Sherman Oaks Couple, Rabbi Heather Miller and Melissa de la Rama Named 'Leaders to Watch'

Liberty Hill, L.A.’s social justice foundation, has named Rabbi Heather Miller and donor-activist Melissa de la Rama as 2013 “Leaders to Watch.” 

Leaders to Watch are spotlighted for their grassroots community efforts to end poverty and expand opportunity, promote racial/ gender justice and advance equality, and reduce pollution and clean up the environment.

Liberty Hill President/CEO Kafi D. Blumenfield says: “We are so thrilled to name Heather Miller and Melissa de la Rama as two of Liberty Hill’s 2013 Leaders to Watch. We honor them as a couple because they are proud of the symbolic importance of their recent marriage, and because they are a formidable team. As donor-activists and members of Liberty Hill’s Advisory Council, their mission is to bring more than financial support to the struggle for social justice in L.A. and help guide the city into a dynamic future.”

Liberty Hill’s 2013 Leaders to Watch are:

• ·        Ariel Bustamante, Southern California Program Coordinator for Gay Straight Alliance Network, who is a victorious alliance-builder although she’s  just a few years older than the youth organizers she trains
• ·        Rabbi Heather Miller and studio executive Melissa de la Rama, Liberty Hill Advisory Council members, who are newlyweds and thoughtful more-than-money supporters of social change
• ·        Kendra Moore, People Organized for Westside Renewal member and President of Holiday Venice Tenant Action Committee, who recently signed an historic $80 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• ·        Kruti Parekh, Program Coordinator for Youth Justice Coalition, who is trying to inspire a city and county to use just 1% of the vast sums earmarked to imprison children and teens for safe parks, summer jobs and community centers instead

Liberty Hill is a community of organizers, donor-activists and partners working for a better life for all Angelenos. Throughout 2013 we will be calling upon our 2013 Leaders to Watch to share their timely stories about their efforts to bring about lasting positive change.