Alex has nearly twenty years of successful cross-sector experience working with policymakers, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and philanthropy to solve complex problems and advance change. Most recently he served as Chief of Staff at The California Wellness Foundation, one of the largest private health foundations in the state. Alex led efforts to address gun violence as a preventable public health issue, reimagine the youth justice system, and address issues ranging from health equity, environmental justice, and immigration.
Prior to Cal Wellness, Alex managed the development and execution of Californians for Safety and Justice overall strategy and goals to advance best practices in justice reform; build coalitions with diverse stakeholders; engage in high-impact communications; and elevate the voices of diverse crime survivors in the debate on public safety policy. While at Children’s Defense Fund-California, Alex led statewide policy advocacy, program and organizing efforts focused on access to quality affordable health coverage and care for children and low-income families, reform the youth system, promoting educational equity, and ending child poverty. Under his leadership the organization won a long-fought battle to end solitary confinement in juvenile institutions.
Alex also brings significant government experience, having worked for a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He served as a senior advisor on education, early childhood development, youth justice, and public safety issues impacting the Second District. In addition, Alex served two terms on the Los Angeles County Board of Education, including time as President, working to effectively shape policies and programs in the best interests of students and families. He began his career in New York City advocating for domestic violence victims as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Alex is a graduate of Morehouse College and American University, Washington College of Law. He serves on the boards of Southern California Grantmakers, Trust for Public Land-California Advisory Board, and the Wiley Center for Speech and Language Therapy. Alex’s writings have appeared in Huffington Post, The Guardian, Los Angeles Daily News, San Jose Mercury News, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, California Health Report, and Sacramento Bee.
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