became manager of human resources at OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in 2015. She started at OWN in 2010 as the company receptionist and has previously served human resources as an assistant, coordinator and specialist. Prior to OWN she lived in New York and worked for Kenneth Cole Productions and MTV.

In her current role at OWN, Weprich manages the internship program, recruiting efforts and the onboarding of staff. In addition to OWN, Weprich is a professional model who has worked for national campaigns, talk shows, magazines, books and commercials.

Weprich is originally from Norcross Georgia and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Auburn University in Alabama. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs, is a vegetarian and enjoys running road races (completed 5 marathons.)" data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Reena De Asis is a community connector with MacGyver tactics. She empowers people with solutions for positive impact.

Her brazen duet with life began in the islands of the Philippines. She honors her grandmother, a medicine woman: by living a life of service. She has championed partnership building, community relations, corporate social responsibility and organized socially conscious campaigns and events. Most recently, she was the director for Dress for Success Worldwide–West, an international nonprofit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence. Previously, she was the director of marketing for Causecast and the director of marketing and corporate relations for L.A. Works. She is a marketing communications consultant and freelance writer. Her work has been published on Forbes, The Huffington Post and Maria Shriver.com.

Reena graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Communications: Public Relations with a minor in Human Services from CSUF. She is an honoree for L.A. Biz’s Women of Influence, Los Angeles Business Journal Women Making a Difference, YWCA Women of Achievement Silver Medallion and President’s Volunteer Service award.

When she’s not cultivating relationships, you can find her savoring a saucy vegetarian feast while making up lyrics to a song." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Margalit Ward is a Certified Life Empowerment & Business Coach, Speaker and Co-Founder of Get Up Girl Women’s Coaching. Margalit started and grew two successful graphic design and publishing companies, completed her coaching certification from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching, and is a graduate of Counseling and Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. She supports her clients to dream big and define their vision, map out their goals and action plans to create unstoppable success. Her approach also includes establishing a foundation of self-care that fuels a happier life with healthy habits and relationships. She is a contributor for the Huffington Post and ModernMom." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Natalie Gouché is a social media marketing trainer based out of Los Angeles, California. She uses her expertise in marketing to help others master the new age of communication.

In 2008 Natalie started her career in social media as a frustrated small business owner looking to expand her global reach. She used social media to attract customers, grow sales in her health business and brand her name. In less than 6 months Natalie was able to quit her corporate job and triple her income using only online strategies.

In 2010 she founded L.A. Social Media Trainer Inc. and decided to train and empower others on how to effectively use the social media-marketing platform to grow their businesses.

Today she can be found around Los Angeles speaking and teaching, doing webinars for her international clients and hosting her signature program called Market My Vision: The step-by-step course for solopreneurs to learn how to authentically market their business and profit, solely using social media." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Karen Eyres currently serves on the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board and she previously served on the Public Facilities Commission.

She is the Career and College Counselor at LifeWorks, the youth program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and she has led college admissions workshops at conferences for at-risk or under-served youth, including Models of Pride and College Within Reach.

Karen serves on the Executive Committee for the Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Steering Committee for the End Rape Statute of Limitations (ERSOL) Campaign." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Sam Borelli is a professional consultant with experience and successes in the entertainment, nonprofit, hospitality and healthcare industries.

Sam Borelli was appointed to the West Hollywood Public Safety Commission in 2003 and served until 2013. During his tenure as Chair, the commission launched a first-ever Public Safety Education Campaign, enhanced the city’s Neighborhood Watch Program, and increased participation in West Hollywood’s National Night Out Against Crime events.

In July 2015, Sam was appointed to the West Hollywood Human Services Commission." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Melissa joined the City of West Hollywood City Clerk’s office in June 2014. New to the City of West Hollywood, she spent 14 years with the City of Beverly Hills in various departments before finding her passion in the “Clerk” world. She received her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerk in 2013 and is currently working on her Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Rupa is an entertainment entrepreneur based in Los Angeles.

She is the Co-Founder & CEO of World Woman Foundation, a global stage for women voices and Dash Global Media, a leading entertainment company in Los Angeles. She is also associated with Brillstein Entertainment Partners, an organization regarded as the premier entertainment management group in Hollywood.

An ardent advocate for social entrepreneurship and leadership development for women in business and entertainment Rupa is involved in UN Women, Hollywood Film Festival and TED advocating Gender Equality in Film and Entertainment Industry.

