Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Breana Zwart

Breanna Zwart

Budget and Finance Committee Consultant, City of San Diego, Councilmember Tony Young

Breanna Zwart has a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is currently working for the City of San Diego as the Budget and Finance Committee Consultant. Breanna has a diverse background in political science, drama, and education.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor

Attorney, Brown & Winters

Elizabeth Taylor is an environmental attorney with the firm Brown & Winters where she represents California public entities as well as environmental non-profit organizations. She manages the firm’s pro bono legal program and specializes in coastal resources and Clean Water Act cases. Elizabeth began her legal career as a fellow with the United States Marine Mammal Commission where she worked on domestic and international marine policy issues. Prior to law school she worked as a marine biologist for various NGOs in the Caribbean, Hawaii and Australia. Elizabeth graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. She received her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School, with a certificate in environmental and natural resources law. Elizabeth currently chairs the Encinitas Environmental Advisory Commission.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Elizabeth Newman

Elizabeth Newman

Labor to Neighbor Field Organizer, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council

Elizabeth Newman is the Labor to Neighbor Field Organizer for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. She is from both Minnesota and Colorado, where she grew up snowboarding and singing. She graduated with her B.A. from Macalester College, in St. Paul, MN in 2007, majoring in Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. There she developed her real passion for social justice and equal rights. Her first major political action was when she joined 50 other students and activists on a 24-hour bus to Washington, D.C. to join the 2004 March for Women’s Lives. After college, she worked to elect Senator Al Franken as the Volunteer Coordinator and then the Political Coordinator for his campaign; among the many things she learned, she was thrilled to find out that both she and Al love the Minnesota State Fair. Outside of the office, Elizabeth enjoys cooking and hiking with her dog.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Vivian Moreno

Vivian Moreno

Broker Buyer, Industrial Metal Supply

Born and raised in San Diego, Vivian Moreno attended and earned her Bachelor’s Degree at UCSD in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.

Vivian is a Broker Buyer at Industrial Metal Supply a top leading Metal distribution facility that provides alloy needs for the South Western region of the U.S. She is a certified Internal Auditor for the International Organization for Standardization.

Devoted to her community Ms. Moreno is currently an Assistant Director for Hermanitas, a one-on-one non-profit Latina mentorship program of MANA de San Diego. Vivian also has been mentoring a young lady from San Diego County (15 yrs old) for the past three years in the program. She was awarded 2009 MANA Member of the Year. Vivian was also one of the pull of nominated individuals for best Individual Volunteer Efforts in the 1st Annual Classy Award by Stay Classy San Diego. She is also an active member of the San Diego Young Democrats. Vivian was a volunteer for Council President Benjamin Hueso in his campaign for city councilmember in district 8.

In her leisure time, Vivian finds pleasure in reading, traveling, and giving back to her community. She is very found of the unknown and has a deep appreciation for diversity. Vivian is a passionate sports enthusiast who enjoys running, practices yoga and always cheers for her San Diego Chargers and Padres.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Carlos Mejia

Carlos Mejia

Political Organizer, AFSCME Council 36 –Local 127

Carlos Mejia is the Political Organizer for AFSCME Council 36 –Local 127, the public employees Union that represents the blue-collar workers of the City of San Diego. Prior to working at AFSCME, Carlos served as an intern at the Bi-National Center for Human Rights in Tijuana, Mexico, investigating and recording human rights violations in the Tijuana Border Region. He is a graduate of San Diego State University, with a dual degree in Political Science & International Security and Conflict Resolution. Carlos is also a State delegate to the California Democratic Party as well as an alternate for the Democratic Party’s 78th Assembly District.

He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of operations for the San Diego Cesar E. Chavez Commemoration Committee, an organization committed to preserving the legacy, principles, and values of Cesar E Chavez through education and civic activism. Carlos is also a co-chair of Fiesta Del Sol a free two-day street festival celebrating the history, diverse cultures, and engagement of the people of San Diego. It is an event focused on creating positive change by empowering our communities. As a co-chair of Fiesta Del Sol, Carlos is a member of the executive board of Justice Overcoming Boundaries, an organization whose mission it is to invest in the development of community leaders so that they may address issues that affect them, their families and their communities.

