Staff
In 2003, he returned to HOLA, first as the Director of Development, before ultimately moving into the Executive Director position. Tony, a recent Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Center for Social Innovation Fellow, also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the AH Scholars Program at Pepperdine University and the University of Tennessee’s College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Advisory Board. In 2010, Tony was awarded LMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award for his service in the community. Most recently, Tony was awarded the "Local Hero" award by Bank of America for keeping kids away from gangs and off the streets.
A few years and a Master’s degree from Brown University later, Nara found herself back in Los Angeles where she recently worked on the Siqueiros Mural Center with the Getty and the City of Los Angeles.
Nara, a trained ballet dancer and avid photographer (she studied photography at RISD), feels that art education is a positive catalyst for today’s youth and the communities they live in. She is excited to be sharing her experience and desire to HOLA, helping to give local youth an opportunity to explore themselves and their place in the world through creative expression.
Jon maintains a busy working schedule in Los Angeles with a handful of personal musical projects that have been on tour throughout the United States and Europe. He is also a regular member of bands led by Vinny Golia, Bennie Maupin and Mike Barone. Jon’s passion for reaching out to the community and educating young minds in the ways of music has led him to design and teach multiple improvisation and listening based curricula that he’s employed throughout Los Angeles. In addition to teaching piano at HOLA, he also works with a college preparatory creative ensemble through the California Arts Partnership.
As an educator, Dawn has personal and professional experience and training in Waldorf and Suzuki methods, which she infuses into her classroom in order to support each child holistically. Dawn is currently a tenured section cellist in both the San Bernardino and Redlands Symphony Orchestras. In addition to being the Cello Instructor for YOLA at HOLA, Dawn is also the cello, bass, and chamber music coach at Highland Hall, a Waldorf School; and she teaches and inspires students of all ages from her private cello studio in Mission Hills.
Claudio has been a Master Printer for the last 29 years. He studied the art of printmaking at California State University, Long Beach and California State University, Northridge. Throughout his career he has worked with world renowned artists, including Richard Serra, Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein. Claudio also worked at Gemini Gel for over ten years. Currently, he teaches printmaking at HOLA and at Pasadena City College.
Mark was born into music. His older brothers, father and grandfather all played music. Born and raised in California, Mark grew up in a multi-ethnic neighborhood in Los Angeles. Being a mix of African American, Lebanese and Danish heritages, Mark explored the cross cultural aspects of his rich heritage. At home, Mark was introduced to many different instruments and styles of music, developing an early ear for World Music sounds. Mark started playing guitar, flute and saxophone, but by the age of 17, he focused solely on the guitar.
Mark has been involved in the Los Angeles music scene since the early 70’s. He has performed or recorded with innumerable world musicians. His collaboration with Ras Michael as both guitarist and musical director took him on tour all over the nation. Mark then decided to focus on his own band, The Blue Nile X-press (The BNX). He has recorded two albums with his current group.
Mark formed an educational program, Music Makes You Smarter, which has already been implemented in many school programs in the Los Angeles area. He has been on staff at HOLA for the past 6 years. Besides his wonderful work at HOLA, Mark also volunteers his time as band leader/guitarist, producer and sound engineer for organizations such as the Starlight Foundation, Projects AIDS benefit, and the Martin Luther King Day Parade.
HOLA Executive Director, Tony Brown, Named Local Hero by Bank of America
HOLA’s Tony Brown was awarded the “Local Hero” award by Bank of America for offering a safe, nurturing environment to 2,300 at-risk kids.
Tony Brown Wins Local Hero Award by Creating a Safe Haven
Bank of America names HOLA’s Executive Director a “Local Hero” for his work in providing a safe haven for thousands of at-risk kids. Click here to read the original story. A SAFE HAVEN Tony Brown decided to choose a path that would help troubled kids in his tough Los Angeles neighborhood. “I wanted something more [...]
HOLA Staff Honored
Elizabeth Curtis, HOLA’s Director of Development, recently received much deserved recognition. In May, Elizabeth was honored by the Junior League of Los Angeles with the prestigious President’s Cup Award. We also wanted to update you on Tony Brown’s Local Heroes Award from the Bank of America. The Junior League’s President’s Cup Award recognizes a member’s [...]
Meet Vero: HOLA’s Parent & Community Resource Director
Veronica Matos, or Vero to those who know her, has been working at HOLA for the past five years and has been in her current position for two years. “How do you describe what you do?” I bridge the gap between the educational and cultural world the HOLA kids are living in and what their [...]
Alumni Director Invited to Join USC Advisory Board
We are very proud to announce that Andrea Cova, HOLA’s Alumni Director, has been asked to join the Advisory Board of the Educational Counseling Master’s Program at USC. This is a fairly new program and the Advisory Board has been formed to help guide the development of the Program. HOLA is the only non-profit represented [...]
HOLA’s Leadership and Summer Programs are Flourishing Under the Direction of Loren Rubin
Loren has been a dedicated member of the HOLA staff for more than 11 years and for the past year and a half, he has taken on the role of Director of Leadership and Summer Programs. In this unique position, he has worked tirelessly to provide quality summer programming and to develop meaningful leadership programs [...]
Upcoming Events »
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Fri. Feb 10, 2012 @ 6:00pm - 10:00pm
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Exciting Fundraiser to Benefit HOLA
1 Feb, 2012
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The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela Visit YOLA at HOLA
31 Jan, 2012
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HOLA Receives Grant From the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
30 Jan, 2012
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The Lakers are Back in Action and so is Basketball at HOLA
10 Jan, 2012
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Winter Session Off to a Great Start
3 Jan, 2012
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Exciting Fundraiser to Benefit HOLA
1 Feb, 2012
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Walden Pond Press Donates Books to Guys Read Club
1 Feb, 2012
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Heart of Los Angeles ~ Holiday of the Heart
31 Jan, 2012
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The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela Visit YOLA at HOLA
31 Jan, 2012
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HOLA Receives Grant From the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
30 Jan, 2012
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Timothy: I saw the Bolivars at HOLA on Monday and both the Bolivars and the kids were inc...