She is the first Indian American Managing Director of the World’s Largest Women Entrepreneurship Network recognized by White House and the first women to receive the International Telecom Union Award from United Nation. Rupa attended the Anderson School of management at UCLA, Los Angeles and focused on Entrepreneurship and MBA at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR).
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Kristin Marguerite Doidge is an LA-based journalist and entrepreneur with a passion for telling unexpected stories about filmmakers, entrepreneurs, rebels & advocates.

She is the media and entertainment reporter on staff at the award-winning Los Angeles Business Journal. Her work has also been featured on KCRW/NPR, FORTUNE.com, MarieClaire.com, Caring Magazine, ATTN:, xojane.com, and YouthToday. She was a finalist for a National Arts & Entertainment Journalism (NAEJ) Award for “Best Commentary/Critique” and “Best Radio/Podcast Feature,” and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Press Club’s “Radio – Light News Feature” award in 2015.

Previously, Kristin successfully led or co-directed integrated marketing and PR programs for a diverse range of clients, including artists, start-ups, non-profits, tech companies, and a number of health/fitness and lifestyle brands, such as: Pop Physique, Carole Bayer Sager, Procter & Gamble, and Caviar. Her ghostwriting has appeared in numerous national lifestyle publications, such as Oprah.com, Glamour.com, Family Circle, Cosmopolitan, and SELF, and she has secured coverage for her clients in the LA Times, SF Chronicle, AP, WSJ, WIRED, Huffington Post, and USA Today, among others.

Some of her current interests and research projects include: media effects, Nora Ephron, film and cultural studies; innovation and entrepreneurship for writers, filmmakers and artists; advocacy for youth and young adults with invisible disabilities. Kristin holds an M.A. in Specialized Journalism from USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism (with LPE Honors), with a focus on popular culture, entrepreneurship and social justice.
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Tina Mica has been working in Southern California radio since 1996. Currently, Tina is part of the on-air family at 100.3 The Sound.

You can hear her on the weekends playing the greatest Classic Rock ever made and Tina is the host of The Sound’s 5900 Wilshire Public Affairs Show. Each Sunday morning, between 7:00am and 8:00am, Tina explores local and national non-profits making contributions to the communities in which we live. The Sound covers much of So Cal. LA, the OC the Inland Empire.

Listen on The Sound app and live at thesoundla.com.
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Joining the station in 2012, Award-winning journalist Michelle Valles co-anchors NBC4’s morning news “Today in LA” on weekends and is a general assignment reporter during the week.

As a co-anchor, Valles interviews authors, filmmakers, dignitaries, and other local experts to cover issues with more depth and clarity. She points to her coverage of Rodney King’s death as one of her most memorable assignments at NBC4. She anchored the station’s first breaking news report on that story, and continued reporting from the field until well into the evening the day the story broke.

Other career highlights include covering a two-part investigation on Americans being unfairly detained in a Federal Mexican prison; the notorious Juarez murders; Mexican orphanage conditions; U.S. Mexico border protests, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Lady Bird Johnson’s death and 9/11. She also was intrigued by her candid and exclusive interview with Willie Nelson regarding his marijuana use and his efforts to decriminalize the drug in the U.S.

Valles was voted Best Anchor by the Texas Associated Press, the Austin Chronicle and Rare Magazine. She was also part of the news team that won the Best Newscast Award from the Texas Associated Press in 2007 and was selected by the Austin American Statesman to be included in their prestigious Fortunate 500 List for community service for seven consecutive years.

In addition to her work as a broadcast journalist, Valles appeared nationally on the HBO Latino series Habla Texas, and was also the co-creator, writer and co-host of the hour lifestyle show Austin Live. Other ventures include acting and writing. Valles appeared in the ABC Family series The Lying Game, the feature film When Angels Sing and the musical A Ride with Bob. She also authored a column offering a woman’s perspective on men’s issues for the magazine, Austin Man.

Dedicated to community service, Valles served as a national ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and co-hosted a number of locally-produced MDA Jerry Lewis Telethons. She has volunteered with a number of organizations that support children’s educational programs and efforts to eliminate mental illness stigmas.

She is fluent in Spanish and an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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Natalie Gouché is a social media marketing trainer based out of Los Angeles, California. She uses her expertise in marketing to help others master the new age of communication.

In 2008 Natalie started her career in social media as a frustrated small business owner looking to expand her global reach. She used social media to attract customers, grow sales in her health business and brand her name. In less than 6 months Natalie was able to quit her corporate job and triple her income using only online strategies.