Carlos is also a proud Brother of Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity inc. at San Diego State University. He lives in the College Area neighborhood of San Diego.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Alex Hunsucker

Alex Hunsucker

Senior Product Manager, Eventful.com

Alex Hunsucker is a Senior Product Manager at Eventful.com. He has worked at Eventful since 2006 developing Internet products, building strategic business relationships and leading a technical team in the event and social media space. In early 2007, he launched Eventful Politics, a unique social media platform enabling voters to discover, share, and create grassroots political events. The end result enabled millions of voters to engage directly with candidates and influence their campaign schedules.

Since the election, Alex has focusing on user engagement and discovery in the event and live entertainment space, most recently developing Eventful Movies. He continues to work at the intersection of politics and technology, consulting for various campaigns and organizations, as well as giving presentations and participating on related panels.

Previously, Alex worked on several state and local political races in Virginia before moving to San Diego in 2006. He holds a B.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and attended the Graduate Program in International Studies at Old Dominion University.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Aaron Frieberg

Aaron Frieberg

Associate, Latham & Watkins

I have been intermittently involved in San Diego politics for about eight years. This includes working on the mayoral campaign for Donna Frye, Howard Wayne’s campaign for Assembly in 2001, and more recently the recall campaign in Oceanside this winter. Much of this work was in affiliation with UNITE/HERE, a hotel employees union, and I look forward to continued partnership with them.

The last three years I have pursued a law degree at UCLA. In October of 2010, I will take a position as an associate attorney at Latham & Watkins’ downtown San Diego office. At Latham, I will likely work in the firm’s project finance practice group - we represent creditors that make loans to developers building large energy projects (wind energy farms, power plants, etc). In the meantime, I will be working with local city council campaigns. I also hope to become more involved in advocating for the development and financing of more mass transit in the San Diego region.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Katherine Field

Katherine Field

Field Representative for San Diego and Imperial Counties, US Senator Diane Feinstein

Katherine Field was born in Corpus Christi, Texas before her family relocated to Monterey, California. Katherine attended San Diego State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During her time at SDSU, she served as a resident advisor, president of the Pre- Law Society, member of the Mortar Board honor society and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha honor society. Additionally, Katherine traveled to South Africa where she engaged in a service learning project concerning AIDS and HIV awareness. Following graduation, Katherine decided to make San Diego her permanent home after growing to love the city’s diversity, energy and near perfect weather. For the last three years Katherine has worked for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, where she currently serves as the Field Representative for San Diego and Imperial counties advocating for regional issues at the federal level. She and her husband, Steven, reside in Encinitas.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Erin Donahue

Erin Donahue

Legislative Coordinator, Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties

Erin Donahue is the Legislative Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties. Erin received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies with a minor in Middle East Politics from University California-Irvine. To complete her degree she spent a year abroad in Ireland attending University College Dublin studying political science. Upon graduation, Erin moved to Washington, D.C and worked for Republican Youth Majority, a non-profit grassroots organization that supports pro-choice Republicans.

In 2007, Erin moved to San Diego to join Planned Parenthood as their first ever Republicans For Choice Coordinator. Erin is passionate about protecting reproductive rights and hopes one day to run for elected office.

Currently, Erin serves on the Board of the San Diego Chapter of California Women Lead (formerly CEWAR) and on the Board of the Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Tyler Hewes

Tyler Hewes

Executive Director, Orchestra Nova San Diego

Tyler Richards Hewes is the Executive Director of Orchestra Nova San Diego (formerly the San Diego Chamber Orchestra). Mr. Hewes received his bachelors' degree at Eastern Connecticut State University in Theatre, before moving to San Diego in 2002. Mr. Hewes has worked at multiple arts organizations in San Diego including the La Jolla Playhouse, North Cost Repertory Theatre and OnStage Playhouse. From 2003 to 2008 Mr. Hewes was the Production Manager for Mainly Mozart and helped produced their annual Mainly Mozart Festival. Mr. Hewes is dedicated to the progressive movement and its ideals.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Midori Wong

Midori Wong
Land Use and Environmental Planner at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

