Allison Hales

Born and raised in London, Allison obtained a BA Honors in Marketing and Communications at London Guildhall University and is now a Realtor in Los Angeles. Her love affair for music led her to New York City specializing in managing top recording artists. After 10+ years in the music business, Allison transitioned her career into working with HNW individuals and the management of their estates.

Allison lived in Manhattan Beach opposite Bruce’s Beach Park for 3+ years. She founded Culture Club South Bay in 2020 amidst the pandemic to celebrate diversity and culture in the South Bay, starting with live events on Zoom that honored different cultures through arts and performance. 

In 2021 alongside Justice for Bruce’s Beach, and Color of Change, she produced a Juneteenth gathering at the historic park, creating a safe space to celebrate Black liberation in a predominantly white neighborhood sponsored by Sup. Hahn and Color of Change. 

She was also chosen first seat on the Bruce’s Beach MB City Task Force and sat on the board for Pop the Bubble.

Billy Corvalan

A long time Manhattan Beach resident, Billy fell in love with surfing at a young age while growing up on Long Island, NY. His passion and love for the ocean motivated him to travel the world searching for perfect waves. His adventures took him around the globe building strong water skills and wave knowledge while also learning about the cultures that shaped the local surf scene. In the process, Billy discovered that surfing can break language and cultural barriers. To Billy, surfing is more than a sport, it is an opportunity to experience and connect with people, places, and the things that unite them all.

Suzanne Lerner, Owner, Michael Stars

Born and raised in Chicago, Suzanne’s activism began at a young age when she became part of the city’s dynamic movements for gender and racial equality. She and Michael Cohen, her partner in business and in life, co-founded and built Los Angeles-based lifestyle and clothing company Michael Stars in 1986 with opportunity, equality, and inclusivity as core values.

Today she serves as CEO of Michael Stars and is an activist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Her focus is on lifting up the voices of women to ensure equal rights; providing the access to capital, skills and leadership training needed for women and marginalized groups to get ahead; investing in community-led organizing; and building transformative power at the grassroots level. She is also broadening her activism to include engaging men and fighting for reproductive justice both in the US and globally. Her activism and philanthropy span local and international communities through personal grants, impact investments, and the Michael Stars Foundation. She is a frequent contributor and speaker on business and activism, sharing her perspective and experiences around running socially responsible businesses, entrepreneurship, and the role of business in advocating for an equal world.

Lenie Ramos, Graphic Designer

A native Angeleno, Lenie has spent the last 26 years building a life in Manhattan Beach alongside her husband and two now-grown children. As a graphic designer and former business owner, she blends a sharp creative eye with an entrepreneurial spirit, always leading with the warmth and connection that comes from deep local roots. 

A passionate environmental advocate, she is dedicated to protecting the coastal community she loves, finding her greatest joy in giving back to the place that has provided so much to her and her family. 

Emily Vargas

Emily is the North American Customer Support Manager at a global aerospace manufacturing company. Born and raised in Venice, California, and now residing in the South Bay, Emily is a lifelong ocean lover and a true thalassophile.

Before transitioning into the aerospace industry, Emily spent seven years in recreation and youth programming, serving as a director for both a beach day camp and an immersive English summer camp. She brings this valuable experience, along with her organizational skills and passion for youth development, to her leadership role with CCSB.

Emily has been a dedicated CCSB lead volunteer for five years, supporting the organization since its earliest days. She has played an active role at camp, helping create a safe, welcoming, and memorable experience for participating youth and volunteers. As a member of the leadership team and Board of Directors, Emily is deeply committed to CCSB’s mission and has witnessed firsthand the confidence, connection, and sense of belonging the program creates for young people.

Emily also enjoys highlighting hidden gems, supporting local businesses, and helping people discover their next great meal, earning her Yelp Elite status.

Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson

Alison Rose Jefferson is a publicly engaged independent historian, heritage conservation consultant and a third generation Californian. Presently her research and professional interest revolve around the intersection of historical memory, American history, the history of the African American experience in Southern California during the twentieth century great migration and Jim Crow era, intersection with heritage conservation, spatial justice and cultural tourism. She is also interested in her work’s intersections with the experiences of people of African descent in other global settings.

Along with other work activities utilizing her knowledge and skills expertise, she has written a book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era (University of Nebraska Press, 2020). This study examines how African Americans pioneered leisure in American’s “frontier of leisure” through their attempts to create communities and business projects, in conjunction with the growing African American population of Southern California during the nation’s Jim Crow era. The places Jefferson’s examines illustrate a range of recreation and relaxation production purposes and societal encounters at beach and inland locations.