Meet the 2025 Story of Us LA Coaches
As the excitement builds for our Story of Us LA event (formerly known as Fast Pitch), we're proud to introduce the group of coaches working with this year's presenters. Each coach brings unique lived experience, creating a rich tapestry of support for our Fellows.
This milestone year marks our transition from Fast Pitch to Story of Us LA, reflecting our deeper focus on community connection and collective action. As we prepare to gather on April 24th to celebrate and amplify the voices of our Systems Change Fellows, let's meet the supporters standing behind and beside our presenters, supporting their visions for a more just and liberated Los Angeles.
The Coaches Behind the Scenes
Jesse Aguiar: With 15 years of strengthening community engagement strategies, Jesse brings invaluable insights as a 2018-19 Systems Change Accelerator alum.
Lee Bailey: An investor and entrepreneur with 40+ years of experience in renewable energy and sustainability, offering unique perspectives on innovation and social change.
Ann English: Contributing 25+ years of heart-centered work in LA's homeless response sector with a focus on trauma-informed narrative practice. Ann joins us as a 2017-18 Systems Change Accelerator alum.
Kirsten Farrell: A facilitator and storytelling professional who helps people craft compelling narratives that inspire action.
Jennifer Happillon: Combining coaching and yoga expertise, Jennifer creates space for authentic self-connection with 15+ years coaching executives and teams.
Margaret Hardin: A SJPLA board member and seasoned CEO who has scaled companies to $100M+ in revenue, returning for her fourth time as a coach.
Renee Johnson: A Los Angeles native with 20+ years leadership experience in foundation relations and nonprofit management.
London Jones: Brings a decade of nonprofit sector experience and co-founded Black Being, focusing on holistic wellbeing for community leaders.
Elaine Lasnik-Broida: Founder of a national compensation management consulting firm with 35+ years of experience and deep expertise in the foundation sector.
Elida Ledesma: Contributes valuable experience in public health and arts education with a commitment to healing through creative expression.
Lauryn Nwankpa: Bridges nonprofit values and tech innovation to help brands bring their social purpose to life.
Godfrey Santos Plata: Deputy Director at LA Forward with experience in racial justice organizing and civic engagement. A 2023-24 Systems Change Accelerator alumn.
Sierra Smith: Executive Director with 20 years of cross-sector nonprofit experience and a 2021-22 Systems Change Accelerator alumn.
TaVia Wooley-Isles: Community leader, Systems Change Fellowship alum, and policy advocate whose motto "Have the Audacity to Be SEEN" inspires fellows to boldly share their visions.
Partners in Systems Change
What makes this coaching team particularly special is the number of Systems Change Fellowship alumni who have returned to support this year's fellows. Their journey from Fellows to coaches represents the full circle of community connection that Story of Us LA embodies. We're deeply grateful that these alumni choose to share their time and energy with the next cohort of the fellowship—a testament to the lasting relationships that emerge from our programs. Combined with our coaches from diverse professional backgrounds, this blend of alumni insight and external perspectives creates a rich bank of feedback and support for our fellows to develop their stories.
These coaches represent the heart of what Story of Us LA is all about—bringing together people passionate about love and justice in Los Angeles to recognize our collective power, see our roles in systems change, and take action.
As we prepare for our Story of Us LA on April 24th, we invite you to join us in celebrating these coaches and the fellows they support as they write LA’s next chapter.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the story. Secure your tickets today for Story of Us LA on April 24, 2025.