Executive Office

 GRAYCE LIU

Grayce is the General Manager of the Department. In addition to overseeing the Department, she maintains her duties as the former Director of Policy and Communications, writing reports for City Council and the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners regarding policies that affect the Neighborhood Council system while managing the Department’s external communication policy, including the website and e-newletter, and the team administering the Neighborhood Council elections. After being in the Department for 5 years, her favorite part of the job is to work in collaboration with Neighborhood Councils to develop creative choices to the issues they are facing. Outside of work, she keeps busy horseback riding, banjo picking and karaokeing.

JEFFREY S. BRILL

Jeff is Senior Management Analyst II in charge of Administrative Services and the Neighborhood Council Funding Program. He has worked with the Department for 2 years and the City of Los Angeles for 22 years. For him, the best part of the job is ensuring that vendors get paid so that the Neighborhood Councils can continue their activities in their respective communities. When he is not at the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

JANET LINDO

Janet is the Executive Administrative Assistant and Commission Executive Assistant and has been with the Department for 5 years. She assists the General Manager and the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners. She enjoys supporting the system’s leaders and hearing their stories of how they advance Neighborhood Councils in LA.

LEYLA CAMPOS

Leyla is the Director of Field Operations. She oversees the Neighborhood Empowerment Advocates’ work throughout the city. She also co-leads the Councils 4 Councils program and heads the Empower LA Leadership Academy. She has worked with the Department for 10 years, and she most enjoys engaging in problem solving with Neighborhood Council leaders. She finds reward in helping them to find solutions to the issues and challenges facing the Neighborhood Council system. When she is not at work, she enjoys karaoke and being outdoors.

ARMANDO RUIZ

Armando is the recently appointed Neighborhood Council Funding Program Director. He brings to the Department more than 8 years of experience working with City government managing enforcement and administrative programs. He looks forward to furthering the Department’s goals of streamlining the funding process to ensure that Neighborhood Councils have appropriate access to their funds. Outside of the office, Armando enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 kids, reading novels, and watching movies.

Field Operations: Neighborhood Empowerment Advocates

Our Neighborhood Empowerment Advocates (NEA) provide direct support to Neighborhood Councils in a variety of ways. Whether it’s through capacity building, meeting support, assistance in funding, or advocacy in the city, NEA’s are available to help in person or via the Neighborhood Council Support Help Line.

AMELIA HERRERA-ROBLES

Amellia works with Neighborhood Councils in the North and South Valley regions. She has served for the Department for 10.5 years, and she most enjoys networking and cultivating human capacity development within Neighborhood Council boards. Outside of the office, she is passionate about cooking and food presentation.

BARRY STONE

Barry works with Neighborhood Councils in helping them fulfill their funding needs. He has been at the Department for 5 years, and he finds reward in helping people navigate through the system. In his spare time, he enjoys snowboarding.

BETTY WONG OYAMA

Betty works on the funding side of Neighborhood Council assistance. She has been with the Department for 12 years and what she likes most about her job is meeting new people and assisting them with their requests. When away from the office, she enjoys volunteering with community organizations.

LISETTE COVARRUBIAS

Lisette assists Neighborhood Councils in the East region of the City. She has been with the Department for 6.5 years and she finds fulfillment in promoting civic engagement. She is motivated in her work by the belief that she is part of a greater mission to increase civic participation in Los Angeles. Lisette is also an aspiring photographer.

TANEDA LARIOS

Taneda works with Neighborhood Councils in the South region. She has been with the Department for 12 years and she likes to see Neighborhood Councils progress and make positive and lasting impacts in their communities. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting.

TOM SOONG

Thomas (Tom) works with Neighborhood Councils in the Harbor, West, and Central regions. He has been with the Department for 10.5 years, and his favorite part of the job is meeting different Neighborhood Council leaders and hearing their stories. He takes pleasure in helping connect them with other leaders and City departments. He enjoys watching sports, exploring new places and events, and spending time with his friends.

Project Coordinators

 STEPHEN BOX

Stephen is the Acting Senior Project Coordinator, Director of Outreach and Communications, and responsible for Neighborhood Council Elections. Over the last decade, he has worked with Neighborhood Councils throughout the city as a community organizer, as an activist and as an Independent Election Administrator. Stephen is proud of the EmpowerLA’s commitment to moving “Beyond the Ballot Box” in activating candidates and engaging voters. His favorite part of the job is working with his Neighborhood Council friends as they discover their power as individuals, as communities, and as a great city. Stephen is a Confident City Cycling instructor, a writer on Civic Engagement, and he loves to travel and explore new cities with his lovely wife Enci and their son Sydney.

JOSEPH HARI

Joe Hari is a newly appointed Project Coordinator for Policy. He brings to the Department one and a half years of experience working with the Mayor’s Office as an Area Director. He’s enthusiastic about working with Neighborhood Councils and the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners to help develop policies that will best support NCs in their mission. Additionally, he facilitates the NC Budget Advocate process, which empowers stakeholders to provide input into the City’s budget process. In his free time, Joe enjoys salsa dancing, karaoke, and exploring LA.

Administrative

MAN-QIN HE

Man-Qin is an Accountant II and has been with the Department for 4.5 years. She monitors the Neighborhood Council funding program and makes budget and allotment arrangements. She works to make adjustments when necessary, reconciles the accounts, and approves and processes payments. She finds reward in making sure that the funding process is carried out accurately and in compliance with City funding policy. She takes pride in safeguarding the City’s property. When not on the job, she enjoys watching movies and reading novels.

KIBIBI CONNER

Kibibi is an Accountant Clerk II and has been with the Department for the last 2 years. She is very appreciative when NC’s are consistent in submitting all of the necessary paperwork in their payment requests. In addition to her work for the City, she is active in operating her Mary Kay health and beauty product sales business. She is especially glad to help other women keep their skin healthy. She knows that looking good is feeling good.

MONIQUE COLLINS

Monique is a Clerk Typist with the Department and ensures that the office operations run smoothly. She orders office supplies and equipment, arranges for visitor parking, checks Department inboxes and responds as needed, and assists with answering the phone. As Acting Accounting Clerk, she also cuts checks and keeps records of funding submissions by entering them into the database. She has served the Department for 5 years.

JOHNGIANG NGUYEN

John is the Department’s Systems Analyst and he provides the staff with IT support. He joined the team in June of 2012 and he appreciates that his job offers a balance of working with people and working with machines. His hobbies include jogging and playing badminton.

MAXIMO FORTU

Maximo (Macky) is a Senior Accountant II with the Department and has been here for 4 years. He most enjoys his work in budget analysis, reporting, and troubleshooting.

SONYA CALLOWAY

Sonya is a Clerk Typist with the Department. She has been with the office since October of 2001 and her administrative duties include managing “everything” that happens here. Sonya most enjoys when she gets to meet the neighborhood council leaders and put faces to the names of the constituents. When she is not at the office, she enjoys reading and watching movies.