MEASURE H CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT ADVISORY BOARD (COAB)
The same ordinance that placed Measure H on the March 2017 ballot also created a five-member Citizens’ Oversight Advisory Board (COAB) appointed by the Board of Supervisors to ensure a public accounting of the first and only sales tax dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness.
The COAB meets quarterly to discuss a range of topics and conduct periodic audits. Agendas are posted on the LA County Chief Executive Office’s agendas website, under Measure H Citizens’ Oversight Advisory Board.
BRIAN TABATABAI
Appointed by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District
Brian Tabatabai is an educator, coach and is currently serving as the Mayor Pro Tem for the City of West Covina where he represents the City’s 1st District. During his two decades in the classroom, Tabatabai has led reforms to school discipline centering the social emotional needs of students and away from the punitive structures that are characteristic of the “School to Prison” pipeline. He served as one of the main authors of El Monte Union High School District’s Ethnic Studies program, which centers the histories and narratives of marginalized communities. As an elected official, Tabatabai has engaged with long standing community organizations, the non-profit sector, the business community, working people and other stakeholders in addressing the issues of homelessness, racial and economic justice, renter protections, Indigenous and LGBTQ rights. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, he facilitated a partnership with LA County and local church organizations to feed thousands of families. He currently serves as a representative for Los Angeles County on the League of California Cities Public Safety Commission, where he continues to push for alternatives to incarceration. Tabatabai is a graduate of UCLA and holds a bachelor’s degree in both Political Science and History. He holds a Master’s in Leadership and Educational Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.
AMELIA WILLIAMSON
Appointed by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Second District
Amelia Williamson is the principal and chief strategist for AWA consults, a boutique social impact agency whose mission is to build bridges across philanthropy, community, and influence. AWA provides advising, organizational development and strategy building specializing in services for high impact individuals and organizations. AWA has advised organizations such as the Ballmer Group, Times Up and the Weingart Foundation. Before launching AWA, Williamson served as the President of the Magic Johnson Foundation whose mission is to provide resources, build participation, and inspire self-sufficiency in underserved communities. In 2014, inspired and supported by Mr. Johnson, Williamson made a commitment to realizing her own entrepreneurial aspirations. Williamson’s career journey includes management roles for Junior Achievement of Southern California, the Girl Scouts of America and USC’s Center for Civic Culture and Religion where her work spanned across organizational strategy, fundraising, communications, and business development. Throughout her career Williamson has earned a reputation that still corresponds to her today, one that denotes a true professional who is able to maintain a fixed commitment to integrity and holistic excellence. Williamson is a strong advocate for social justice, the development of women and girls and equity in philanthropy. A strong believer in service, Williamson serves on the executive committee for both the Liberty Hill Foundation and Chrysalis Board of Directors. Williamson is also a Trustee for the California Science Center and on the Board of Councilors for the USC Sol Price School of Policy. In 2018 Williamson was appointed by the Mayor to the Los Angeles oversight commission for measure HHH, a measure to issue $1.2 billion in bonds to fund affordable housing and most recently has been appointed to Measure H, Oversight Commission by Supervisor Holly Mitchell. Williamson graduated cum laude from Wilberforce University in Ohio and has a bachelor’s degree in mass media communications. She also holds a master’s degree in organizational development with an emphasis in leadership from Antioch University.
ABBY J. LEIBMAN
Appointed by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District
Abby J. Leibman has been President & CEO at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger since 2011. Under her tenure, MAZON has doubled in size and developed innovative strategies and approaches to its mission to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the United States and Israel. MAZON is a national advocacy organization that focuses on the causes and responses to hunger, particularly for those populations that have either been under addressed or overlooked by other national anti-hunger advocates. MAZON’s current priorities include: currently serving military families, single mothers, Tribal Nations and other indigenous peoples, veterans, seniors (particularly LGBTQ seniors), Puerto Rico and the territories. MAZON also runs outreach and engagement programs for college students engaging in anti-hunger advocacy.
Ms. Leibman has worked with and led some of California’s most prominent nonprofit organizations, including the California Women’s Law Center, which she co-founded and directed for 12 years. Prior to founding the California Women’s Law Center, Ms. Leibman was the Directing Attorney/Community Programs for Public Counsel, where she developed and then directed its Child Care Law Project and managed its project providing pro bono transactional assistance to nonprofit organizations. Ms. Leibman served a two-year term as one of five civilians appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to the Equity Oversight Panel for the L.A. Sheriff’s Department. Ms. Leibman directed the New Leaders Project of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, for which she developed the project’s curriculum to guide emerging leaders on making civic engagement a priority.
She has a J.D. from UCSF School of Law and graduated magna cum laude from UC San Diego with a B.A. in Political Science.
ANDREW KERR
Appointed by Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District
Andrew Kerr has been a dedicated and passionate supporter of nonprofit and service providing organizations throughout his career. In 2002, he joined with colleagues and friends to start Housing Works, a visionary nonprofit agency providing supportive housing services to chronically homeless individuals and families throughout Los Angeles County. Kerr served as treasurer, financial officer, and vice chair of Housing Works’ Board of Directors. During his time at Housing Works, the agency grew from only one employee to a fully functional staff of 35 and a budget of over $2.5 million. Kerr was appointed to the City of Long Beach’s Homeless Services Advisory Committee in 2014, and helped oversee the City’s Homeless Services Division in the Department of Health. In 2016, Kerr was appointed by Mayor Robert Garcia to serve on his Affordable and Workforce Housing Study Group. This group presented a series of recommended policy and administrative changes to the Mayor and the Long Beach City Council in the Spring of 2017.