Coro Welcomes Rodney Franks and David Pruitt to Its Health Initiative

Coro Southern California – Center for Civic Leadership

RELEASE

December 19, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Edward Headington
Direct: 818.720.7181
E-mail: EHeadington@Coro.org

Coro Welcomes Rodney Franks and David Pruitt to Its Health Initiative

Franks and Pruitt will provide strategic support in planning and fundraising and serve as Co-Chairs of the Coro Health Leadership Program Advisory Board

LOS ANGELES, CA. Coro Southern California continues to add breadth and depth to its leadership team. Earlier this month, entrepreneur and community advocate, Amir Hemmat, came on board to lead Coro’s Health Initiative and today it is announced that two of California’s most dynamic and respected healthcare leaders, Rodney Franks and David Pruitt, will be providing strategic support in planning and fundraising around that effort; they will also be serving as Co-Chairs of the Health Leadership Program’s Advisory Board.

“I am delighted to have Rodney Franks and David Pruitt as part of our leadership team here at Coro,” said Don Pierro, President and CEO of the Coro Southern California Center for Civic Leadership. “Their record of success, level of energy and strategic support will no doubt help establish our Health Leadership Program as the world class experience it truly is.”

Rodney Franks is the CEO of the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation and an alumnus of the Coro Health Leadership Program (HLP). His commitment to healthcare includes involvement with the Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers, the Community Health Councils, the L.A. Health Action Collaborative and the State of Black Health in Los Angeles.

David Pruitt is the Executive Director of the California Medical Association Political Action Committee, one of the largest political action committees in the state that works to elect pro-medicine legislators. His commitment to healthcare includes many positions working for or with elected officials, each affording him an opportunity to advocate for children and the poor.

“This is an exciting time to be working in healthcare and we’re looking forward to supporting Amir and others take Coro’s Health Initiative to the next level in the new year,” said Franks and Pruitt. “The need to cultivate boundary-crossing leaders in healthcare has never been greater and Coro’s HLP is exactly the kind of program to affect change in the system—both immediate and long-term.”

The HLP is a boundary-crossing leadership program for healthcare professionals in Los Angeles County—funded by The California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, L.A. Care Health Plan, Health Net and a number of other organizations. Since its launch, over 90 Health Fellows have graduated and many continue to stay involved in healthcare and participate in the Coro CrossTalk on Healthcare speaker series.

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Coro Southern California and its affiliated centers nationwide shape civic leaders for effective roles in public affairs. Coro graduates are teachers, investment bankers, union leaders, corporate directors, activists, lawyers, journalists, and elected officials, among other professions. No matter where the more than 10,000 alumni work or what position they assume, they have learned how to challenge themselves and others to be more ethical and effective leaders. Coro runs programs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Cleveland; annually more than 1,000 participants go through Coro programs nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.corola.org/.

The Coro Health Leadership Program (HLP) is a boundary-crossing leadership program for healthcare professionals. Its mission is to develop and sustain a productive network of exemplary leaders in the business, government and community sectors to take on the critical healthcare challenges facing the Southern California region.

Coro CrossTalk on Healthcare is a lively and engaging speaker series on the issues of healthcare and leadership. It continues in the boundary-crossing tradition of the HLP and also serves to engage the larger public affairs community. Each month, a new issue or aspect of healthcare is explored by a speaker or panel discussion representing a diversity of opinion and experience.

Amir Hemmat is an entrepreneur and community advocate. He is the founder of social entrepreneurial ventures like SABEResPODER, a Spanish-language media company, and Catalyst Consulting, a venture management firm focused on the “double bottom-line” of doing good and doing well. A graduate of both UCLA and USC, Hemmat hails from San Pedro and continues to serve the community through his healthcare advocacy and business portfolio. For more information, go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/AmirHemmat.

Rodney Franks serves as Chief Executive Officer of the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation and is an alumnus of the Coro Health Leadership Program. Mr. Franks brings to the medical center more than sixteen years of successful leadership and team experience in higher education and not-for-profit organizations, and has been responsible for raising more than $100 million in capital campaigns and annual giving programs at universities, arts institutions and a health care organization. Prior to St. Francis Medical Center Foundation, Franks served as Chief Philanthropy Executive for Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he developed and directed the philanthropy program including annual, planned and major giving, special events, grant writing, fundraising, and donor communications and recognition. Prior to this, Franks served in fundraising and development leadership roles at Loyola University Chicago and at St. Louis University. Franks holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Russian Studies. For more information, go to http://www.linkedin.com/pub/7/a67/ab9.

