Meet the 2024 Fellows
Christian Ali (he/him)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
University of California, Los Angeles
B.A. Political Science
Areas of Interest: State and Federal Politics, Public Policy, Government Relations, Corporate Law, Litigation, Racial Equality
Post-Coro Plans: Christian will be attending UCLA School of Law as an Achievement Fellow to further his interests in public interest law and racial justice
Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Christian Ali has always been passionate about helping marginalized communities, specifically members of the African diaspora. Having spent part of his childhood growing up in Nigeria and later working as an instructor in China, Christian’s exposure to various education systems has ignited his interest in race and education, with policy at the nexus of the two. Christian graduated Magna Cum Laude from Antelope Valley College with an Associate of Arts in Political Science before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During his undergraduate studies, Christian was a community liaison for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), the largest sheriff’s department in the world. While at LASD, Christian collaborated with stakeholders to create avenues for residents to dialogue with police regarding racial profiling and implicit bias. Before Coro, Christian was also a policy fellow at the Urban Leaders Fellowship. While there, Christian co-created policy to alleviate education issues in New Orleans post-Katrina and COVID-19. After Coro, Christian plans to attend law school to further his interest in law and public policy to be an effective advocate for his community.
Alexis Areias (she/her)
Hometown: Walnut Grove, CA
University of Southern California
B.A. Political Science
Areas of Interest: State and Local government, Government Relations, Public Policy, Technology, Transportation, Land Use, Entertainment, Public/Private Partnerships
Post-Coro Plans: Alexis is actively looking for a role in government relations or strategic partnerships in the Los Angeles area
Growing up in Sacramento, Alexis Areias learned from a very young age the positive change that could come from good governance. Her passion for public service led her to pursue a B.A. in Political Science at the University of Southern California, where she later served as Student Body President, representing a constituency of nearly 20,000 students. She led the associated students during some of the University’s most tumultuous times and achieved significant legislative milestones in the realms of sustainability, accessibility, and inclusion. After her tenure in student government, Alexis channeled her energy into political campaigns. In 2022, she worked as a communications associate for Rick Caruso’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign before joining the Eleni Kounalakis campaign for CA Governor as a staffer. Following the Coro Fellowship, Alexis hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Public Policy and build off the lessons she learned to find practical solutions to local government issues.
Liam Arnade-Colwill (he/him)
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Yale University
B.A. History
Tsinghua University
M.A. Global Affairs
Areas of Interest: State and Local Government, Public Policy, Education, Nonprofit Management, Social Justice/Community Organizing
Post-Coro Plans: Liam is actively looking for jobs in state and local government, preferably with public servants who identify as progressive and represent diverse communities in Los Angeles or San Francisco
Liam Arnade-Colwill recently graduated from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, with a master’s degree in Global Affairs. His co-authored thesis on digital health technology’s potential to mitigate urban-rural health disparities in China received the Schwarzman College Outstanding Capstone Award. Prior to earning his master’s degree, Liam was a special education English teacher at a low-income public school in Hawaiʻi and a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Taiwan. Liam graduated from Yale University cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history in May 2019. As an undergraduate, he interned for Hawaiʻi Senator Brian Schatz and former President Barack Obama, directed a mentorship program for refugees living in New Haven, Connecticut, organized outdoor summer programs for indigent New Haven youth, and worked at a nonprofit organization that trains family childcare providers. For his service to the New Haven community, Liam was recognized with the Dwight Hall Distinguished Leadership Award. Liam’s passion for public service was shaped by his experiences growing up among diverse communities in San Diego, California, and Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. After Coro, he hopes to continue advancing health and educational equity and advocating for social justice. In his free time, Liam is an avid hiker, surfer, and professionally trained hip-hop dancer.
David Caddle (he/him)
Hometown: Jackson, MS
Rhodes College
B.A. Urban Studies
Areas of Interest: Affordable Housing and Real Estate, Transportation, Public and Government Affairs Consulting, Environmental Sustainability, Labor Relations
Post-Coro Plans: David is actively looking for jobs in Real Estate Development and Transportation consulting, government relations, and public sector government work
Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, David spent his early years renovating houses in the Metro Jackson area. Frequently working in some of the most neglected and disinvested neighborhoods in Jackson, David yearned to be able to fix the issues facing his community. Before attending Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, David worked in the city of Jackson’s constituent services department. As an undergraduate, David worked as a Memphis Fellow in the Housing and Community Development Department for the City of Memphis (H.C.D). At H.C.D., David presented his research on the effects of inflation on supplies for affordable housing projects. This act led to the city of Memphis prioritizing which projects got built. When not working, David served as the Student Body President of Rhodes College. In this role, David negotiated better pay for Resident Assistants, created gender-affirming IDs for LGBTQIA+ students, and implemented school-wide composting. Currently, David is researching the physical and mental health impact of the Jackson Water Crisis on consumers. As a Coro Fellow, David is ready to rise to the occasion, learn from the leaders around him, and improve as a servant leader.
