About Us: Our Board Members

Alina Bokde, Rivers & Mountains Conservancy

Alina Bokde is the Deputy Executive Officer of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, a California State Agency whose mission is to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvements within its jurisdiction. The Conservancy’s territory includes 68 cities located in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and covers over 1,600 square miles. Alina manages the Conservancy’s Urban Parks Program to work with public agencies and communities to develop and build parks in the most park poor areas of the Conservancy’s urban core. 

Prior to coming to the Conservancy, Alina worked with a national non-profit organization, The Trust for Public Land, to acquire and develop parks and open space in under-served areas in southwestern United States and Los Angeles. In April, 2006, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Alina to serve on the Environmental Affairs Commission. The Commission works with the Mayor, City staff, and community organizations to develop policies and programs that address pressing environmental issues such as climate change and sustainability. Alina also serves on two non-profit Boards of Directors, a state wide environmental justice organization, Communities for a Better Environment and a policy advocacy organization, Latino Urban Forum.  Alina received a Masters Degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico in 2000.

Jose Bravo, Just Transition Alliance

José is a leader in California Chemicals Policy and Green Chemistry reform work as a co-convener of Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy (CHANGE).  José has been participating in the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum on Climate Change, where the Just Transition Alliance is a founding member organization.  José works directly with Environmental Justice (EJ) Communities and Labor (Organized and Unorganized) on issues of Chemicals policy, Green Chemistry, Green Jobs and Climate Justice. José’s work in social justice issues is rooted in his upbringing in the Southern California farm fields alongside both his parents and his work as a student fighting for immigrant rights. José has participated in the Environmental Justice movement since 1990, over the years he has gained recognition as a national and international leader in the EJ movement. José became a national international spokesperson on US/Mexico border EJ issues and was a charter member of the First National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) where he served on the international subcommittee. José is currently on the board of Communities for a Better Environment and has recently participated on an advisory group to the Obama Administrations Transition Team on Chemicals Policy and Green Chemistry.

Rev. Daniel Buford, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute

Caroline Farrell, Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment

Erica Kent

Gideon Kracov, Law Offices of Gideon Kracov

Mr. Kracov is a lawyer in private practice in Los Angeles, where he represents clients in civil law, environmental and zoning cases. His work includes high-stakes litigation and complex regulatory matters. Previously, Kracov served as a Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney where he counseled the Departments of Planning and Sanitation. Before his public sector work, Kracov practiced at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP, a distinguished trial law firm. There he was lead counsel in mass toxic tort and environmental lawsuits that helped to shape these areas of the law. In 2009, the authoritative lawyers Daily Journal named Mr. Kracov one of the top 20 attorneys under age 40 in the State of California.

Mr. Kracov is a City Council President's appointee to the Los Angeles Proposition O Bond Oversight Committee that oversees $500 million to clean the City's rivers and beaches. He was a Governor's appointee and Chair of the Committee that analyzes the California's smog check program. He lectures at the South Coast Air Quality Institute and has served for many years on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Environmental Law Section. He is a longtime member of the Consumer Attorneys of California including representation in Hamilton v. Asbestos Corporation, 22 Cal.4th 1127 (2000).

Roy Love, Love & Associates

Cesar Luna, Luna & Associates

Suma Peesapati

Lizette Ruiz

Genevieve Sarita, Pacific Institure for Women's Health