We’re fortunate to have such an extraordinary, dedicated Board on our team. They offer expertise from fields as diverse as community building, activism, history and entertainment. Please take a moment to meet them…
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Sherwin “Keith” Rice, President, s a historian/archivist at the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center at California State University, Northridge. He received his PhD in history from Claremont Graduate University. His field of study is American history, with concentrations in African-American civil rights, Black power movements, and museum studies.
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Alma E. Catalán, Vice-President, believes in the value of the arts in all communities. She holds a BA from California State University Long Beach's Film Production Program and a Master's in Arts in Arts Management from Claremont Graduate University and Sotheby's Institute of Art- Los Angeles. Alma's career includes community organizing, working on film sets, theater productions, working with youth, designing college access programs, and collaborating locally and internationally through the arts. In her current position as the Programs Manager for CalArts, Community Art Partnership Alma hopes to inspire and support the next generation of artists, musicians, curators, and art historians who one day will transform the world.
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Betty Venegas-Huebner, Treasurer, was a founding member of the La Plaza Historical Society and is treasurer of the La Plaza church. She began cataloging and preserving the La Plaza Church archives as early as 2002 and worked tirelessly throughout the Save La Plaza Campaign that resulted in the preservation of the Museum of Social Justice as a public venue for the greater Los Angeles community. |
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Michelle Dragoo, Secretary, has completed a master’s degree in cultural anthropology at California State University, Los Angeles. She has worked and volunteered in both archives and museums, including the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library Special Collections and Archives at Cal State Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum.
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Leonora Barrón, began organizing the Save La Plaza Campaign in 2010 when the pastor of La Plaza United Methodist Church was locked out the church. That campaign lead to the creation of the Museum in 2012. Leonora previously served as Executive Director of North Valley Caring Services in North Hills and El Centro de Acción Social in Pasadena. She was the Museum's founding Executive Director. After retiring from that position in 2017, she is continuing her service to the Museum as a member of the Board of Directors.
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José Luis Benavides s a professor in the Department of Journalism at California State University, Northridge. He is the Director of the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center, an academic center at CSUN that collects and preserves the visual history of the region with an emphasis on ethnic minority communities and photographers. He created the first interdisciplinary minor in Spanish-language journalism in the United States.
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Aida Feria is the Director of the Choices Corp, a program for at risk youth, located on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, Aida is a fourth-generation family member on Olvera Street, whose grandmother lived at the historic Pico house and whose family has continued to run a “puesto” since the 1940s. |
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Greg Ramirez is an architectural designer and filmmaker who received his master’s in architecture from Columbia University. He is a fourth-generation member of La Plaza United Methodist Church. Greg believes that there are many untold stories, filled with drama and humor, about this important location as the birthplace of Los Angeles. These stories help us know we are not alone; our struggles are fought today by brave, ordinary people, but those struggles have also been fought before us by our brave precursors. They give us the strength and courage to continue.
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Jose “Joe” T. Rodriguez was a LA County probation director for 35 years, serving on the of service Committee on Organizational Diversity. He was also a charter member and later served as president of the Mexican American Correctional Association (MACA), an advocacy group for Latino probation officers and parole agents. |
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Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, recently completed a 9-year term as vice moderator for the central committee of the World Council of Churches. Bishop Swenson has served as an ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops (2012-2016) and bishop of the California Pacific Conference. In her retirement years, they worshiped at Hollywood United Methodist Church, where Bishop Swenson serves as bishop in residence. She has led the church passionately toward becoming a more inclusive community filled with grace, compassion, and justice, growing in perfect love of God and neighbor.
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Kate Unger holds a law degree and degrees in linguistic and cultural anthropology. She currently works as a policy advisor for a statewide solar energy association. Her career includes several legal positions, including with a nonprofit environmental law firm, editorial positions in educational publishing, and a development position with the New Orleans Museum of Art. In addition to serving on the Museum of Social Justice board, she is a volunteer advocate for climate action and environmental sustainability.
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Phillip Valdes is the pastor of La Plaza United Methodist Church. Working mainly with young adult communities, Phillip has helped create and sustain viable ministries that call new people towards a renewed church. By doing this work, Phillip helps churches find the bridge between how the old and the new can live side by side in the local church.
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