Claudia S. Richarte is a Senior Academic Advisor at the Matador Advising Hub. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development and Psychology in 2000 and a Chicana/o Studies degree in 2009. Claudia further pursued her passion for learning by successfully obtaining her Master of Arts in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Higher Education in 2014 from California State University, Northridge (CSUN).
Claudia has always felt a passion for service in the Down Syndrome community, having a nephew and three cousins with Down Syndrome. The focus of her work within this community emphasizes independent living, self-help skills, and personal empowerment. Claudia is dedicated to advocating for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves and helping them to find their voice. Through her work, Claudia strives to educate others, break stereotypes, and eliminate negative stigmas associated with Down Syndrome. She is humbled and grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness of the Down Syndrome community as a member of the DSALA Board.

Yesenia is a native of Los Angeles County and is a retired Deputy Sheriff. Her years in public service include 16 years as a civilian employee for the Santa Monica Police Department and 15 years as a Deputy Sheriff for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She took pride in serving her community for 31+ years and enjoys her involvement with DSALA. She loves being an advocate for her big brother with Down Syndrome, Buddy. They spend a lot of time together creating Down Syndrome awareness by sharing his smile and laughter on social media. She’s honored to be selected as Vice President for DSALA and looks forward to advocating with DSALA and making a difference in the Down Syndrome community.

Wayne Geffen began his career in accounting for corporate entities as an Accounting Manager and Senior Accountant. In 1984 he became Vice President and Controller for a multi-unit retailer. Wayne has held Vice President and Controller positions since 1984. In 2010 Wayne started his Consulting Firm, assisting existing and start-up businesses by providing strategic financial and operation guidance. In 2012, Wayne was hired as Vice President of Finance for a large international grocery company chain with several high-volume stores in Los Angeles.

Jeff Crusinberry has served on corporate boards and has held the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer in various organizations. He wants to make a difference in the disability community as a board member of DSALA. With his extensive experience, Jeff is well-equipped to make meaningful contributions to the organization's mission and vision.

With over 22 years of experience in education, Dr. Diana Fannon is a passionate advocate for children with disabilities, combining her extensive professional background with her personal journey living with a disability and as the parent of a child with autism. Diana has held diverse roles, including general education teacher, bilingual school psychologist, and is currently the Director of Special Education. Throughout her professional career, Diana has worked in dispute resolution, has attended countless IEP meetings, and worked to guide families through assessments, mediation, and legal processes, empowering them to advocate for their children’s rights and services.
In addition to her professional work, Diana founded DisabilityEdPros, a platform dedicated to educating and empowering parents. By drawing on her personal experiences and her deep professional expertise, Diana equips families with the tools and knowledge to navigate special education with resilience and unwavering advocacy.
As a board member of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, Dr. Fannon is committed to fostering understanding, inclusion, and empowerment for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. She firmly believes that informed, engaged families are essential to ensuring that all individuals receive the support they need to thrive.

Jorge Martinez was born and raised in Los Angeles County, where he continues to live and work. He serves as a Lead Plumber with California State University Los Angeles demonstrating a strong commitment to public service and skilled trades. Jorge and his wife are proud parents of two children, one of whom has down syndrome, which has inspired his dedication to advocating for his son and the T21 community.
Jorge is a proud and active member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 2010. He also serves as a National Representative and Chapter President of the Teamster Thunder Motorcycle Social Club where he enjoys the camaraderie, family involvement, and leadership opportunities among fellow members. Jorge looks forward to giving back to the T21 community by offering meaningful support and building collaborative relationships that promote inclusion, awareness, and empowerment.

Raised in Agoura Hills, Ranjani Reyes is a graduate of Agoura High School class of 2014 and Miller Transition Center. Upon graduating, she worked in retail for the Macy’s Department Store before deciding to pursue a career in acting with The Performing Arts Studio West, Born to Act Players, and the Triple Threat Program at The Miracle Project. Ranjani loves performing comedy, dance, writing, and singing. She has appeared in #NotSpecialNeedsPSA, The Politician, Atypical, Speechless, Jubilee, and the 48 hr film festival ‘Get Over Her Day.’ In her free time, Ranjani loves to volunteer and help other up-and-coming actors.

Luz Rodriguez was born and raised in Los Angeles County. She has worked in civil service for over 28 years in a civilian capacity, serving the Santa Monica Police Department, the City of Beverly Hills, and currently the Torrance Police Department. In addition, Luz volunteers with the Redondo Beach Police Department as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate.
Before returning to civil service, she spent seven years working for the Redondo Beach School District as an Instructional Aide, supporting students with special needs. Luz is deeply passionate about advocating for individuals who may not have the ability to advocate for themselves.
Her professional and volunteer experience reflects a unique blend of dedication, leadership, and compassion. Luz is honored to serve on the DSALA Board and is committed to driving meaningful change through collaboration and advocacy.

Jordan is a student at LA Harbor College and a working actress. She has been on shows like The Politician and Stumptown and in commercials for Comcast, Google TV, Instagram, FabFitFun, and Goodr. She is a Special Olympics athlete and has been a Special Olympics Global Messenger since 2016. She competes in swimming, bowling, tennis, and cheerleading and aspires to be on American Ninja Warrior. Jordan’s hobbies include singing, dancing (ballet, hula, hip hop, and tap), horseback riding, boogie boarding, painting, and playing the piano, guitar, ukulele, and tambourine. Jordan wants to help people with Down syndrome of all ages to chase their dreams.

Fanfan Wang is a film director, producer, and life coach. She earned her master's degree in filmmaking and was selected as a visiting scholar at USC. Fanfan has 16 years of international film co-production experience. She has four years of life coaching experience. Her feature film, Beijing Carmen, won numerous international awards. She was involved in the Award-nominated film Mongol and Mao's Last Dancer. Also, her documentary film, Taste Of Body, won multiple international awards.
Fanfan's multifaceted career includes being a consultant for HBO and various Foreign Embassies in China. She is on the committee of the China Children's Film Association and a member of the China Film Producers Association. Her son, who has Down Syndrome, empowered her to become a life coach and an advocate and created You Are Awesome, Inc. Fanfan looks forward to bringing creative energy with DSALA into the DS community and furthering the awareness of Down syndrome to the public.