Marco Caramanico (he/him)
Hometown: New York City, NY
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. Political Science
Areas of Interest: Government and Political Consulting, Political Campaigns, Energy, Technology, Transportation
Post-Coro Plans: Marco will be moving to Washington DC and joining Deloitte as a business analyst in their Government and Public Services consulting practice
Born and raised in New York City, Marco attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in public policy. Concurrently, he was a student-athlete on the Cal Men’s Varsity Rugby team. Throughout his time at Berkeley, Marco focused on American politics, specifically campaign politics. He conducted research in media strategy and campaign finance during his studies which enabled him to contribute effectively to multiple political campaigns. With a goal of pursuing public office, Marco plans to use the experience from the Coro Fellows’ program to better understand how issues prevalent in the local Los Angeles community reflect the broader national landscape and to identify practical solutions that are effective on both local and national scales.
Ashley Ceballos-Hernandez (she/her)
Hometown: Huntington Park, CA
University of California, Los Angeles
B.A. Public Affairs and Labor Studies
Areas of Interest: Government Relations, Public Policy, Community Engagement, Advocacy, Juvenile Justice, Education
Post-Coro Plans: Ashley will attend USC Sol Price School of Public Policy in the fall where she will further explore her interests
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ashley Ceballos-Hernandez is passionate about social issues in and around the area. After growing up in Southeast Los Angeles (SELA), she feels very passionate about issues surrounding education, gentrification, the carceral system, and basic needs. As a recent graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, she now has a B.A. in Public Affairs and Labor Studies. During her undergraduate experience, Ashley interned with the Youth Justice Coalition and Dignity and Justice Now nonprofits to conduct research analyzing how policing impacts communities of color. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashley served as an active student leader advocating for more basic needs resources for students and met with faculty in the Academic Senate regarding issues of accessibility. Last summer, she participated in UC Berkeley’s Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute Fellowship Program, a graduate-level preparation program for students committed to public service careers. She also worked for UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program where she supported students with college applications. As a Coro Fellow, Ashley is excited and grateful to remain in Los Angeles while developing as a public servant and exploring the different change-making sectors and organizations in her community.
Johnny Gross (he/him)
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Yale University
B.A. History
Areas of Interest: Urban and Transit Planning, Economic Development, Affordable Housing and Real Estate, Translation and Interpretation
Post-Coro Plans: Johnny is actively looking for city planning jobs — both private sector consulting and public sector government-level work — preferably in New York, Boston, or Philadelphia
Johnny is moving to Los Angeles from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where he worked this past year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. Prior to working as an English teacher in Taiwan, he taught ESL to local adults in New Haven, math and introductory Mandarin to middle schoolers from underserved backgrounds through the Breakthrough Collaborative, and Chinese language and culture to young adults with developmental differences at Youth Ability Cleveland. Johnny graduated from Yale University in 2022 with a B.A. in History. For his senior thesis, he researched the former Jewish community of the Chinese city of Harbin, a history he discovered while studying Mandarin there in 2019. In addition to Mandarin, Johnny also studies Polish and Yiddish, the languages of his Polish-Jewish ancestors, as well as Hebrew and Hokkien (Taiwanese). Born and raised in Chicago, Johnny is eager to experience another new city in Los Angeles. As a Coro Fellow, he looks forward to approaching education from a variety of perspectives outside the classroom, with an aim to seek pathways through which to advocate for low-income, ESL, and special-needs students. Additionally, Johnny is eager to extend his experience in education to other fields such as interpreting, immigration advocacy, urban planning, and public policy.