Midori Wong has been fortunate to work in public service at city, state, and tribal nation levels of government. She is currently adding regional experience to the mix as a land use and environmental planner at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the metropolitan planning organization for the 18 cities and county of San Diego. Midori is an alumna of the University of California San Diego, where she started for the UCSD Women’s Lacrosse club team and spent a summer abroad in London interning for the former charity arm of Amnesty International providing relief grants for refugees in the UK and internationally. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Urban Studies and Planning (USP) and a minor in Environmental Studies, and now serves as a member of the university’s USP Steering Committee, an external appointed group comprised of community leaders and alumni who provide guidance on program development. Midori continues to enjoy playing and watching sports, travel, and a love of learning. During the 2010 election cycle, she will also spend time volunteering for her mom’s reelection campaign to represent the 8^th District in the California State Assembly.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Rhiannon Good

Rhiannon Good
Campaign Manager, Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties

As a UCSD student, Rhiannon founded the first VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood in San Diego and organized the V-Day campaign to raise money for survivors of sexual assault. After interning for Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties (PPSDRC) and receiving their Volunteer of the Year award, she accepted the position of Grassroots Coordinator. In 2005, she was promoted to Campaign Manager.

Since then, she created the Teen Lobby Day program, training over 30 local teens every year and bringing them to Sacramento to meet with elected officials, expanded the VOX program, and was awarded the Eva Cook Award, PPSDRC’s highest staff honor. Besides running PPSDRC’s legislative and advocacy campaigns, Rhiannon served as the Regional Field Director for San Diego, Riverside and Imperial Counties for the successful No on Props 73, 85, and 4 campaigns to defeat dangerous parental notification initiatives in California as well as traveling around the country organizing events and aiding with other state and federal campaigns.

Rhiannon grew up in San Diego and now lives in South Park with her husband, 2-year-old son, rescue dog, and several thousand books. They plan on expanding their family during the next non-election year.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Udoka Nwanna, Esq.

Udoka Nwanna, Esq.
Associate, Andrews Lagasse Branch & Bell LLP

Udoka Nwanna received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University and her Juris Doctor degree from California Western, with a concentration in Criminal Prosecution and Defense Practice. After her first year of law school, Ms. Nwanna served as a summer law clerk to the late Honorable Napoleon A. Jones, Jr., United States District Court, Southern District of California. After her second year, she served as a summer law clerk for the Department of the Navy, Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Nwanna practices employment law and professional liability defense as an associate at Andrews Lagasse Branch & Bell, LLP. Ms. Nwanna joined their practice after working as a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego. Prior to her work as a prosecutor, Ms. Nwanna was an associate at national law firm focusing her practice on federal class action securities fraud litigation. Before becoming an associate, Ms. Nwanna served as a law clerk to the Honorable John H. Houston, United States District Court, Southern District of California.

Ms. Nwanna is admitted to the California Bar and to practice before all United States District Courts in California. She is also an active member of the San Diego County Bar Association and serves on the boards of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of San Diego, and the California Western School of Law Alumni Board. Ms. Nwanna spends her free time as volunteer at Rady Children’s Hospital.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Steven Lei

Steven Lei
Assistant for Program and Professional Development, Avid Center of San Diego

Steven Lei is an organizational management and public affairs professional, working in program and professional development at the San Diego-based education non-profit AVID Center. He is responsible for managing a national educational leadership training program for the organization, whose mission is to prepare all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Steven has been active in various progressive local and national political campaigns, both domestically and abroad. His experience also includes work for former U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards and the One America PAC, the British Council, Americans for Informed Democracy, the New Americans Museum, major research universities and think tanks. His policy interests are foreign relations and international security, economic diplomacy, innovation and global competitiveness, educational equity and civil liberties. Steven received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego and master's degree from the London School of Economics.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Deborah Spindelman

Deborah Spindelman
Community Inclusion Coordinator, Community Coaching Center

Deborah graduated magna cum laude from Cal State University, Long Beach in 2005, where she majored in Sociocultural Anthropology and minored in Women’s Studies. As an undergraduate, she performed ethnographic research with members of Costa Rica’s indigenous Cavecar and Bribri communities , and boosted CSULB’s surf team to win their first NSSA National Championships. Following graduation, Deborah returned to her native San Diego to mentor adolescent girls through youth mentorship startup Club Xcite. Promoted to Program Director, she launched a partnership with San Diego Youth Services to provide high-end private mentoring to low income youth at risk.