In 2010 she founded L.A. Social Media Trainer Inc. and decided to train and empower others on how to effectively use the social media-marketing platform to grow their businesses.

Today she can be found around Los Angeles speaking and teaching, doing webinars for her international clients and hosting her signature program called Market My Vision: The step-by-step course for solopreneurs to learn how to authentically market their business and profit, solely using social media." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Misti Cooper, hails from the captivating city Portland, Oregon. Mysticism and Football are her first loves. She sold her first successful brainchild Yogurt Stop in 2012 and serves as a West Hollywood Transportation Commissioner.

A creative and passionate force for good she has studied the Course In Miracles for over 20 years. Never afraid of a challenge she has become the bridge between Medicine and the Immune System, a certified Tibetan Holy Fire Reiki Master, Qi-Gong and Crystal Therapy Healer. She helps clients worldwide.

Her first book “MistiCal” will be published in 2016." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Born in Kanagawa-Prefecture, Yokohoma, Japan and a previous resident of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Anny Semonco is a 27-year resident homeowner of West Hollywood.

Having cerebral palsy and travelling in a power-assist wheelchair, Anny is a familiar sight in this city, mostly remembered for a Laker flag flying above her chair.

She has served on various design steering committees for the Santa Monica Boulevard Project, the Plummer Park Project, and most recently, the West Hollywood Park Project, giving her views on designs for the disabled.

Anny is currently serving as a member of the Disability Advisory Board." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Melissa joined the City of West Hollywood City Clerk’s office in June 2014. New to the City of West Hollywood, she spent 14 years with the City of Beverly Hills in various departments before finding her passion in the “Clerk” world. She received her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerk in 2013 and is currently working on her Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Goody PR and Goody Awards CEO/Founder Liz H Kelly is passionate about magnifying brands, experts and causes thru Marketing, PR and Social Media Campaigns with a powerful story.

After working for Fox Interactive Media/MySpace, Paramount Pictures, Sprint PCS, and Silicon Beach startups, Kelly decided to use her marketing experience for GOOD. As a published author with 500+ media interviews for 1 book (Smart Man Hunting), her work has been featured in hundreds of media, including FOX News, CNN, KTLA, KCBS, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, ESPN Radio 98.7 FM, and more.

Liz also teaches New Media Marketing at UCLA Extension, and is active in the community as digital media panelists (Digital Hollywood, Social Media Club LA, Social Media Week, Silicon Beach Fest) and on Advisory Boards for Net Impact LA and Global Girl Media. She shares PR and Social Media tips @LizHKelly & good news @GoodyAwards.
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Courtney Kovacevich is a seasoned marketer having worked on some of the most recognized media campaigns across television, radio, digital, billboards, events, and social media. She has a diverse background including roles at MTV, iHeartMedia, Causecast and Chegg. Her media campaigns have included the MTV Movie Awards, VMAs, iHeartRadio Music Festival, iHeartRadio Music Awards, Times Square and Super Bowl.

Currently she is the President of West Coast Sales for Influential, the premier Social Influencer Platform. Influential is the only mobile-first influencer technology with the most engaged influencers on Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Snapchat, Facebook and YouTube connected via a patent-pending app. Using the Influential enterprise technology, brands can make an actual media buy on social. Influential delivers unique in-demo impressions using the most trusted and relevant voices on top social media platforms with native ads." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Alaia Williams is a business operations strategist, speaker and community cultivator. She connects business owners with the exact resources they need to optimize their business and life. Alaia is also the Founder of The Entrepreneur Connection (a 900 member strong networking group in Los Angeles) and At the Helm: Women In Biz, a women entrepreneur’s community and event series. Alaia knows first-hand that when people connect in community to learn and grow, their businesses get exactly what they need to thrive.

She has often been referred to by many as the “Small Biz Swiss Army Knife.” When she’s not creating connections that count with her conferences, she’s helping her clients create practical business systems, identify new revenue and growth opportunities, and create and execute their social media strategies.
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Sahar Andrade, MB.BCh is a Diversity, Global Leadership & Culture Competence Speaker/ Consultant, certified as an E-marketer and Social Media Strategist.

She has lived, worked and been educated in 7 countries and 3 continents; she speaks 5 languages. She holds a Double Bachelors of Medicine, and Surgery, Major in Psychiatry from Cairo University; and successfully completed a Mastery of HR Studies Certificate Program.

