The Corps is proud to recognize Councilwoman Park as a champion for our community and an advocate for those most in need. Councilwoman Park’s leadership has driven solutions to some of LA’s greatest challenges, from wildfire recovery to long-term investments in our future and her vision aligns seamlessly with the Corps mission—creating lasting impact for generations to come.

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As a Councilwoman, Traci Park is committed to being a voice for all CD11 residents at City Hall. She has promised that her office will be responsive to everyone in the district. In her role on the Council, she knows it’s essential to think critically, ask hard questions, evaluate data, and do what is best for the community.

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Driven to achieve results, Park champions what’s important and never takes no for an answer. She is working to implement urgent and compassionate solutions that get people off the streets and into safe settings. Park has also pledged to keep CD11 communities safe. She’s fighting to ensure that kids can safely walk to school, seniors can safely visit senior centers, and families can safely visit local parks, beaches, and libraries.

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Park is an advocate for the Westside business community and its vital workforce, including the need to increase affordable housing for employees. She has built a strong partnership between the City of Los Angeles and local businesses to revitalize communities and ensure that the Westside retains its appeal as the number one tourist destination in the city.

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Across the board, Park supports innovative, data-driven practices linked to measurable and successful outcomes. She prioritizes sustainable policies that mitigate climate change, protect our natural surroundings, and improve our economy. She is a champion of investment in workforce development that supports careers in green and clean-tech industries.

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Council District 11 has many competing priorities and its residents have many opinions about how to improve life on the Westside. Park is committed to hearing from, and learning from, all residents and business owners in the district so that together we can build a sustainable, resilient, and vibrant future.

Supervisor Barger was selected as an honoree for this year’s Luncheon in recognition of her strong leadership during the recovery efforts following the Eaton Fire. Her contributions include the restoration of Loma Alta Park in Altadena, supported by our Corpsmembers and hundreds of volunteers from across Southern California.

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Supervisor Kathryn Barger proudly serves the residents of the 5th District — Los Angeles County’s largest — spanning 2,785 square miles, including 20 cities and 83 unincorporated communities including Altadena and the surrounding communities impacted by the Eaton Fire. Kathryn was born and raised in the 5th District and comes from a family with deep roots in public service.

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Dedicated to providing effective, responsive representation to the residents of Los Angeles County, Kathryn began her career in public service as a college intern in the office of former Supervisor Antonovich and rose to become his chief deputy in 2001, where she served until her election to the Board of Supervisors in 2016. During her first tenure as Chair of the Board, she led the County in safety and recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, she was elected to her third and final term as Supervisor and appointed to her second tenure as Chair.

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She is an advocate for the environment and has spearheaded efforts to preserve open space and enhance parks, trails, and recreational programs and facilities, as well as libraries, arts and culture, and after-school programs to serve local communities. She has hosted trail rides and hikes to connect with the community throughout her district.

Representing Department of Angels at this year’s Luncheon are members of their founding team Jake Levine and Andrew King. Department of Angeles was selected as an honoree for this year’s Luncheon because of their focus on empowering community members who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires.

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The Department of Angels was born out of hundreds of conversations with community members, disaster experts, and survivors of the megafires. Since January 7, they’ve talked to individuals directly impacted by the Eaton and Palisades fires and to leaders who have guided other communities through megafire recovery. They learned that success or failure often turns on the capacity of community members to design and lead their own recovery.

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Their mission is to serve that purpose.

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Just as our elected officials have staff, and our private-sector leaders have staff and resources to help them, the Department of Angels exists to provide capacity for our community.

Their purpose is to ensure that the communities impacted by the Eaton and Palisades megafires steward their own recovery. The Department of Angels is not a government or private-sector initiative; it is a grassroots, community-driven network focused on ensuring impacted residents have control over their recovery.

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The Department of Angels will provide independent resources, expert-informed solutions, and project management support to empower residents to rebuild on their terms. They believe it takes more than brick and mortar construction to rebuild communities. It requires community organizing and sustained attention.

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The Department of Angels is here to help Los Angeles recover.

Armando Quintero has served as the Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation since September 1, 2020. A seasoned parks professional, he brings extensive expertise in park operations, outdoor education, equity, access, and fostering diversity and inclusion in hiring and retention. Trained in environmental sciences, Quintero has a long track record of leadership in the field.

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From 2015 to 2020, Quintero was the Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute at the University of California, Merced, after having served as its Director of Development from 2008 to 2014. He also contributed his leadership skills as a member and Chairman of the California Water Commission from 2014 to 2020.

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Quintero’s early career spanned over two decades with the National Park Service (NPS), from 1976 to 1998, where he held numerous positions as a Park Ranger.

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After his tenure at NPS, Quintero worked as an independent environmental educator and outdoor trip leader for ten years (1998-2008). He has also been active in the non-profit sector, serving on boards such as the Sequoia Parks Foundation, and was an elected member of the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors from 2008 to 2020.