Weingart Center Honors Women Leading Los Angeles Into the 21st Century - 19/10/2011

Cynthia Ruiz, Deputy Director of External Relations for the Port of Los Angeles, and Andrea Alarcon, President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, honored at “Women Building LA” event

LOS ANGELES – The Weingart Center honored two civic leaders for their significant contributions in supporting Los Angeles’ quality of life and economic growth at the Women Building LA event last night. The event brought together more than 100 leaders in the public and private sectors to recognize Cynthia Ruiz, deputy director of External Affairs for the Port of Los Angeles, and Andrea Alarcon, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works.

“These women demonstrate extraordinary leadership that impacts the lives of Los Angeles residents every day,” said retired State Senator and Weingart Center CEO Kevin Murray. “Like Cynthia and Andrea, we understand that change requires investment into the community, and that is why the Weingart Center invested more than $7 million into our downtown facilities and helped place 476 homeless men and women into jobs this year alone.”

Cynthia Ruiz provides strategic external relations leadership and support to Port senior management and Harbor Commissioners. An integral part of the U.S. economy, the Port is responsible for nearly 3 million jobs across the country and more than 900,000 jobs in California.

Andrea Alarcon serves as president of the Department of Public Works, the city’s third largest municipal agency, which has more than 5,500 employees and an annual budget of more than $1.8 billion.

Both women are emerging leaders in their respective positions and are shaping the future of Los Angeles.

The Women Building LA event, held at Perch in Downtown Los Angeles, brought together more than 100 public and private sector leaders to discuss how a collective focus on strengthening the region’s infrastructure can position Los Angeles to overcome current economic challenges.

About The Weingart Center
Located in the heart of Skid Row, the Weingart Center transforms the lives of Los Angeles’s homeless men and women, helping them to break the cycle of homelessness and lead self-sufficient lives by providing on-site transitional housing; case management; substance abuse recovery; mental health treatment; education; workforce development; and other services. The Weingart Center incorporated as a 501 C (3) non-profit organization in 1984, and is a premier agency of its kind in the West and a model for the nation. Visit www.weingart.org for more information.

Contacts:
John Donner
Director, Donor Relations
Weingart Center
213.689.2183
johnd@weingart.org

Jesse Melgar
Cerrell Associates, Inc.
323.337.0238
melgar@cerrell.com

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Pictured in photo: (Left) Andrea Alarcon, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works and (Right) Cynthia Ruiz, deputy director of External Relations for the Port of Los Angeles.