David Pruitt serves as the Executive Director of the California Medical Association Political Action Committee. Responsible for managing one of the largest political action committees in the state, he assists in electing pro-medicine legislators and congressional members on behalf of 35,000 physicians. David has also served as the Vice-President of Government Relations for the Los Angeles County Medical Association. He was responsible for all short- and long-term strategic planning and policy development for more than 6,000 LA County physicians. He also played a crucial role in protecting LA County emergency and trauma centers and worked toward ensuring that all kids have access to healthcare. A graduate of UCLA, he calls South Pasadena home. For more information, go to http://www.linkedin.com/pub/7/672/1b1.

Coro Commends Stephanie Stone for Service to Coro and the Community

Coro Southern California – Center for Civic Leadership

RELEASE

December 5, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Edward Headington
Direct: 818.720.7181
E-mail: EHeadington@Coro.org

Coro Southern California Center for Civic Leadership Commends Stephanie Stone for her Service to Coro and the Community

After almost a decade of service to the esteemed leadership development organization, the Fellows Alumna and Vice President of Programs and Outreach leaves to pursue other opportunities in the public sector

LOS ANGELES, CA. Stephanie Stone began her tenure with Coro after a distinguished twenty-year career in the United States Navy. One of the rising stars out of her Fellows class in the late 1990s, she was recruited to join the Coro team and served in many roles on staff: Fellows trainer, Director of the Fellows Program in Public Affairs, Director of Alumni Relations and Recruitment, and finally Vice President of Programs and Outreach. Ms. Stone left Coro to pursue other opportunities in the public sector.

“Stephanie Stone has been a real asset to the organization and served as our institutional memory over the past few years,” said Don Pierro, President & CEO of the Coro Southern California Center for Civic Leadership. “We commend her for the years of service to Coro and the community, and wish her success in all that she does.”

Ms. Stone was the first woman elected as Chair of the Los Angeles Mayor's Veterans Advisory Committee and was featured in a video about veterans at the recent DNC Convention in Colorado. She currently serves on the Los Angeles County Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission; as its sole female commissioner, she is a strong advocate for women’s veteran health care and focuses on the tragedy of military sexual trauma. Although she has moved off of staff, her connection to Coro continues as she serves as a Board Member for the Coro National Alumni Association.

“The last decade with Coro has been an amazing time for me,” said Stone. “I was recently in Boston for the Coro National Alumni Gathering and it reminded me of all of the great people—past and present—that have contributed to the organization and made an impact. Nevertheless, I feel I have done my part and will continue to stay involved but want to explore additional systems of civic engagement.”

Ms. Stone holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Management from the University of Southern Illinois and a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. Civic engagement is embedded in the Stone DNA and has been passed to the next generation. Her son Sean is currently serving in Los Angeles as a City Year Corp member and her daughter Katie is preparing for a trip to Sacramento as a member of Youth in Government. They are all proud natives of San Pedro, California.

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Coro Southern California and its affiliated centers nationwide shape civic leaders for effective roles in public affairs. Coro graduates are teachers, investment bankers, union leaders, corporate directors, activists, lawyers, journalists, and elected officials, among other professions. No matter where the more than 10,000 alumni work or what position they assume, they have learned how to challenge themselves and others to be more ethical and effective leaders. Coro runs programs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Cleveland; annually more than 1,000 participants go through Coro programs nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.corola.org/.

Coro Presentation: “Non-Profit 911: How Can Non-Profits Survive and Thrive in the Current Economic Climate?”

Coro Southern California – Center for Civic Leadership

ADVISORY

December 3, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Edward Headington
Direct: 818.720.7181
E-mail: EHeadington@Coro.org

“Non-Profit 911: How Can Non-Profits Survive and Thrive in the Current Economic Climate?”

Featuring California Community Foundation Senior V.P. and Fellows Alumnus, John E. Kobara, and a special presentation by the Coro Public Affairs Fellows on their recent non-profit rotation

Los Angeles, CA – For over half a century, the Coro Southern California Center for Civic Leadership has been “Training Tomorrow’s Leaders” through its venerated Fellows Program in Public Affairs. Twelve more future leaders began their Coro leadership experience in Septermber and have now done rotations in government, poliitcal campaigns and nonprofits. They will present their findings at a special presentation on December 12th at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. It will also feature Fellows alumnus and California Community Foundation Senior V.P. for External and Donor Relations, John E. Kobara, who will be talking about how non-profits survive and thrive in the current economic climate.

