FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 17, 2018

Contact:
Vaishalee Raja, Senior Communications Officer
213-283-2007
vraja@irvine.org

The James Irvine Foundation announced the appointment of two new members of its Board of Directors today: Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds of Riverside, the publisher of Black Voice News and Executive Director of the League of California Cities African-American Caucus, and Mr. Eliseo Medina of Los Angeles, a renowned labor organizer and former International Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Brown-Hinds and Medina join the board as the Foundation launches two initiatives to expand economic and political opportunity for working Californians who are struggling with poverty.

“Eliseo and Paulette are impressive community leaders and experts in their fields. I’m thrilled to welcome them to our board,” said Lydia Villarreal, Chair of the James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors. “We will benefit greatly from their depth of knowledge and from their deep commitment to the people of California.”

Dr. Brown-Hinds is the founder of Voice Media Ventures, a multi-media company focused on weekly news publications, film, and new media content. Voice Media Ventures is also a strategic communications firm that specializes in community outreach and engagement. She is also a board member of The Community Foundation, which works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy. Brown-Hinds is an expert on ethnic media and has published several scholarly articles on 20th century black women writers.

“I am excited to join Irvine’s board at this time, when there is so much to be done to give all the people of California hope for a better future for themselves and their children,” said Dr. Brown-Hinds.

Mr. Medina was International Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) until 2013, culminating a decades-long career as a labor organizer and activist. His activism began at 19 when he joined fellow grape pickers in the United Farm Workers’ strike in Delano, California. Mr. Medina went on to lead the historic UFW grape boycott. Deeply committed to immigrant rights, Mr. Medina was instrumental in uniting the unions of the Change to Win federation and AFL-CIO around comprehensive immigration reform.

“I have spent my career advancing the rights of working people, and I look forward to contributing to Irvine’s mission of expanding opportunity for Californians who are working but struggling with poverty,” said Mr. Medina.

Both Brown-Hinds and Medina will serve a four-year term, with the opportunity for up to two additional terms. The Irvine Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Directors, which is responsible for ensuring that the Foundation manages its finances, operations, and grantmaking programs to advance its mission and goals.

Learn more about Mr. Medina and Dr. Brown-Hinds.