Mayor Bass Taps New General Manager for L.A. Department of Neighborhood Empowerment

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass April 26 announced that she has selected Carmen Chang as the new general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment following a comprehensive search. Chang will drive an equity-driven vision for the department where Angelenos across the city can be civically engaged through the neighborhood council system to advocate for their communities on the issues that matter to them most.

Chang brings a background in organizing and helping empower communities to be actively engaged in public and political processes while working to make systems more inclusive. She currently serves as the director of programs and organizing at Golden State Opportunity, a statewide anti-poverty organization, where she leads a team and executes a multi-million dollar budget to work with 40 organizations throughout the state to provide education and outreach to low-income Californians to ensure access to economic opportunities, public benefits and to advocate for systems change at the state and federal levels. 

By centering the voices of impacted Angelenos, Carmen earned advocacy wins on economic justice, health and public benefits, and detention and deportation, including full inclusion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit for tax filers using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers or ITIN and health for all regardless of immigration status. Carmen is an active advocate for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles. Read more about her professional history and achievements here.

“I am honored to be appointed to serve as General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. I look forward to carrying out Mayor Bass’ vision for a neighborhood council system that is inclusive and representative of the many cultures and the diversity of Los Angeles,” said Mayor Bass’ Appointee Carmen Chang. “My first priority will be to listen to the Neighborhood Councils, to build relationships with each of them and to engage and learn from the Department staff to develop a plan to increase community engagement in every corner of the city. Solving our greatest challenges and improving our communities must always begin with hearing the voices of community members. That is what we will do, together.”

The appointment will be referred to the Los Angeles City Council for consideration.