About CRF

Sarah joined the staff in 2017. She develops and writes curriculum materials and leads professional development for teachers related to CRF programs and initiatives. She also coordinates CRF’s social media team. Prior to joining CRF, Sarah was a middle and high school social studies and special education teacher, as well as a school administrator, for 15 years, working at schools in the U.S. and at bilingual schools in Colombia and Jordan. She earned her B.A. in International Studies from American University and her M.A.T. in History from Boston College.

David joined CRF in 2022. He began his fundraising career more than 30 years ago in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, before leaving his position at The Gillette Company to move to Los Angeles in 1992. He has served in senior-level development positions with prestigious local and national organizations such as the United Way, the Los Angeles Free Clinic, Chapman University’s School of Film & Television, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Los Angeles chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, St. John Bosco High School, Liberty Hill Foundation, The Broad Stage, and Open Paths Counseling Center. In 1999, David took a seven-year sabbatical from the nonprofit sector to work in television production with King World Productions, The Hatchery LLC, and Skycastle Entertainment. David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing/public relations from Suffolk University in Boston, where he received a three-year scholarship to serve as editor-in-chief of the university’s yearbook.

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 and is the program coordinator for CRF’s 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.

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.  

Josh has worked at CRF since 2019 and manages development at CRF, which includes the Year-End Appeal; donor stewardship and outreach; grant writing; and the Annual Celebration. Josh graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2014. Before coming to CRF, Josh worked at the nonprofit Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum.  

 
 
  

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 Cops & Kids program and co-directs the national Civic Action Project. He is a graduate of East Los Angeles College and Occidental College. 
 

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).

Since 2021, Adam is CRF’s development and executive assistant. Adam’s job includes assisting with all development functions, managing the Annual Celebration, communicating with board members and donors, and staffing board and committee meetings. Adam graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in legal studies. While there, he worked in the University Relations and Internal Affairs offices which gave him fundraising and event planning experience. Adam participated in CRF's Mock Trial program in both middle and high school, and now volunteers as a coach at the collegiate level.  

Devon started at CRF in 2019. He is the administrative assistant at CRF and helps in several departments as needed. He speaks four languages and has an associate degree in Italian. He is working on his B.A. in linguistics. Before working at CRF, Devon was an intern with CRF’s Expanding Horizons Institute and then a member of the CAP Youth Board. 

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.