Organization

Community Works is driven by a fundamental belief in the innate power of civic engagement and leadership. And, although leadership is demonstrated in many ways and takes many forms, at its core, it is about problem-solving. Our programs are designed to help students discover the leader in them and give them the tools to find the solutions to challenges in their lives, their families and their communities.

Context

A newly published book called ‘How Children Succeed’ shines a light on the inadequacies of traditional education. Paul Tough, a journalist for The New York Times, argues that the qualities that matter most in today’s world have more to do with character and skills like perseverance, curiosity, optimism, and self-control. Though harder to measure, these traits are far more indicative of a student’s success than IQ.

In correlation with this research, Performance Works completed a project focused completely on gaps in traditional education systems, specifically working with educators in the Southwestern United States. When asked, “If you had a magic wand and could offer one more thing to students, what would it be?” Teachers answered unanimously, character education and leadership development.

As parents, citizens and human beings, these findings touched us deeply and spurred us to act. Kids need and deserve a “code to live by.” Educators are consumed with test scores and standards. They don’t have the energy, time or resources to tackle these less tangible, harder to measure skills. It’s not clear that parents are equipped to teach those skills either and our personal belief is that without them, many young people will fail. We’re bringing children into a complex world of change – cultural, technological, economic and environmental - and in order to be successful, they need to be resilient and empowered to effect change.

Administrators and teachers alike cited the importance of empowering students to find their voice. The top priorities were problem solving, collaboration, communication and critical analysis.

Team

Since our founding, we have carefully curated and assembled a team of educators, curriculum designers and advisors to help move Community Works forward. Through a diversity of professional and personal experiences, together we've been able to broaden our reach and build a more inclusive vision. Continue reading to learn more about our stories.

Leadership

Loree Goffigon

At the helm of this vast undertaking is visionary and organizer-extraordinaire, Loree Goffigon. With a talent for making connections, building relationships and solving problems, Loree brings an extensive background in business strategy, organizational behavior and communications to the world of non-profit management.

Loree’s dedication to education reform is rooted in her professional experience as well as her insight as a parent. Watching her own children and their circles navigate an educational system that seemed to neglect a focus on process and purpose sparked an interest in how students learn to be successful, productive and healthy citizens in this ever-changing world.

In addition to her business background, Loree is trained as a painter, giving her a unique understanding of the way trans-disciplinary thinking leads to innovation.

Ethan Goffigon

Raised in a household of designers and business strategists, Ethan was part of conversations about helping people do their best work from a young age. Building on his love of storytelling and all things creative, Ethan dedicated his studies to Organizational Leadership and Anthropology. Ethan wanted to further understand the role of culture in community building and organizational success.

Ethan comes to Community Works with a wealth of youth development experience, working with young people across all ages and a powerfully creative entrepreneurial spirit. His work is driven by his passion to help young people become the best version of themselves.

Production Team

Carlos Alvarez

Carlos Alvarez joins the Community Works team with extensive teaching experience across multiple disciplines in elementary, middle and high school classrooms. With an undergraduate degree in Ethnic Studies and Spanish Literature, and a Masters in Bilingual and Elementary Education, Carlos is also the first member of his family to attend and graduate from a university. He currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Valiente College Preparatory Charter and is deeply committed to providing every student in Los Angeles the opportunity to fall in love with learning and building a more just education system.

Shari Holly

She began her work in the diversity & inclusion space at PromaxBDA where she implemented several development and training programs to prepare emerging talent to transition into the entertainment marketing industry at the early stages of their creative careers. Other programs and events include: Creative Coach program, HR Roundtables, Student Portfolio Nights, Executive Mentorship Programs, panels and workshops with TV network partners, and various programs through strong academic and industry partnerships nationwide. Prior to Pipelines, Shari was the Program Administrator for the first ever Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP); created and endorsed by both the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) where she created an immersive program with the objective of providing more access and opportunity to underrepresented directors in commercial production. She currently oversees the all operations and development of the Pipelines mobile app which connects underrepresented talent to career and training opportunities in tech, entertainment, and creative industries, and companies to a vast pool of qualified, diverse talent.

Stephen Smith-Contreras

Stephen Smith-Contreras is an accomplished musician, educator, and cultural worker. He has a passion for using music and art as an agent for change, and is committed to empowering youth and communities through his work. Stephen has developed and implemented a variety of arts education curricula with schools, arts institutions, and community-based organizations. He has also lectured and led workshops at various universities including UC Riverside and Cal State LA. He holds an MM in Ethnomusicology and a BA in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnic Studies. Stephen resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three children and currently works on several exciting projects including The Grid(CM), YOLA(LA Phil), and is the founder of Yucasoul, a creative music platform.

Partners

Advisory Board

Content

For information contact:
Loree Goffigon, Executive Director
323.851.5200

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