We are moving from a single day of inspirational thought leadership to a season of actionable resources.
Los Angeles is at a definitive inflection point. With the eyes of the world turning toward our city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, the social impact sector faces an unprecedented challenge: Are we ready?
This isn’t a conference of long speeches; it is a high-impact workshop designed to transform your organization from a “seeker of funds” into a “strategic solution” for the city’s most pressing challenges. Join us to build the systems, relationships, and collaborative power required to ensure this global moment creates durable, generational opportunity for every neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Procurement, RFP readiness, and small business integration
Equip small businesses and community-based enterprises to understand how large-scale infrastructure dollars flow—and how to position themselves to participate.
Shift from transactional subcontracting to sustained ecosystem integration.
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Shifting from “seekers” to “solutions” and donor retention strategies.
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Resource matching and cross-regional networking
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A deeper dive into the internal “readiness” required for collaboration.
Betsy joined Youth Business Alliance (YBA) in 2020 as Executive Director. For 25 years, Betsy has dedicated her career to serving organizations that empower and educate under-resourced communities. Along with YBA partners, speakers and supporters, Betsy is committed to elevating YBA’s impact, helping youth develop the skills necessary to succeed in life and in their careers. Prior to joining YBA, Betsy served as Director of Development at Bresee Foundation and Proyecto Pastoral. She served in program management and fund development roles at Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, the YWCA of the City of New York and New York Cares. Betsy earned her BA at Amherst College and her Masters’ In Social Work at Columbia University.
Linda E. Maldonado is an accomplished and bilingual executive with more than two decades of experience in organizational leadership, community engagement, and executive administration across the corporate, nonprofit, and faith-based sectors. She is recognized for her ability to build strategic partnerships, strengthen governance structures, and advance mission-driven initiatives that foster community and economic growth.
Linda currently serves as Assistant Vice President and Community Outreach Officer at CTBC Bank Corp (USA), where she oversees initiatives that align the bank’s corporate social responsibility and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) goals with measurable community impact. Her work ensures compliance, promotes equitable investment, and deepens relationships between financial institutions and the communities they serve.
Ranko is a mission-driven non profit leader residing in Los Angeles, CA. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Ranko spent 12 years with Capital One Financial, honing her Project and Program Management skills in strategy and operations roles, and also managed the Bank’s charitable giving program. Her tenure at Capital One ended unexpectedly when the Great Northeast Earthquake and Tsunami affected her home country of Japan, and she moved to Japan temporarily to help aid in disaster recovery with All Hands Volunteers. Upon her return to the US, Ranko moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector to leverage her professional skills in making a difference in underserved communities. She has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth for over a decade and serves as the Advisory Board Chair for API Forward Movement, a non profit dedicated to cultivating healthy, long-lasting, and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander communities. She is also a passionate advocate of animal welfare and volunteers her time with the city shelter, rescue organizations and fosters homeless pets.
Mariah Monique, MPH is the Founder and CEO of The Sponsorship Catalyst, where she and her team help nonprofit organizations position themselves to secure event sponsors through her online course, team training, and 1:1 consulting services. Mariah is a Sponsorship Strategy Educator and Consultant, sponsorship seeker, and a funder, so she has a tri-fold perspective to teaching nonprofit organizations how to secure purpose-driven aligned sponsors. Additionally, she has reviewed and evaluated hundreds of sponsorship packages and pitches, distributed $7M to nonprofit organizations, built brand activations and has helped dozens of organizations secure nearly $1M since 2021. She knows what sponsors want and how to help you have a competitive advantage.
Rosie Papazian’s career stretches over 2 decades in both financial services and nonprofit direct services. She has dedicated her time to advancing homeownership opportunities, advocacy against predatory lending, and financial management education to break families from the cycle of poverty. Today, she is bridging the relationships between banking and community-based organizations to collaboratively address the needs of families looking to build generational wealth.
Juan Aquino is an economic development strategist with over a decade of experience deploying capital to strengthen low- and moderate-income communities. As West/Mid-West Regional Market Lead at Capital One, he leads multi-state market strategy across affordable housing, small business growth, CDFIs, workforce development, and financial well-being initiatives, aligning corporate investment with long-term community revitalization outcomes.
Ethel is a Program Director with Youth Business Alliance and a Credentialed Career Technical Education Teacher. She is an experienced educator middle and high school as well as CTE Teacher Credential Candidates. She is a business professional with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Ethel is highly skilled in Building Community Partnerships, in the area of Education Technology, Curriculum Writing, Event Planning, and Career Readiness. Strong leadership professional with a Master of Arts (M.A.) focused in Education Technology from Azusa Pacific University.
Coming soon.
