FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr. Talma Shultz advocates for equitable education and youth development to ensure that every young person is prepared and able to draw from their strength, assets, and lived experiences to pursue their dreams.

She has served as a curriculum designer for academic courses and Advisory social-emotional development, coached teams in creating and sustaining career-themed high schools to prepare students for college and career in traditional and alternative education settings, and established systems and tools for integrated student supports as well as teaching Teaching for Social Justice courses in teacher preparation programs.

She began her career as a Neurobiologist earning her Ph.D at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and B.A in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biochemistry for the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and pursued graduate studies in Psychology and Education. She has certifications in Coaching and in Applied Positive Psychology.

She weaves the science of learning, neuroscience, the arts, the science of well-being, and a trauma-healing youth development framework in her work, providing a holistic approach to education and youth development. Her first-hand experience as an immigrant also gives her a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those adapting to a new country.

This personal connection fuels her passion and dedication to supporting youth pursuing their dreams.

CO-FOUNDER & BOARD MEMBER

Dr. James R. Marín has worked as a public school teacher, high school principal and director in urban schools. As a teacher Dr. Marín taught social science to newcomer immigrant youth in Middle School and High School as well as advanced placement classes.

Prior to serving as a high school principal, Dr. Marín served as an English Learner / Title III Program Administrator for several years.

He currently works in the field of leadership development training and supporting school leaders. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California (USC).

His research interests include equity and access for students in urban schools; culturally responsive and relevant teaching; mentoring; urban school leadership; and parent empowerment.

He entered urban K-12 education to disrupt the systemic and institutional educational racism and inequities that have led to persistently low-expectations and outcomes in urban communities of color.

CHAIR

Tanya is a strategic impact consultant who Founded Impact Strategy Group (ISG) in 2020 to steward organizations through a process of moving from a vision into action with a deep commitment to transforming inequitable systems. She formerly served full-time as Vice President of Program Design Turnaround for Children. While there, she built the design department, innovated the Whole Child toolkit, and led the programmatic strategy to develop tools that enabled educators to address the impact of adversity on learning and development for over six years.

Throughout her career, Tanya has experience working with notable visionaries to build equitable environments for young and adult learners. She served as an Education Consultant for Authentic Education under the leadership of Dr. Grant Wiggins, co-author of Understanding by Design (UbD). In that capacity, she developed an adult curriculum and delivered an innovative professional development workshop series focused on backward mapping for clear and measurable results.

Tanya began her career as a math teacher in the Compton (CA) Unified School District. Her experience also includes 11 years as a math teacher, instructional leader, and staff developer in some of the highest-performing charter school networks. Including North Star Academy in Newark, New Jersey (the flagship school in the Uncommon Schools network) and Explore Schools in New York City.

Tanya earned an M.A. in organizational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She invests in constant learning, earning certification in design thinking at IDEO and change management through Cornell University.

VICE CHAIR

Laura has worked in the government sector for over a decade, specializing in the development and implementation of policies and new County programs and initiatives aimed at increasing resources and opportunities to underserved communities.

She has worked with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where she launched the department’s first Youth Advisory Council, and currently serves as Deputy Director with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.

Laura also has experience working in the non-profit sector, including The Alliance for Children’s Rights. She has also served as an advisor for various County initiatives, including the Trauma Prevention Initiative, and the African American Infant Mortality Initiative.

Laura earned her Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Legal Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and her Masters Degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California. Laura is a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, with a passion and career that has focused on bringing social equity for black and brown communities.

SECRETARY & BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Maritza Cha graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and became the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, the University of California, Los Angeles. She graduated in 2005 with two Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and History, with a minor in Education.

UCLA was so nice she went there twice, earning a Master’s Degree in Education, as well as a teaching credential, from UCLA’s Teacher Education Program in 2007. She taught social studies at her alma mater, Garfield High School for 4 years. In 2010, Dr. Cha and several colleagues designed and launched a pilot school within the Los Angeles Unified School District – Social Justice Leadership Academy at Esteban Torres High School. Dr. Cha then decided to work towards her lifelong dream of becoming a college counselor.

Dr. Cha earned her second Master’s Degree, a counseling credential and child welfare and attendance credential, from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2015. Dr. Cha worked as a school counselor for 8 years.

Dr. Cha completed her PhD at Claremont Graduate University in Education, Urban Leadership and currently teaches at University of La Verne. Dr. Cha has presented about school counseling topics at the national, state and local level for National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and American Educational Research Association (AERA) among other organizations.

Dr. Cha co-authored a book chapter named “Servant Leadership: School Counseling During the Pandemic” and a second book chapter named “Student-Centered Advocates: A Holistic Approach on Supporting K-12 Undocumented Students.” Dr. Maritza Cha currently is a National School Counselor Fellow, part of ASCA’s Professional School Counseling Journal Emerging Scholars Fellow Program and sits on The Education Trust-West Educator Advisory Council.

TREASURER & BOARD MEMBER

With over two decades in arts education and 22+ years as a professional dancer, Shelby Williams-González lives at the intersection of creativity, education, and social impact as an artist, educator, and leader.

Shelby’s educational journey includes teaching dance and performing arts in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and spearheading programs for notable non-profits such as The California Dance Institute and the L.A. Opera’s Education Program. As the former Executive Director of artworxLA, she worked to ensure access to high quality and high caliber arts programming during the school day. 

In her current role as CEO and President of Inner-City Arts, a downtown Los Angeles-based non-profit, Shelby advocates for integrating arts into every young person’s education, emphasizing its role in self-expression and viable career paths.

Simultaneously, as a professional dancer and choreographer with Viver Brasil, a renowned Afro-Brazilian dance company, Shelby explores the convergence of traditional Orixa dance with contemporary issues, addressing racial and social inequities in both the United States and Brazil. Beyond her artistic pursuits, Shelby actively contributes to the arts community, serving on the Boards of the Arts for Healing and Justice Network and Suarez Dance Theater.

She holds a B.A. in Dance and Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, proudly embracing her identity as a native Angelino deeply rooted in the vibrant cultural tapestry of Los Angeles.