Gisele Fong, PhD, Interim Executive Director and Research Director, is an educator and researcher, and taught for many years in the University of California, California State Universities and California Community College systems. Her work as an academic and activist have focused on social justice organizing and advocacy.

Laura Lerner, Operations Manager--Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies (Certified Paralegal)-- is a seasoned administrative and operations professional with over twenty years of executive level experience.

Rupal Patel, Communities for Clean Ports Director, has significant policy advocacy and community organizing experience at both the state and local level, in the areas of poverty, labor, health and immigration. She's successfully led legislative and ballot measure campaigns in So. California to advocate for the strongest health and public benefits programs for low-income communities. She also managed a statewide non-profit collaborative and helped build over 50 asset-building programs for low-income working families.