Camilla Townsend

 

As President of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce from 2006-2011, Camilla facilitated membership growth; formed new business development initiatives and public/private partnership programs; advocated at the local, state, and national levels on public policy issues; and administered a $750,000 budget.

 

Camilla served as Executive Director of the Max H. Gluck Foundation for roughly 30 years, managing the giving program that grew from $2.5 million to $5 million per year. Major projects under contract with the Foundation provide education, outreach, and arts programs at major colleges and universities, K-12 schools, museums, hospitals, and professional performance organizations throughout Southern California and in New York.

 

Camilla served as a founding member and vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles.

 

Camilla also served as a commissioner, appointed by the Los Angeles City Council to the Joint Presidents' Commission on LAUSD Governance. Her role was to determine the governance structure for LAUSD. Her role on this commission is to determine the governance structure for LAUSD which best aligns to the 21st century demands of academic rigor and achievement for all students, equality of educational opportunity, maximum and efficient use of government funds and resources including provisions for school safety, parent and community engagement, and accountability for results.

 

In 2007, Camilla was appointed to the Harbor Area Planning Commission, by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In this capacity she oversaw major planning, developments, variances and zoning issues for the Harbor Area. In 2001, she was appointed to the Board of Harbor Commissioners by Mayor James Hahn. As a Harbor Commissioner her responsibility was to oversee the nation's busiest port. She also served as co-chair of the Port Community Advisory Committee, a standing committee of the Board that engages community response and participation related to Port development. In 1999, Townsend was appointed to the Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth, and their Families by Mayor Richard Riordan. She maintained advocacy for childcare, youth development and violence prevention in her role as commissioner.

 

An educator for more than 40 years, Camilla has taught at the high school, adult school and college levels. She was an assistant professor of education in the graduate schools of California State University, Los Angeles; California Lutheran College; Loyola Marymount University and UCLA Extension School. Now retired, she worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 38 years; serving as a teacher, Administrator of Public and Private Partnership Programs to the Deputy Superintendent of Schools, and as former principal of Harbor Community Adult School. Her extensive community involvement has resulted in the creation of the annual San Pedro Teen Conference, the Harbor area's Parent Education and Family Literacy Programs, and the establishment of Port of Los Angeles High School.

 

Camilla is the recipient of numerous honors, including: Honorary Mayor of San Pedro, 1997-1999; Adult Education Administrator of the Year, 1997, by the Association of California School Administrators; Woman of the Year, 1999, 54th District of California; Pioneer Woman of the Year, 1999 and 2006, 15th Los Angeles Council District; Outstanding Woman of the Year, 2004, by State Senator Betty Karnette; Woman of Distinction, 2005, Soroptimist International of the South Bay.

Camilla holds a Master of Arts in educational administration from California State University, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. In addition, she has both teaching and administrative credentials from the State of California.