Now with Community Coaching Center, Deborah develops partnerships with state and local policymakers, autism researchers, area nonprofits, volunteer organizations, and civic clubs on behalf of community inclusion programming for youth with autism. In addition to Community Inclusion Coordinator responsibilities, she has served as a CCC Board Director since July 2008. Recently tackled projects include program expansion and replication, developmental disability policy and law, and participatory photography project Through the Lens of Autism. She currently serves in advisory positions to the International Girls Skateboarding Association and Outside The Lens.

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Note: This post is part of an ongoing series introducing San Diego's inaugural fellowship class.

Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Laura Sheppard

Laura Sheppard
Student, Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Laura Sheppard was raised in Berkeley, and moved to San Diego in 2003 to care for her grandmother in Poway. She has lived in Golden Hills, North Park, Normal Heights, Spring Valley, and the College area. She now owns her first home in City Heights, where she is a dog owner, and the president of her Homeowner’s Association. Her favorite San Diego locales are the Zoo, the local dog parks in Balboa Park and Kearney Mesa, the Ocean Beach volleyball nets, and Tioli’s Crazy Burger. She is a member of North Park Baptist Church and Harbor MidCity Presbyterian Church in City Heights.

In the political arena, Laura is proud to have devoted time to the campaigns of such progressive leaders as Donna Frye, Lorena Gonzalez, Patty Davis and Howard Wayne. She has also advocated for the city’s hardworking paramedics at San Diego Medical Services Enterprise. Laura is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, with a major in theatrical design and a minor in fine art. She is also a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, and a recent admittee to the California Bar. She plans to practice as a criminal defense attorney for indigent youth, and also work on post-conviction needs such as appeals, and justice in parole and probation decisions.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Jason Everitt

Jason Everitt
Research and Policy Analyst for the Center on Policy Initiatives

A native San Diegan, Jason Everitt works as a Research and Policy Analyst for the Center on Policy Initiatives. Previously, he served as an organizer for San Diego Coastkeeper and the Sierra Club. Jason earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the UC Santa Barbara. He has also finished Master's coursework in International Relations and Public Administration at the University of Southern California, with a focus on water and immigration policy. Jason currently resides in Escondido.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Johanna Schiavoni

Johanna Schiavoni
Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP

Johanna Schiavoni is an attorney in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins LLP, a private, global law firm. Johanna’s practice focuses on complex litigation, with a specialty in state and federal appellate court litigation and class actions.

As an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, Johanna studied political science, women’s studies and art. After graduating from UCLA School of Law in 2002, Johanna worked for two years as a law clerk for federal judges on the district court in Los Angeles and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Diego, and has spent five years practicing in Latham & Watkins’s New York and San Diego offices.

Johanna is committed to giving back to the legal community by mentoring junior lawyers and performing pro bono (free) legal work; she has handled more than a dozen pro bono cases involving a range of issues, including intellectual property, immigration, habeas, constitutional and appellate law. Johanna also serves the community as a member and volunteer for organizations including the La Jolla Music Society, the San Diego Humane Society, Organizing for America, the San Diego County Young Democrats and the San Diego Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society. Johanna lives in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego with her two dogs, and they frequently visit Balboa Park, one of their favorite places in the city.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Jared Quient

Jared Quient
Director of Project Development, AMSOLAR Corporation

Jared Quient currently serves as the Director of Project Development with AMSOLAR Corporation – a solar energy in Solana Beach company focused on providing innovate solar solutions to educational institutions and select commercial enterprises.