Ava Sanchez (she/her)
Hometown: Whittier, CA
University of Southern California
B.A. Philosophy, Politics, Economics
Areas of Interest: Community Engagement, Strategic Communications, Philanthropy, Public Affairs, Housing and Homelessness, Youth Development
Post-Coro Plans: Ava is seeking a role in strategic communications or community engagement in the world of public affairs
LA native Ava Sanchez graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) as a Trustee Scholar with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and a minor certificate in Law and Social Justice. As an undergraduate student, Ava took part in the SCDC program, a rigorous semester-long course in Washington, D.C. that explores the inner workings of government. Ava also served as an intern for Congresswoman Norma Torres. As an intern, Ava had the privilege of researching and collaborating on H.Res.1322, which serves as a commitment from Congress to support logistics workers and establishes a National Warehouse Worker Recognition Week. Upon returning to LA, Ava was a two-term Fellow with the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, where she explored LA County politics from the inside. She was also a four-year member and twice-elected Section Leader in the Trojan Marching Band, which allowed her to foster community at USC. Ava is excited and honored to participate in Coro, where she hopes to learn how to most effectively support Angelenos. After Coro, she plans to pursue a graduate degree while continuing to find opportunities for public service.
Nina Suh-Toma (she/her)
Hometown: La Crescenta, CA
University of California, San Diego
B.S. Global Health
M.A. Global Health
Areas of Interest: Social and Structural Determinants of Health, Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice, Public Policy, Government Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility
Post-Coro Plans: Nina will pursue opportunities with cross-sector collaboration in the public and private sectors
A Los Angeles native, Nina developed a passion for social equity and creating nonviolent, healthy communities through her background and upbringing as a Korean-Japanese American. Her diverse experiences have broadened her view of health and wellbeing: volunteering at domestic violence shelters, counseling survivors as a certified Sexual Assault Response Team advocate, helping address the maternal transmission of Hepatitis B, and becoming a published author with a Caltech professor on novel research related to curing HIV. As a Global Health master’s student, she has researched the impacts of environmental racism and injustice on the health of marginalized communities in Mississippi and North Carolina, and recently joined a project on the mental health impacts of inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene access on unhoused individuals in Tijuana and San Diego. In honor of her grandmother, she has been working at the Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute designing a campaign to increase the participation of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials, who are disproportionately impacted, yet severely underrepresented in Alzheimer’s research. After Coro, she intends to use the experience gained to continue exploring the role of law and policy in building and sustaining a healthier world.
Chloe Tachibana (she/her)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
University of California, San Diego
B.A. International Economics
Areas of Interest: Economic and Financial Development, Social Justice and Equity, Public Finance, International Affairs, Government Relations, Corporate Sustainability
Post-Coro Plans: Chloe is actively seeking full-time opportunities within the public or private sector in the Los Angeles region
Growing up a nomad throughout Los Angeles and Connecticut, Chloe Tachibana’s experiences in different communities inspired her passion for tackling institutional obstacles and economic inequalities. Dealing with homelessness and poverty, she earned her GED, jumped into the workforce, and became a manager at a cafe at 16 years old. Transferring to the University of California, San Diego, she pursued a degree in economic development and international relations to apply tools of analysis and quantitative techniques to macroeconomic dynamics with a globalized perspective. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted surveys, undertook community research, and improved resource accessibility at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity under Mayor Eric Garcetti. Chloe also completed an internship at LISC Strategic Investments, an impact investment firm that works to expand business and housing opportunities in underinvested communities. Most recently, she helped launch, manage, and conduct market research for a Japanese specialty goods start-up while strengthening her connections within the Los Angeles Japanese-American community. She is also a program alumnus of the US-Japan Council’s Tomodachi Initiative. As a Coro Fellow, Chloe intends to practice her leadership across various sectors to develop new solutions for disrupting barriers to opportunity and supporting marginalized communities.
Hannah Wenger (she/her)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. Political Science
Areas of Interest: Local/State/Federal Government and Politics, Public Policy, Political Campaigns, Economic Development and Opportunity, Land Use
Post-Coro Plans: Hannah is seeking employment in government and public policy-related fields, and will begin the MPP program at USC in the fall
Hannah, a Los Angeles native, discovered her passion for service at an early age. She tutored elementary school students for over six years, teaching her the value of resources and investment in schools and communities. Studying Political Science at UC Berkeley, Hannah developed an interest in economic mobility, housing policy, and social justice as she interned for former Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaaf, and conducted legal research with a focus on improving access to the civil justice system. After graduation, Hannah worked as a Field Representative for Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. In this role, she managed constituent correspondence, met with community groups and organizations to discuss legislation, and represented the Assemblymember in the 51st Assembly District. Through Coro, Hannah envisions delving into policy matters with greater depth, exploring new areas of interest, and forming a network of individuals committed to exploring equitable policy solutions.