WHO – The Coro Leadership Network and the Coro Southern California Fellows in Public Affairs:

Benjamin Adlin – Para Los Niños, Simone Collins – Community Partners, Arthur Jackson – Los Angeles Urban League, Carlos Mejia – California Community Foundation, Jeanalee Obergfel – United Way, Gabriel Rose – KPCC/SCPR, Jacqueline Scahill – The Eisner Foundation, Yvette Shirinian – COFEM (Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norteamérica), Mark Stefanos – Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc., Elliot White – The California Endowment, Annette Wong – Cornerstone Theatre, Rani Woods – Urban Land Institute

WHAT – “Non-Profit 911: How Can Non-Profits Survive and Thrive in the Current Economic Climate?” featuring guest speaker John E. Kobara and the 2008-2009 Coro Public Affairs Fellows

WHERE – Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, 350 S. Bixel Street, Los Angeles; parking on premises

WHEN – Friday, December 12, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

HOW – For more information on the Coro Fellowship Program in Public Affairs and to R.S.V.P., please contact Maxfield Marquardt at mailto:sstone@coro.org. For all media inquires, please contact Edward at the number or email above.

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Coro Southern California and its affiliated centers nationwide shape civic leaders for effective roles in public affairs. Coro graduates are teachers, investment bankers, union leaders, corporate directors, activists, lawyers, journalists, and elected officials, among other professions. No matter where the more than 10,000 alumni work or what position they assume, they have learned how to challenge themselves and others to be more ethical and effective leaders. Coro runs programs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Cleveland; annually more than 1,000 participants go through Coro programs nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.corola.org/.

Founded in 1915, the California Community Foundation is one of the leading philanthropic organizations in Los Angeles County, managing more than $1 billion in assets. Each year, it gives out more than $150 million in grants to invest in the future of our local communities. The foundation partners with individual donors and actively supports nonprofit organizations to address diverse and dynamic needs of our communities. The expertise and commitment of CCF enables individuals, families and organizations to fulfill their charitable goals and dreams. For more information, go to http://www.calfund.org/.

John E. Kobara is the Senior VP of External and Donor Relations at the California Community Foundation, and a social entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Kobara was a Coro Fellow in Los Angeles and has earned degrees from UCLA, USC and Occidental College. For more information, go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeknetwork.

USC Unruh Institute Election Post-Mortem Conference Draws Praise from All Sides

RELEASE

Monday, December 1, 2008
For Immediate Release
Unruh Contact – Kerstyn Olson, 213.740.8964 or kerstyn@usc.edu

Media Contact – Edward Headington, 818.720.7181 or edward@headingtonmedia.com

USC students and Daily Trojan reporters and editors played a critical role in the success of "Election '08: Obama vs. McCain: What Happened and What Comes Next?”

Los Angeles, CA. Featuring some of the nation’s top political and journalism talent, this year’s Unruh Institute election post-mortem conference set a new standard for serious political thought and student involvement. It built upon the momentum of the last three months where a higher-than-usual number of students engaged in a series of brown bag election lunches, evening debate viewings (and post-debate debates), political internships and campaign work. Although plans are already underway for events in 2009, the November conference was a culmination of sorts for the students of Troy.

"These students have devoted extraordinary amounts of time and energy to the presidential race over the last several months, so our conference was an appropriate conclusion to their work on this campaign," said Dan Schnur, Director of the Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. "But USC students also understand that Election Day was not an end but a beginning. All of us at the Unruh Institute look forward to continuing to work with them as they prepare to take on the challenges our nation faces under the leadership of a new president."

This year, the Unruh Institute moved its election post-mortem to a two-day conference format given USC students’ level of enthusiasm and participation in politics and the campaigns. Representatives from the Students for Obama and the Students for McCain campaigns served as panelists while reporters and editors from the Daily Trojan were co-moderators. Political journalism heavyweight, POLITICO, was a conference co-sponsor to what its chief political correspondent, Mike Allen, referred to as “University of Southern California’s fast-growing and ambitious Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.” All told, over two hundred people attended and thousands more watched online through a special webcast on the POLITICO and Unruh websites.

The program also featured local political professionals like Andre Pineda, pollster for Obama for America 2008 and principal of Pineda Consulting.

“I think the breadth of perspectives is what made this conference truly distinctive,” said Pineda, participant on the “Campaign 2008: The Debates, The Wall Street Crisis & The Home Stretch” panel. “The students taught a thing or two to the political professionals and everyday people got a look behind the scenes on a transformational election—with consultants from both parties swapping stories on tactics they recently deployed against each other.”

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The Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics motivates USC students to become active in the world of politics and encourages public officials to participate in the daily life on campus. For more information, go to http://college.usc.edu/unruh.

Boasting some of the top journalists in America, POLITICO focuses on three arenas in national politics: We will focus on three arenas: (1) Congress and the constant flow of agendas, personalities and power struggles that define daily life on Capitol Hill; (2) the historic 2008 presidential campaign; and (3) lobbying and advocacy, a part of the capital economy undergoing rapid growth and change. It is a business alive with interesting and influential characters whose impact is dimly understood and insufficiently covered. For more information, go to http://www.politico.com/.