Mike Blockstein, Principal, is a visual artist and educator working in cross-disciplinary community-based public art projects that utilize a sense of place as a mechanism to address social, cultural and built environments. Connecting artistic processes, leadership development and civic engagement, he has created and led projects nationally with youth, community development and arts organizations. Among his projects is A Chinatown Banquet, a nationally recognized art, education, and leadership development project about Boston Chinatown in conjunction with the Asian Community Development Corporation. The former Executive Director of Southern Exposure, a San Francisco nonprofit artists’ organization, and a former Board President of the National Association of Artists’ Organizations, Mike holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Nathan Cheng is a leading national figure in food systems and market makeovers. His work is at the center of Neighborhood Groceries: New Access to Healthy Food in Low-Income Communities, California Food Policy Advocates’ (CFPA) landmark 2003 study. Nathan has over 20 years experience working in the food industry, the last twelve of which have included a focus on food security and food access. In 1997, he designed, and later piloted a program to make healthy food available in low-income communities by outfitting liquor stores in these areas to carry produce and other nutritious foods. He has worked extensively in California, supporting the implementation of his liquor store conversion model and consults with organizations throughout the country on issues related to food access and community development.
Reanne Estrada, Creative Director, is an internationally exhibiting visual artist whose diverse practice includes installation, performance, video and public art. She worked for nine years as an educator and in cause-related marketing, design, and curatorial programming at Creative Growth Art Center, an internationally recognized studio and gallery for artists with disabilities. Her public art projects emphasize a collaborative approach and focus on community narratives in Asian American communities. Reanne has an A.B. in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University.
David Lawrence, Media Specialist, is a media artist, designer, producer, and researcher. He is a founding member of Stretcher, a collective of San Francisco Bay Area artists and art critics who have published an online art magazine since 2001. His works include award-winning radio documentary, books, laserdiscs, CD-ROMs, and interactive public space kiosks. While at Lucasfilm Ltd., he did groundbreaking research and production in the emerging field of interactive multimedia with partners including the National Geographic Society, the National Audubon Society, and Apple Computer, Inc. He holds a degree in Conceptual Design from San Francisco State University.
Ron Milam is a skilled facilitator, trainer and coach specializing in strategic planning, fundraising and board development for community-based nonprofit organizations in Southern California. Since 1997 he’s served more than 50 organizations as a consultant, executive director and board member. Prior to founding his own consulting practice in 2005, Ron launched the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, growing it from an idea into a 1,000 member advocacy organization as its founding executive director. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon.
McCrae A. Parker is a youth development practitioner and media artist with nearly 15 years of experience designing, implementing and evaluating media, community service and advocacy projects. He is the Director of Youth Development and Training programs for Youth Radio. Previously, he was a Senior Associate for Children Now’s Children and the Media Program. He was a principal project coordinator and author of research, content analysis, policy analysis, and advocacy on representations of race, gender, youth and class in television programming, news content and emerging new media. McCrae studied Comparative Literature and Film Studies at Occidental College.
Rene Yung is an internationally exhibiting installation and public artist and designer, with a socially-engaged practice that specializes in cross-cultural, cross-generational community development. Ranging from drawing, installations to community-based projects, her work combines imagery, text, and sound in subtle relationships, to challenge and re-contextualize social and cultural assumptions. Rene has completed extensive public projects with senior, youth and immigrant populations. She received her B.A. in Art from Stanford University.
