OVERVIEW
In 2023, Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA) launched our inaugural class of United Leaders Project (ULP) to strengthen our efforts building bridges across L.A.’s diverse communities. ULP brings together L.A. civic leaders from diverse racial, faith, and cultural backgrounds for a 10-month expert-led leadership training program aimed at fostering professional growth, building bridges, and driving community impact. The program encourages participants to engage in learning and dialogue with multiple diverse stakeholders to gain new insights. Together, participants explore innovative, collaborative solutions to the most pressing issues facing Los Angeles.
In addition, the 2025 ULP cohort will learn about the long-term impact of the wildfire crisis, focusing on its ramifications for affordable housing, employment, and economic stability.
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal ULP candidate is a mid-level professional based in Los Angeles with a track record of leadership and civic engagement experience, committed to working with multicultural stakeholders, building consensus, and exploring creative solutions to enhance the quality of life in Los Angeles. We are committed to creating a cohort that reflects our city’s pluralism.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OUTCOMES
- Hone leadership skills in public speaking, advocacy, and cultivating allyship
- Learn from local community leaders and elected officials how to bring the values of equity and inclusion into policy
- Gain knowledge on and explore collaborative solutions to pressing issues facing our region, including health inequity, food insecurity, urban poverty, affordable housing, access to education, voting rights, combating hate, and rebuilding after natural disasters
- Deepen skills in building bridges and fostering constructive dialogue across diverse faith, racial, economic, and political divides
- Join a trusted network of colleagues
- Learn about JFEDLA’s key civic priorities and values
PROGRAM DATES
March 2025 – December 2025
ULP will kick off with an orientation retreat and reception on March 16th from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Monthly sessions on Wednesday evenings will follow. The group will participate in a two-day advocacy summit in Sacramento on May 5th – 6th and a two-day immersive “Civic Crawl Weekend” on August 22nd – 24th to learn more about the history of Los Angeles. The program will culminate with a graduation event in December.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applications for the ULP 2025 Cohort are now open and will close on February 21st at 11:59pm PT.
To learn more about ULP, join a Zoom informational session on Wednesday, February 5th.
Select applicants will be invited for a short interview with members of our advisory board on the weeks of February 24th and March 3rd. Final decisions will be announced the week of March 10th.
There is no fee to participate in ULP as the program is fully subsidized.
For questions regarding the application or the program, please email ULP@JewishLA.org. The program is overseen by AnnaLea Arnold, Vice President of Community Relations, JFEDLA Community Engagement.
ULP ADVISORY BOARD
ULP is a program of Jewish Federation Los Angeles, guided by an advisory board comprised of JFEDLA’s civic partners, committed to addressing systemic and racial inequities through their work.
Advisory board members include:
West Hollywood City Councilmember John M. Erickson, President/CEO/Founder of Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE) Hyepin Im, Senior Vice President/Head of Global Corporate Affairs at East West Bank & President of East West Bank Foundation Travis Kiyota, Chief Executive Officer at Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), Tony Brown, Strategic Communications Consultant and former Press Secretary of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley Fred MacFarlane, Chief Program Officer at Fulfillment Fund Rachel Livingston, Senior Director of Partnerships at SoLa Impact and Rautenberg New Leaders Project Alumnus Daniel Rosove, Deputy Director at Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS) Kelvin Driscoll, Executive Vice President at Brotherhood Crusade Stacy Hill-Williams, Executive Director of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE), Nancy Yap, former City of Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin, Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer at LA84 Foundation/Play Equity Fund Fernando Ramirez, and Commissioner of the L.A. Board of Public Works Steve Kang.