Prior to joining AMSOLAR, Jared was with Kirkland & Ellis, LLP’s New York office, working as a litigator focused on general corporate matters. In 2008, Jared took a leave of absence from Kirkland to join Obama for America as the statewide Deputy Voter Protection Director in Florida. Jared managed a staff of 20 full-time volunteer lawyers and oversaw the largest Voter Protection program in the country, which deployed over 4000 lawyers statewide to monitor the election. Jared was the youngest member of the five-person executive committee that directed the coordination between the Obama campaign and the Florida Democratic Lawyers Council. Mr. Quient began his career working for Congresswoman Susan Davis of San Diego. He served as a fundraiser for the Presidential campaign of Senator Joe Lieberman. Jared is a graduate of San Diego State University, and graduated cum laude from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

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Meet the 2010 NLC Fellows: Sarah Boot

Sarah Boot
Associate, Cooley Godward Kronish, LLP

Sarah Boot is an associate at the law firm of Cooley Godward Kronish, LLP. She primarily represents Internet and technology companies, and her legal practice focuses on complex civil litigation and intellectual property litigation.

Boot currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board for Run Women Run, a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying, mentoring, and financially supporting pro-choice, women candidates for elected office. She also serves on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Public Relations Committee for the Lawyers Club, a specialty bar association dedicated to advancing the status of women in the legal profession and in society.

Boot received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School where she was an Articles Editor for the Michigan Technology and Telecommunications Law Review. During law school, she interned for a federal district court judge, a state court appellate judge, and the Detroit prosecutor’s office. She also spent a semester studying international law at Hong Kong University.

Prior to law school, Boot was Finance Director for the re-election campaign of a Washington D.C. City Councilmember At-Large. She also served as a Regional Field Coordinator for a New Hampshire Presidential Primary campaign.

Boot graduated from the University of Michigan with an honors degree in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. While at Michigan, she was elected Student Body President, representing over 38,000 students.

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Announcing the 2010 Fellows for the New Leaders Council in San Diego

Today we are proud to announce the 2010 class of Fellows for the New Leaders Council in San Diego (NLC). A total of 20 progressive young professionals have been selected to participate in the 2010 Institute of the NLC.

Fellows come from a variety of diverse backgrounds. They include policy professionals, nonprofit staffers, lawyers, business-people, arts leaders, and union organizers. A majority of Fellows are women, and a significant number come from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.

The 2010 class of fellows will participate in an intensive five-month NLC Institute, covering topics like fundraising, political management, messaging, public speaking and policy analysis. Instructors will include professionals from around the country, as well as local experts in their fields. Each Fellow will be paired with a mentor, and will participate in a graduation ceremony with State Senator Christine Kehoe.

The bios from each of the 2010 Fellows will be posted here throughout the month of January. In the meantime, below are the names of our 2010 class of Fellows.

• Sarah Boot
• Erin Donahue
• Jason Everitt
• Katherine Field
• Aaron Friberg
• Rhiannon Good
• Tyler Hewes
• Alex Hunsucker
• Steven Lei
• Carlos Mejia
• Vivian Moreno
• Elizabeth Newman
• Udoka Nwanna
• Jared Quient
• Johanna Schiavoni
• Laura Sheppard
• Debi Spindelman
• Elizabeth Taylor
• Midori Wong
• Breanna Zwart

About the New Leaders Council in San Diego

This is the blog for the San Diego Area Chapter of the New Leaders Council, a national entrepreneurial leadership training program for progressive young professionals.

The mission of the New Leaders Council (NLC) is to train and support the next generation of progressive political entrepreneurs - those who are leading industries, setting trends, and building institutions that support robust civic and political life in a global America.

NLC believes in recruiting emerging leaders from outside of the traditional power structures, engaging them on both local and national levels, and equipping them to be civic leaders - not only for elective office, but also in their communities and workplaces.

NLC accomplishes this mission primarily through the NLC Institute; the nation's premiere political entrepreneurship training program that builds local teams of outstanding young professionals in twelve cities across the nation. NLC Fellows engage in an intensive ten days of training over a five-month period to learn cutting-edge entrepreneurship, leadership, and political management skills from over 150 industry-leading volunteer faculty. Upon graduation, Fellows are paired with career mentors, join a national alumni network, and agree to fundraise to support the next class of Fellows.

The result of NLC is a growing corps of diverse and highly-skilled new progressive leaders who rise to the top of their fields, working together across sectors and in their local cities to build, expand, and improve the progressive infrastructure necessary for strong democracy, social justice, and equal opportunity.

To learn more about the NLC, to apply for the Institute, or to nominate someone for the Institute, visit http://www.newleaderscouncil.org.