FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, 2023 | 6PM

THE EBELL OF LOS ANGELES

Featuring a play devised by USTC youth artists and directed by Academy Award-nominated Carlos López Estrada, bites by Chef Tommy Bellissimo, raffles, sweepstakes, boujee cocktails, not-so-boujee people, music and dancing!

HONOREES

37th District Congresswoman

Sydney Kamlager-Dove

29th District Congressman

Tony Cárdenas

Board Chair, Senior Vice President Production Development

Sara Scott

37th District Congresswoman

Sydney Kamlager-Dove

A fierce advocate for justice and families, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove is proudly representing California’s 37th Congressional District which covers a diverse area within Los Angeles County.

Born into a family of politically active creatives, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove attended the University of Southern California as a political science major and member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. While she was at USC, the 1992 riots following the Rodney King verdict erupted. That catalytic event motivated Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove to work with Rebuild LA and the Los Angeles Festival, two nonprofit organizations that advanced job creation and public arts programs to restore broken communities.

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove spent her career advocating for communities and families. In 2013, Rep. Kamlager-Dove was appointed to the Los Angeles County Commission on Children and Families, and in 2015, she was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board. During her time on the board, she fought to make higher education and career training affordable and accessible to everyone, with a special focus on underserved communities and students who were previously in the foster care system or incarcerated.

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove successfully ran for California State Assembly in 2018 and California State Senate in 2021. While in the California State Legislature, Rep. Kamlager-Dove got her bill, the CRISES Act, signed into law. This law provides for trained, community-led teams to respond to non-violent 911 calls – instead of police – making communities safer and saving lives.

She also worked to establish the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to help small businesses stay afloat, coauthored the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act which would reduce single-use plastic packaging in landfills by 75%, and authored the Affordable Prescription Drug Act to procure low-cost medicine for Californians.

As a Freshman Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove carries with her the experience of serving the people of Los Angeles. She will always be a strong voice for justice and our most vulnerable community members as she continues her commitment in the House of Representatives.

29th District Congressman

Tony Cárdenas

Raised by hard-working immigrant parents, Tony Cárdenas was brought up with simple ideals
– that integrity and dedication were the keys to success. These are the qualities he has
brought to his work as a public servant, and he continues to offer that today as a United
States Congressman. Representing the community that raised him, Tony has never stopped
working for the San Fernando Valley – from fighting for better jobs to lowering costs. He
always puts People over Politics.

Before representing California’s 29th district in Congress, Rep. Cárdenas was first elected to the
California State Assembly in 1996. He went on to serve three terms in the assembly and was
later elected to the Los Angeles City Council, in 2003. Rep. Cárdenas made history as the first
Latino elected to represent the San Fernando Valley in the United States Congress. The very
passion and love for the Valley that drove him to run for office 27 years ago fuel his work in
Washington today. An engineer by trade and a former small business owner, Rep. Cárdenas’
experience prepared him for a life of problem-solving as a public servant. Now in the 118th
Congress (2023-2024), Rep. Cárdenas sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Rep. Cárdenas earned his engineering degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Born in Pacoima, he was raised with ten brothers and sisters and still resides in the San
Fernando Valley with his wife, Norma, their children and their grandchildren.

Board Chair, Senior Vice President Production Development

Sara Scott

Sara Scott currently serves as Executive Vice President of Production Development at Universal Pictures and has been with the studio since 2010. During her tenure at Universal, Sara has worked on some of the studio’s most successful films and franchises such as Ted, Straight Outta Compton, Girls Trip, Get Out, Glass, and films in the Pitch Perfect, Jurassic World, and The Purge Franchises. Prior to joining Universal, Sara was an executive at Harpo Films. Sara lives in Los Angles with her husband and daughter, having grown up just outside of Philadelphia. She studied Theatre Arts and Urban Studies at The University of Pennsylvania, where she received her B.A. She has been involved with the Unusual Suspects since 2004.

Theatre helped me find my voice and gave me the tools to achieve a variety of personal and professional goals. Participating in the creation of theatre, or being a member of an audience, can be a transformative experience. Theatre teaches us to dream, to collaborate, to listen, and it allows us to see how taking chances can yield great product. Having experienced the power of theatre and education through theatre, I have been honored to be involved with the Unusual Suspects whose programs consistently help people find their voices while teaching them important life skills.

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37)

Congressman Tony Cardenas (CA-29)

Sara Scott, Board Chair, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company

THANK YOU SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Steve & Nancy Carell

ARTISTIC SPONSOR

SEASON SPONSOR

Albert & Karen Chou

CHECK OUT OUR AUCTION ITEMS

Estate Tasting for 6 Guests at Ridge Vineyards

In 1962, Ridge made its fist Monte Bello, and two years later its first zinfandel. Since that time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched. With 22 awards, Ridge is among the top 5 wineries to earn the most Top 100 awards since the buying guide began in 1988. 

Palm Springs Getaway

A Three Night Stay in a gorgeous mid-century vacation rental in Palm Springs. It’s in one of the best neighborhoods, Vista Las Palmas. Right near Elvis’ and a Priscilla’s honeymoon getaway. As well as many stars of the day!

Gourmet Dinner Package for Two on the Napa Valley Wine Train

The Napa Valley Wine Train takes you on a 36-mile round trip discovery to St. Helena and back, stopping at celebrated wineries along the way. But it’s more than a train. It’s a luxuriously vintage setting. A lush, mesmerizing landscape. A divine four-course meal. Exclusive insider winery tours. An intimate shared experience. 

Behind the Scenes: Herpetology Department at the Natural History Museum

Enjoy a private, behind-the-scenes tour for (4) four with Neftali Camacho, Collections Manager of Herpetology at the Natural History Museum in LA. 

This also includes admission to the Museum. These private tours are usually reserved for Fellows-level members or higher!

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