About ENCOMPASS

Our mission is to reduce prejudice and intergroup conflict among California teenagers.

History

ENCOMPASS was founded in 2004 by a small group of experts in intergroup relations, youth development and arts education. Founder Lori Nelson was joined by Juliana Serrano, Ben Wright, Dani Bedau, Peter Howard, Kevin Blake, DeLanna Studi, Jenna Delgado, Steven Jones, Tom Saenz, Angie Weimer, Rodney Lazar, Ellyn McCoy, Al Hassas and Zeke Zeidler. Most of the staff had worked together in youth programs at the National Conference for Community and Justice in Los Angeles for many years before leaving to form ENCOMPASS. Additional consultation and support was provided by Lecia Brooks, Jim Hilvert, Rose Portillo, Jill Aguilar, Sergio Marin, Daniel Loera, Diane Flinn and David Nevell. Seed funding was provided by the Herb Alpert Foundation, Malcolm Atterbury, Jr, and other individual donors.

Staff

Executive Director: Lori Nelson, email her here.
Associate Director: Skyler Jackson, email him here.
Artistic Director: Kevin Blake, email him here.

Actor: Kevin Blake

Actor: DeLanna Studi

Actor: Franky Garces

Facilitator: Melissa Morgan

Interns: Maricela Guardado, Lachlan Turczan Playwright/Director: Peter Howard

Stage Manager: Jose Cano

Board of Directors

Gotham Chopra, Liquid Comics
Barbara E. Dunn, Law Offices of Lacey, Dunn & Do
Al Hassas, BOX Entertainment
Ellyn McCoy, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Tom Saenz, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Angela Weimer, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)