James Johnson
Chief Political Coordinator SEIU

A Los Angeles native, James Johnson most recently served as Chief Political Coordinator of the 92,000 member SEIU Local 721 and as a member of the union’s staff leadership team.  He has had an impressive 30-year career with SEIU starting in 1985, when he became a Project Organizer and worked with a team that recruited thousands of workers and new leaders into the union.

In 1987, at the urging of Gilbert Cedillo and Kent Wong (both on SEIU Local 660 staff at the time), he joined the local staff as a union representative, with responsibilities from organizing breaks to helping negotiate Los Angeles County Clerical and Supervising Clerical Contracts covering more than 19,000 workers for Los Angeles County’s largest bargaining unit.

In 1996, James joined the staff of SEIU Local 535, where he served as a Senior Field Representative, Southern Political Director, and Program Director. It was there that James was instrumental in passing landmark legislation approving the first State Workload study for Child Welfare Social Workers in 15 years and increased funding for the state’s major human services programs.

After the realignment of SEIU public sector locals in California, James became the principal liaison for SEIU Local 721 at the LA City Council and played a key role in fighting for increased public services in the aftermath of the 2008-09 recession.

James is the Political Director for the California League of Conservation Voters and currently serves on the Board of the SCLC of Southern California. From 2002-04 he served on the Liberty Hill Foundation Fund for a New LA Funding Board.  James was recognized by Congresswoman Judy Chu as the 27th Congressional District 2013 Community Activist of the Year.

Cedd Moses
Pouring with Heart

Cedd Moses is the founder and inspiration behind 213 Hospitality, a company which operates several of Los Angeles' most celebrated bars, restaurants, and breweries. Including The Varnish; Cole's Originators of the French Dip; Seven Grand Whiskey Bar; The Golden Gopher; Tony's Saloon; The Broadway Bar; Caña Rum Bar; Las Perlas; Casey's Irish Bar; Honeycut; The Normandie Club; and Arts District Brewing Company.

Moses was instrumental in bringing National recognition to LA’s craft cocktail culture in LA beginning with a dive bar called Liquid Kitty 19 years ago. Upon establishing 213 Hospitality in 2000, Moses has dedicated his professional pursuits to the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles. He has done so by converting empty or underutilized Commercial buildings with historical and architectural significance into mixed-use developments featuring residential lofts, creative and office spaces, restaurants, breweries and cocktail lounges. Due to his contributions in Downtown LA, Moses is widely acknowledged as one of the city’s most impactful real estate developers and plans to transport that same enthusiasm to other cities like New York, Austin, and San Diego.

For nearly two decades, Cedd worked as a professional money manager, known for his business acumen and socially responsible investing. In the mid-90s he shifted gears to concentrate on hospitality projects and development, an extension of his ongoing passion for the city’s arts and underground music subculture.  Moses also produced Cool School, a film directed by Academy Award- winning Morgan Neville, spotlighting LA’s Ferus Gallery and the 60s avant-garde artists, including his own father.

Currently, Cedd is developing a project inside the historic Fred Harvey Room within Los Angeles’ Union Station amongst other projects.  He is also on the board of LASI (Los Angeles StreetCar), Historic Core Business Improvement District, and The Museum of the American Cocktail.

Cedd Moses was raised in Venice, California partly by his father, the famous Abstract Expressionist painter Ed Moses.  In his spare time, Moses can be found playing squash or at the racetrack.

Dan Rosenfeld
Consultant

Dan Rosenfeld has alternated in his career between public and private-sector service, working previously as Director of Real Estate for the State of California and City of Los Angeles.

In the private sector, Dan has served as a senior officer with The Cadillac Fairview Corporation, Tishman-Speyer Properties, Kilroy Industries and Jones Lang LaSalle. He was a founding member of Urban Partners, LLC, a nationally recognized developer of urban infill, mixed-use and transit-oriented real estate.

He is a graduate of Stanford University and the Harvard Business School.

Dan is interested in the nexus between public open space, community health and economic development, particularly in underserved regions of Southern California. As such, he enthusiastically supports our Parks for People, Fitness Zones®, and Green Alleys initiatives. He lives with his wife, the noted choreographer Heidi Duckler, in Beverly Hills. They have three adult children.

Arturo Sneider
Primestor Developers

Arturo Sneider is the founder of Primestor Developers. Primestor focuses on development throughout urban markets and areas overlooked by other developers with an emphasis on community outreach. The firm is positioned as an expert in public-private partnerships ranging from working on complications development projects with the County of Los Angeles to The City of Chicago. As a leader of the Los Angeles Hispanic community, Arturo has been honored by multiple nonprofits for his work and philanthropy.