She has appeared multiple times on nationally syndicated radio, including 1100 AM KFNX news radio.  She gave speeches at USC campus, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State San Bernardino, SBA (Small Business Administration), LA Convention Center, and the Woodbury University. She also spoke at many conferences locally, in Canada and overseas. She published a white paper about Cultural Competence in the Healthcare field. She has been featured as an SME (Subject Matter Expert) numerous times in many National magazines’ articles as: Diversity Executive, and Diversity Bar.

Her book “Re-invent yourself for success” is due early 2015.  She just termed as a Board Member for NAAAHR, Currently a board member of Leadership Circle of change, Social Media Chair for Los Angeles Diversity Council, and a Committee member at BNLP for the City of Burbank. Her current clients’ list include government agencies, public utilities, non-profits, recruiting companies, healthcare and educational organizations as well chambers of commerce, Sahar Andrade is the founder of Sahar Consulting, LLC." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

June Ayers is the owner and administrator of a clinic providing abortion services for the women of Alabama for more than 37 years.

Ms. Ayers is one of the three independent providers still remaining in Alabama. She completed a Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 1978 when she began working for the clinic. She then went on to earn a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1998, giving her the ability to provide direct hands on care to the clinic’s patients.

Ms. Ayers is a recipient of the 2015 ACLU Medal of Liberty Award. She was graciously asked to take part in the documentary film, Trapped, produced by Trilogy Films, to lend a voice to the independent abortion providers and their never-ending struggle with hostile state governments. Trapped has premiered in such venues as Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest. The film will be airing nationwide on PBS in June 2016 when the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Texas HB2.

In December 2015, she met with members of a United Nations team to identify and highlight the barriers she and others are facing in providing services to women in the South. She is an advocate for women’s rights and other progressive issues. She resides in Montgomery, Alabama with her dog, Munchkin and parrot, Buddy.
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She has published in the top journals in her field and co-authored Rethinking Madame President: Are We Ready for a Woman in the White House? Prior to teaching at Occidental College, Heldman taught at Whittier College, Fairfield University, and Rutgers University.

Heldman has also been active in “real world” politics as a congressional staffer, campaign manager, campaign consultant, and political activist. She drove to New Orleans to help rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, and she has returned many times since. Heldman works in a leadership position with Common Ground, a New Orleans-based grassroots relief organization, and is the co- founder of Critical Response, a group that provides volunteers to engage in high-risk rescue efforts during crises and disasters.

Heldman has worked as the general manager for Bio-Energy Systems, a research manager for Consumer Health Sciences, a political reviewer for the Associated Press and as a reporter for KPFK Los Angeles. Heldman’s work has been featured in the New York Times and U.S. News and World Report.
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Drian Juarez works as a consultant on Transgender issues in the workplace and assists in developing programs for communities endeavoring to help Transgender people get back to work.

Juarez has served as the Program Manager for the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP). Building a solid foundation for TEEP, Juarez established cross-organizational/cross- functional teams to assist in the mission of developing substantive employment and business opportunities for the Los Angeles Transgender community. Under her direction, TEEP has worked with over one thousand Transgender people by assisting with basic housing and helping Transgender people move from the street economy to assisting with more complex job skills like resume writing and job searches for Transgender people who transitioned after establishing professional careers.

In her role, Juarez developed a coalition of grass-roots organizations to help meet the specific needs of the Transgender community. She has collaborated with homeless shelters to provide housing and basic living needs, coordinated with non-profits and schools to offer basic job training and has taught over 500 employers in law enforcement, government entities and businesses on the unique issues faced by the Transgender community.

Juarez, who is also a current member of the West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board, got her start as a community organizer when she was hired as the Lead HIV Outreach Health Educator at a local Los Angeles non-profit agency. In that capacity, Juarez provided a myriad of services in the West Hollywood area to trans-women to help them move from the street economy to empowering career paths and job opportunities.

Through her work Juarez has not only developed a significant knowledge base of the resources required to help transgender people get back to work but also understands what it takes to build lasting relationships with the variety of community-based social service agencies and employers who support the work of TEEP.
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Carolyn Ramsay’s experience in journalism and Los Angeles city politics reinforced a belief that living conditions, a sense of community and access to a the natural environment exert tremendous power in people’s lives.

As Chief of Staff for Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, she worked to expand well-designed low- income housing, protect neighborhoods and improve city parks. Her park development work extended to serving as the Los Angeles Program Director for the Trust for Public Land and currently her work as a consultant to the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.

Prior to public service, she was a newspaper reporter and correspondent for People Magazine.
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Christine Davila is currently working as a creative executive at Warner Brothers for a new digital service brand. In 2013 she established the nonprofit, Ambulante California, a traveling documentary film festival originated in Mexico by Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Pablo Cruz and Elena Fortes.

