LEADERSHIP TEAM

---

Sarah has a Master's degree in Biotechnology Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from Johns Hopkins and an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. For nearly 20 years, she has been sharpening her business acumen and demonstrating competency in robust leadership roles. 

She is enthusiastic about using her skills & talents to serve those in need.

The Vic James Center is a beautiful constellation of passion, expertise, opportunity, teamwork and magic.

Lauryn Hill is a Creative Career Coach who has 13 years experience in the Fine Art and Publishing industries with over $17 million in sales of art, furniture and books.

She teaches workshops and coaches individuals who feel stuck and need help on a new business or want to make a career move and are seeking more clarity, direction and confidence to make money doing work they enjoy.

Lauryn has volunteered with Mini Therapy Horses, Den Meditation Center, and has a variety of Certifications in Coaching, Breathwork and Energy Healing.

Justin Broome graduated from Lindenwood University in St. Charles Missouri. He was a scholar athlete playing football for the University. He graduated with his bachelors degree in Communications. 

He has over 12 years of experience working with youth. He started as a counselor and worked his way to the Director of after school clubs and Director of summer camps at multiple middle schools in Simi Valley. He also is a high school football coach. He is the assistant Head Coach and defensive coordinator for the Varsity program at Royal High School. As well as coaching at the High School he is a certified substitute teacher. 

He played 7 years of professional football which led him to living abroad in Mexico for over 4 years. While playing 

professionally he also coached football with the youth, as well as help pioneer and develop a flag football and tackle football league in the city of Tampico Mexico for the youth. The league and team now compete in national tournaments all throughout Mexico. 

As a former athlete and current coach he trains continuously in his everyday life. He personally trains many young athletes and adults as they try to obtain their various personal goals.

He is motivated in giving back to the community and helping mentor the youth in the same ways he was helped. 

He genuinely believes through fitness and positive mentorship it is possible to give young adults positive belief and hope.

Garrett is a single father who wears many hats in addition to being his four year old daughter's favorite play pal. He has always had a passion for justice, civil and human rights and has made it his mission to make a difference in his community. 

In his career, Garrett has also worked as a coach, counselor, and high-level recruiter, where he focused on diversity talent acquisition for top tech compnaies. He believes in giving people a chance to succeed and has made it his life's mission to help others reach their full potential. 

Beyond his professional life, Garrett is an advocate for human rights and a respected leader in his community. He volunteers his time and resources to helping those who are less fortunate and has built a reputation as a compassionate and caring individual that will always stand up for what is right. 

Garrett is excited to be dedicating his energy and advocating for the rights of others in building a better world for all people here at the Vic James Center.

Dyuti is a certified engineer with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. She has more than 10 years of financial management experience leading programs for highly regulated private sector companies. 

She has always supported non-profits especially in the healthcare area. Dyuti's mom, Nalini Trivedi, is her inspiration. Under her mother's guidance, Dyuti has been volunteering since she was a teenager in various non-profits in different capacities. She has helped with teaching, art, street plays & fundraising for various causes including equal rights, healthcare and the integration of all within society. 

Gabriel Derricks is an LA native. He is an entrepreneur, an advocate, professional athlete, actor, and model. He has strong ties to the community. He takes pride in speaking-up for the unspoken and the unheard. He strives to represent those who cannot use their voice. He has a gift to step outside of his own shell and to carefully place his feet into the shoes of a brother/sister. He has a passion for unity and how to use it to tap into the community's potential. 

He has demonstrated excellence his entire athletic career. At the age of 8, he was honored to receive a second-degree black belt in the Korean martial art, Tang Soo Do. He attended college at the University of San Diego as a Division 1 college athlete and was ultimately signed to the Atlanta Falcons and later to the San Francisco 49ers. He is currently a brown belt in the Japanese Martial Art, Shito Ryu. He recently received the title of a Two Time World Champion. 

From the beginning of the Vic James Center, he has been an enthusiastic supporter. He is inspired by the sacrifices his parents made to give their family the best they could. His profound faith is the foundation for everything he does.

Andrew was born and raised in Santa Monica. He attended Santa Monica College and UCLA. 

He has decades of service in the community and have served on countless boards and organizations. His focus is helping at risk youth through mentoring, programs and scholarships. He is very active in recovery (addiction) and have over 32 years clean.

He currently serves as the Vice Chair of The City of Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission. He is retired from the City of Santa Monica Public Works Division and prior to the City he worked in the film and television industry. He worked in both production and merchandising, licensing and promotions for Cannon Films and Westinghouse. He is also a certified horticulturalist. 

Rick has been an active member in the LGBTQ sober community since 2004. He is one of the founding members of Miss Mar Vista, a yearly, nonprofit drag pageant featuring sober contestants that is currently in its seventh year. 

A bartender turned Hollywood entertainment reporter, Rick got into the celebrity tabloid game in early 2000 by pure serendipity - being at the right place at the right time. He’s broken many celebrity stories in his career.   

In 2013 Rick decided to take what he learned at the magazines to television and joined the hit Fox series Dish Nation. He became the show’s first Investigative Reporter, bringing breaking celebrity news to the daily syndicated program. 

Rick became West Coast Bureau Chief of In Touch Weekly, Life & Style Weekly and Closer Weekly in 2014 where he’s still happy to be working.  

Prior to joining LA Civil Rights, Tristen served as District Director for Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office (Council District 11) on the Westside of Los Angeles. She managed field staff and was responsible for executing the Councilmember’s legacy projects throughout the district. Before becoming District Director, Tristen served the Venice/ Marina Del Rey area and oversaw constituent casework, infrastructure projects, and special events programming at Venice Beach.  She was also a part of implementing Encampments to Home programs throughout CD-11,  assisting in bringing several unhoused constituents indoors.   Tristen’s proudest accomplishment at CD-11 was organizing several food drives, vaccination clinics, and various other resource drives to help constituents in need at Oakwood and Mar Vista Gardens. She partnered with FoodCycle LA often and helped procure grants for their organization.
Tristen holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in English Literature from California Polytechnic University Pomona. During her time at Cal Poly Pomona, she served as a tutor for ESL students at the University Writing Center and was an editor of the Undergraduate Journal of Political Science.
 She was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley and enjoys reading, watching Dodger baseball, and traveling. 

Janisha AKA Ur Happy Therapist was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She was raised by her maternal Grand Mother who instilled the "despite a bad situation you can always turn it around" approach. Janisha has found joy in speaking to her community in regards to mental health matters, entrepreneurship, and passing the MFT exam. She created STUDYRITE in an effort to give future licensed therapists a creative way to maintain the information needed to slay the beast.
 

An experienced professional, Janisha has spent over 18 years in the mental health field. She currently owns a private practice. She specializes in assisting those who suffer from lack of self-esteem, co-dependency, anxiety, depression, and all-around fear of success. Her main goal is to break generational patterns by igniting resiliency. Janisha’s positivity is infectious, she is here to raise awareness while raising your spirits.
 

She uses a variety of tools and techniques to help her clients rewrite the narratives that are holding them back in their lives. Helping her clients tap into their creativity and self-expression is often an important part of our work together. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and eclectic approaches. In addition, clients can expect to engage in a process of self-discovery that opens the door to understanding old habits in thinking, feeling, and behaving; and learning to cope with life challenges to transform into a more resilient self.