Team

Our programs create big impact at a very small cost, run with minimal paid staff assistance. Our volunteer board and volunteer Executive Director work hard to ensure our money goes to the neighborhood, not overhead. Our board members help oversee every aspect of our nonprofit’s day-to-day existence, from programming to finance.

Rochelle McAdam

Rochelle McAdam

Board President
Rochelle McAdam is the Board President of Urban Partners Los Angeles. She grew up in the Westlake/Pico Union neighborhood, graduating from Berendo Junior High School and John Francis Polytechnic High, now Trade Tech. She has served the community since the 1980’s and oversaw the Groceries for our Neighbors food distribution from 1995 to 2020. Rochelle is in her 90s and still active in the community she loves.
Trinity Tran

Trinity Tran

Trinity proudly serves as the volunteer Executive Director and Board Member of Urban Partners Los Angeles. She is the co-founder and lead organizer of Public Bank LA and the California Public Banking Alliance. In March 2020, Trinity initiated the COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution program to scale up and coordinate the operations, procurement, and logistics of UPLA’s Groceries for our Neighbors food bank. She believes Urban Partners Los Angeles provides one of the most crucial, humanity-driven programs in Los Angeles and is deeply dedicated to its mission.

For her work overseeing the Urban Partners LA food bank, Trinity has received Recognition in the Congressional Record — United States Congress (2020), Woman of the Year— California Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (2021), Progressive Champion of the Year — California Progressive Alliance (2021), Inspirational Women Awards finalist— Los Angeles Times (2022).

Sean Gabe

Sean Gabe

Eight years ago, Sean and his wife Sarah started a fee math tutoring center for families in the Koreatown and Westlake neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Sean has a passion for mathematics which lead him to a career as a CPA with CohnReznick and provides him with endless enjoyment. Seeing the challenges his neighbors faced like holding down multiple jobs, language barriers, and limited access to support services, Sean believed that the simplicity and power of mathematics that benefited his life so much could benefit the lives of others. To start a program while working overtime at his firm, Sean approached the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles. As a storied institution with decades of experience in community service, it was the perfect place to provide educational services.

The partnership flourished, and soon many people from the community frequented the weekend tutoring center as volunteer tutor and study mathematics. Now a part of Urban Partners Los Angeles, Sean helped community members expand tutoring services to reading, ESL, Chess and computer coding courses. With the help of local high school students, Sean is helping the establish a robotic program. Sean say working with his neighbors and friends give meaning to his work and motivation in life.

Carlos Velasquez

Carlos Velasquez

Carlos Velasquez is a retired school teacher and taught special education with the Los Angeles Unified School District for 32 years. He has been a dedicated volunteer with the UPLA food distribution program for over a decade and now serves as the food bank Operations Manager. 

Collin Campana

Collin Campana

Collin is an actor and native of Cleveland, Ohio. He became involved with the COVID-19 Emergency Food Bank in the summer of 2020, serving neighbors weekly on the frontline distribution crew. He is an active volunteer with UPLA and now serves as the organization’s Administrator.

Sarah Jakle

Sarah Jakle

Sarah Jakle is an Adult Mental Health Social Worker who currently serves with the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s program “Speak Up” training individuals with lived homelessness now in Permanent Supportive Housing to be advocates for that Supportive Housing. She worked previously with Step Up On Second in Santa Monica and the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Westside Branch. Sarah has a Master in Public Policy from UCLA and a Master in Social Work from USC. She is lucky enough to be married to fellow Board Member Sean Gabe.

Jeff Stanzler

Jeff Stanzler

Jeff and his family have been volunteering at “Without Limits for Math and Reading” for almost 4 years. His five-year-old son Nikolaihas practically grown up there. For the Stanzlers, “Without Limits” is not just a chance to give back with our time and donations, but it’s also an opportunity for us to see first hand what the power of a well run, homegrown, community program can do.

A filmmaker drawn to stories looted from the tumult of our times, Jeff Stanzler was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for SORRY,HATERS and has films that have played in the Sundance, Toronto, Venice and AFI film festivals. He has directed an array of award winning actors such as Robin Wright, Tim Roth, James Gandolfini, Sam Jackson, Julianna Magulies, Sandra Oh – as well as working with notable Producers: Lawrence Kasdan, Mark Waters, John Sloss and HBO. Recently, he has started to explore new mediums and is the process of completing a VR film series, “STATE POWER.”

Gabby Hudspeth

Gabby Hudspeth

Gabby is an organizer for Revolution LA and Divest LA where she has the opportunity to help spread the truth that she feels so many of us are looking for.

Irene Montantes

Irene Montantes

Irene Montantes is an Indigenous Apache/Mexica and a mother of two, with a unique background. Irene completed numerous academic/educational courses in social work that led to employment from 2002 – 2010 with organizations like FOTF – Young parents’ program, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and as an Addiction Counselor. Irene grew a passion for social Justice and began her journey as a human rights and civil rights activist in 2012. Irene has been a part of several movements, including Divest LA as a founding team member, media leader & Director of Community Outreach, Street Team leader for Public Bank LA and active roles with Indigenous Rights, No DAPL & the anti-GMO protests.

Since her journey as an activist she contributed to establishing Revolution LA. Currently, she is a News Reporter with KPFK Radio – Pacifica Evening News and a Board Member of Urban Partners Los Angeles, a Non-Profit organization that helps creates and encourages charitable programs of education, health, social service and community activity for impoverished people living in the Westlake – Koreatown neighborhoods. Irene’s human rights and social work is not just for the communities that she loves, it’s for her two boys, Isaiah age 5 and Jacob age 16, whom she supports by working at a Law Firm as an Assistant to an Attorney.

Deynsi Claro

Deynsi Claro

Deynsi is the Program Director of the Without Limits tutoring program.

Victor Casas

Victor Casas

Victor is an Organizer for Revolution LA and Divest LA. He is tired of being a bystander, inspired by the great possibilities of humanity.

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