She has over ten years of experience in film programming at various top notch festivals. She has been a Programming Associate at Sundance Film Festival since 2008, and is the Programmer of Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Yellow Robin Award Competition, dedicated to promoting emerging Caribbean filmmakers.

Davila tracks Latino films and the festival scene on her blog chicanafromchicago.com, and is a regular contributor to Indiewire’s Latinobuzz.
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Aurora Guerrero is a queer-identified, Chicana born to Mexican immigrant parents.

As a writer-director Guerrero wrote and directed Mosquita y Mari, her debut narrative feature. Since premiering at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Mosquita y Mari has traveled over 100 film festivals including Toronto International’s Next Wave, San Francisco International, Melbourne, Guadalajara, Sao Paulo, and has garnered multiple awards while picking up Spirit Award and GLAAD nominations for best first feature film. Mosquita y Mari was theatrically released in New York where The Times praised: “An unassuming indie jewel…”.

Prior to making her feature, Guerrero directed short films, including Pura Lengua (2005 Sundance Film Festival) and Viernes Girl (winner HBO/NYLIFF competition).

Currently, Guerrero is developing her second feature film, Los Valientes, winner of grants from Sundance, Tribeca, San Francisco Film Society and the Global Arts Fund and was selected to participate in IFP’s No Borders program. Guerrero is a Time Warner Fellow(2013) and a Berlin Talent Campus Fellow (2015).
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An award-winning documentary filmmaker and instructor, Anayansi Prado was born in Panama and moved to the United States as a teenager. She attended Boston University where she received a B.A. in Film. She directed and produced the award- winning documentaries Maid in America (2004) about Latina domestic workers in LA; Children in No Man’s Land (2008) about unaccompanied minors crossing the US/Mexico border; and Paraiso for Sale (2011) about American retirees moving to Panama — all which were broadcast nationally on PBS. Anayansi is a Rockefeller Media Fellow and is a Creative Capital Artist and has received support for her work from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Ford Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute and other funders.

As an instructor Ms. Prado works on a regular basis with the State Department’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs to bring documentary filmmaking production and photography training to aspiring filmmakers in developing countries. Anayansi has been a film expert with the Documentary Film Showcase and the American Film Showcase since 2009. Through this state department programs, she’s taught production, fundraising and grant-writing workshops in China, Mozambique, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, Bosnia, Singapore, Panama and Paraguay. Anayansi has also taught as an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Northridge, Journalism Department, and at Chapman University’s Dodge School of Film & Media Arts.

In 2008, Anayansi Prado co-founded Impacto Project, a non-profit organization geared to bringing visual arts and digital media training to youth in developing countries as tools for empowerment and archival of their own cultures.

Ms. Prado is currently in post-production of her fourth independent production, The Unafraid, a documentary about undocumented students in Georgia which has banned them from attending the state’s top public universities. When not traveling for work or fun, Anayansi calls Los Angeles, CA home." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Gina Reyes started her career in Hollywood at International Creative Management talent agency in the Motion Picture Production department. After a great experience at ICM, she had the opportunity to work with Salma Hayek at her newly formed production company, Ventanazul, where Ms. Hayek had a film development deal with MGM. At Ventanzul, Gina had the opportunity to seek out intellectual property for potential film development and also had exposure to the television space in working with Ms. Hayek’s TV production company, Ventanarosa, where she had an overall deal with ABC Studios.

After four years at Ventanazul, Gina landed at 20th Century Fox Film as a Creative Executive in film development and recently made the move to the Audience Strategy group at Fox Broadcasting Company where she manages the Fox Writers Intensive and the Fox Global Directors Initiative.

Gina is a native of Chicago and attended Columbia College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Television." data-effect="" data-close_icon="yes">Read Bio

Maikiko came to WIF in 2014 after six years with Active Voice, a national organization tackling social issues through the creative use of film, where she coordinated on multiple social engagement campaigns including those of Food Inc., Welcome to Shelbyville, Gideon’s Army, Kids for Cash, among others.

She acted as a Special Project Advisor on WIF supported documentary Seeking Asian Female, and co-producer of its sister web project, theyreallsobeautiful.com.

An Upright Citizens Brigade and Groundlings trained improviser, you can see her perform monthly with her teams, Room to Improv and Great Personality, around LA.

Maikiko holds a BFA in Dramatic Writing from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.
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