Meet Jeannine
Small business owner. Former Cultural Affairs Commissioner.
Nonprofit executive. Community advocate. Feminist.
Public schools volunteer. 4th Generation Union Member.
Longtime Culver City neighbor. Mom.
Jeannine is running for Culver City Council because she believes city government is at its best when leaders respond with compassion and vision to all who live, work, and enjoy Culver City.
Having lived in Culver City for more than 26 years while serving at both the city and school district levels, and as the parent of three who attended Culver City public schools from kindergarten through high school, she brings a unique ability to connect city government, schools, and the broader community, helping bridge communication, priorities, and problem-solving between them. Her experience gives her a firsthand understanding of how city decisions impact families, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and daily life across the community.
Culver City Roots
A Culver City resident for 26 years, Jeannine and her husband bought their first and only home in Culver City drawn by the strong community spirit, beautiful tree-lined streets, and excellent public schools. All three of their daughters attended CCUSD schools from kindergarten through high school.
Community Involvement:
Neighborhood, Schools, Parks & Green spaces, Public Safety, Environment, Arts
Jeannine began her civic engagement as a room parent and board member of the PTA and booster clubs in Culver City public schools. Her dedication led to her securing a position on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), overseeing the use of general obligation bonds for school repair and construction. Additionally, she served on the Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Committee for Culver City High School, working to expand educational opportunities for students. She currently serves on the District Community Arts Team and on the Culver Arts Advisory Board. An advocate of parks and green space, she co-founded Culver City Great Parks, a nonprofit formed to upgrade and improve city playgrounds and parks.
Following the tragic Sandy Hook murders, she produced a school safety forum uniting city council, police, fire, and community members to discuss safety at schools. Believing strongly in community and collaboration, Jeannine co-founded several other grassroots organizations focused on local issues in schools, parks, and neighborhoods.
Cultural Affairs Commission
Jeannine served two terms on the Cultural Affairs Commission, from 2016-2024. During her time as commissioner, she played a key role in selecting and funding local performing arts organizations through the City’s annual Performing Arts Grant program, helping recommend over $240,000 in matching grants for performances in 2023. She co-created the Culver City Artist Laureate Program, co-authored the Commission’s diversity, equity, and inclusion statement, and advised on the relaunch of the Summer Sunset Concert Series, among other initiatives. She also served as Chair of the Culver City Arts Foundation for two years, providing leadership during its transition to Culver Arts.
Politics & Advocacy
Jeannine is the co-founder and president of the Heart of LA Democratic Club, the first feminist Democratic club in Los Angeles County, working to advance gender equity and expand leadership opportunities for women in local, state, and national politics. She is and elected California Democratic Party Delegate representing Assembly District 55, elected California Democratic Party Executive Board, and elected as ex-officio member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee.
She is a graduate of EMERGE.
She is a climate, workers’ rights, and responsible gun control advocate, actively supporting causes and organizations such as Moms Demand Action, Giffords, Planned Parenthood, World Wildlife Fund, Californians for the Arts, Audibon, and ACLU.
Union Member of SAG-AFTRA
A fourth-generation union member and parent of a public-school teacher, she has been a proud member of SAG-AFTRA for over two decades, serving on the Hollywood Local Women’s Committee, which advocates for women in the entertainment industry, and previously on the Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee, working to keep entertainment jobs in California.
Professional Life
Professionally, Jeannine is a nonprofit consultant working across education, access to justice, live theatre and the arts, and community-serving organizations, including efforts that expand free legal services for those who cannot afford and attorney, and provide grants to California college students facing medical crises. In 2019, she was honored with a career achievement award for her work as a producer of Los Angeles theatre.
Other business experience includes working as a business consultant and marketing director fo companies in diverse sectors such as international trade organizations, political candidates, local businesses, nonprofits, home healthcare, special education, business reengineering, factory automation, clean water, the environment, and the federal government.
Awards and Recognitions
2019: Stage Raw Career Achievement Award for her work in Los Angeles Theatre
2022: Feminist Award – Heart of LA Democratic Club
2024: Culver City Arts Foundation Spotlight Award “Patron of the Arts”
Education
She earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Illinois and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech). In addition, she earned a certificate in classical theatre from the New York Shakespeare Conservatory, and a certificate in comedy improv from the Players Workshop of the Second City.
Jeannine’s background in comedy and improv helped shape her collaborative approach to leadership and community engagement. Through improv, she learned the value of ‘yes, and’ thinking: listening closely, building on ideas, finding common ground, and working collaboratively to solve problems and get things done.
Personal Life
Jeannine shares her home with her husband, daughters, and foster animals. When not walking through Culver City’s tree-lined streets or hiking the local mountains, she dedicates her spare time going to live theatre, and spending time with her family and rescue animals.
Background and Experience
Education
- M.B.A. – Illinois Institute of Technology
- B.S. in Advertising – University of Illinois
- Professional Designation in Arts Education – LA County Arts Education
Union Member: SAG-AFTRA
Elected, Appointed, & Volunteer Positions
- Elected California Democratic Party Delegate (Assembly District 55) – current
- Elected California Democratic Party Executive Board – current
- Elected Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee – current
- Commissioner: Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission (2016-2024, two years as chair)
- SAG-AFTRA- Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee member (2 years)
- SAG-AFTRA – Women’s Committee (current/3rd term)
- Culver City School District – District Community Arts Team
- California Democratic Party Delegate – Eboard – Assembly District 55 (elected 2025)
- Los Angeles Democratic Party Central Committee (ex-officio/elected)
- Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation – President 2 years
- Culver City Unified School District Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee (Measure CC)
- Culver City High School Booster Club – Board member, Webmaster/recording sec.
- Culver City Middle School Panther Partners Board Member/Sports Liaison
- Room parent (many times! El Marino Language School)
- Advocates for Language Learning (ALLEM) volunteer
- Culver City Centennial Celebration Heart of Screenland 5k volunteer
- Culver City Little League Softball – Team Parent
- Culver City Language Immersion 40 year Anniversary Event Planning Committee
- Culver City Unified School District Language Immersion Expansion Committee
- Culver City Unified School District’s District-wide Arts Plan Participant
- Keep Immersion Kindergarten Committee
- Culver City Neighbors United co-founder
- Culver City Great Parks (non-profit org to improve parks in Culver City /co-founder)
- Culver City Neighbors United (district-wide parent and stakeholders group)Awards & HonorariumsCertificate of Congressional Recognition (Ted Lieu, Member of Congress, 36th District)
- Community Feminist Leader Award – Heart of LA Democratic Club
- Career Achievement Award, Stage Raw (2019)
- Culver City PTA Honorary Service Award
"I have served our community as a Cultural Affairs Commissioner, nonprofit leader, community advocate, and volunteer within our schools and local organizations. Through that work, I have seen firsthand how local decisions shape the daily lives of families, students, small businesses, neighborhoods, and community institutions throughout Culver City.
Like many people, I’m concerned about rising costs and affordability challenges facing families, seniors, young people, and small businesses throughout Culver City. While local government cannot solve inflation on its own, city leaders should carefully consider how local decisions impact affordability, fiscal stability, and everyday costs for residents."
