About CRF

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Daisy participated in CRF's Expanding Horizons Institute in 2019 and enjoyed her experience. Daisy graduated from the School of Social Justice at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex in Los Angeles and currently attends Los Angeles City College.

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Andrew has been with CRF since 1991, when he was hired as a program assistant. As publications manager, he oversees the publishing process, from initial conception through completion of print and online publications. Andrew works closely with program staff to capture program requirements and translate them into practical design solutions. He has designed, developed, and maintained several of CRF's websites, including its main website. Andrew has a bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Northridge, and a certificate in marketing from Los Angeles City College

Since coming to CRF in 2001 with degrees in political science and history, David has provided local, regional, and national training to youth, educators, and other professionals seeking ways to integrate civic- and law-related activities into their educational programs. David became senior operations director in 2022. Due to events leading to the dramatic change in the day-to-day operations of the organization, David has assumed leadership in CRF’s operations and information technology, as well as assisting in online learning programs and resources. David is also on CRF’s Civic Action Project team and is responsible for filming and editing projects to help promote and showcase CRF programs.

Jasmin began working at CRF in 2019 as a program coordinator for the Mock Trial and Expanding Horizons Institute (EHI) programs. She participated in the EHI program herself in 2013 and enjoyed her experience in the program. Jasmin graduated from CSU Channel Islands with a degree in Spanish.  In 2022, she assumed the role of Office Manager.

Allison joined CRF in 2022 as the operations and program assistant. Allison’s job includes providing general support and assistance to the director of operations, senior management, and publications team. She is a UC Berkeley class of 2020 graduate where she studied social welfare and minored in education.

Kathleen joined CRF in 2022 as a program director, working with the Civil Action Project and Talking About Democracy programs. Prior to CRF, she spent eight years as a high school STEM teacher and was a moderator for the high school Mock Trial program. She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University.

Damon began working at CRF in 2008. He edits CRF’s Bill of Rights in Action magazine and all CRF’s curricular materials and publications. Damon also develops curriculum for many of CRF’s programs and leads teacher professional development workshops in a variety of social studies subjects. Damon is the director of the California Three Rs Project for teaching about freedom of religion and religious literacy in California’s public schools. Before CRF, Damon was an attorney with the Los Angeles County Public Defender, a professional mediator, and a middle-school social-studies and English-language arts teacher. He received his bachelor’s degree in history (with a minor in cinema) from USC, his M.Ed. from UCLA, and his JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He is the recipient of the 2021 Hilda Taba Award from the California Council for the Social Studies.  

John is the Managing Director of John H Martin LLC and have been under contract with CRF since 1990. I am responsible for the finances of CRF and work closely with the President and the Board. I have been married for over thirty years with three grown children who also participated in CRF programs. I have served on a local school board for over forty years and have rotated as Board Chair on numerous occasions and perennial serves as Chair the Board’s Budget and Audit Committee.

 

Gregorio began working at CRF in 1995 and specializes in leading workshops for youth and conducting professional development sessions for educators and program staff seeking ways to incorporate civic- and law-related activities into their school or community-based programs. Gregorio also directs CRF’s Youth & Police program and co-directs the national Civic Action Project. He is a graduate of East Los Angeles College and Occidental College. 
 

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With CRF since 1990, Lourdes currently directs the California Mock Trial program, which includes the Los Angeles County and California State Finals competitions. She works with county coordinators, administrators, teachers, and hundreds of judges and lawyers throughout the state. Lourdes also directs the Expanding Horizons Institute, partnering with job sites and providing guidance for the educational seminars for high school students from underserved communities in the greater Los Angeles area. She provides workshop sessions at local and state conferences on CRF programs and materials. Lourdes is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience implementing history programs to K-12 schools including History Day in California.
  

Sean-Michael is the program coordinator for the Expanding Horizons Institute (EHI) and Mock Trial programs. He began working at CRF in 2016. Before coming to CRF, Sean-Michael participated in the EHI program as a student in 2008 and is happy to now work on the same program. He currently attends California State University, Northridge, and is majoring in political science (law and society).

Vanessa joined CRF in 2022 as a programs assistant working with the Civic Action Project and Youth & Police programs. She also assists the development team. Vanessa earned her bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine. Working at CRF helps to fullfill Vanessa's goal of empowering students to make changes in their community.
 
  
 

Cara Shaffer joined CRF in January 2023, bringing 15 years of experience in fundraising and events. Before joining CRF, Cara served for two years as the Planned Giving Manager at the Gary Sinise Foundation where she created the Planned Giving Department and the Gary Sinise Foundation Legacy Society. While there, she raised over $77 million for our current military, veterans, first responders, and their families. Prior to her role at the Gary Sinise Foundation, Cara served as the Director of Major Gifts for the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Towson University (her alma mater) and as the Events and Conference Manager at Maryland Institute College of Art.

Laura joined CRF in 2001 and serves as the director of programs. She works closely with all CRF programs focusing on program design and implementation, national partnerships, and leading local, state, and national professional development. Laura also teaches Street Law at Southwestern Law School where she prepares law students to work with young people in the dependency and delinquency systems. Laura has served on the California State Bar Council on Access and Fairness and the National High School Mock Trial Board. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior, and criminology law and society from the University of California, Irvine, and her JD from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Before joining CRF, Laura taught at a Los Angeles middle school, practiced law at the Colorado Department of Education, and worked as an in-house transactional attorney.