Meet Our Board
Of Directors
Phil Allen Jr.
Chairman
Phil Allen, Jr. is founder of Racial Solidarity Project based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a Ph.D. student in Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary where he also received an MA in Theology majoring in Christian Ethics. He pastored for thirteen plus years with the last five and a half years as pastor of Own Your Faith Ministries located in Santa Clarita, CA. He is a speaker/preacher, poet and a documentary film producer. His short film Open Wounds premiered in Los Angeles in January 2020. Phil’s passion is for racial justice and healing trauma from racial tragedies and existing structures that perpetuate racial inequities. As a former personal trainer and Division I college athlete, he has a passion for mentoring college and professional athletes. He enjoys being a guest chaplain for college and professional sports teams, especially “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys.
Susan Christopher
Board Member
Susan is an attorney and nonprofit leader dedicated to equipping and connecting churches and the wider community toward practical justice - caring for those that have been hardest hit by our systems of inequity. Susan also works with public schools to move them toward equity and diversity learning and collaboration, as well as city and local college grant committees on homelessness.
Sandy Lee Schaupp
Board Member
Sandy Lee Schaupp is a 1.8 generation Korean American woman, passionate about pursuing racial justice and reconciliation and providing spiritual direction. She's been on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 27 years where leading others towards Jesus and towards justice & reconciliation has been a major part of her ministry to college students and staff. She also formed and currently leads a community at Christian Assembly Church in Eagle Rock, CA to engage with issues of racial justice & reconciliation called the Multiethnic Learning Community. She particularly loves mentoring people of color to embrace their ethnic identity and embrace the truth that they are wonderfully and fearfully made. She also serves on the leadership team for Racial Justice Coalition of Greater Pasadena.
La Shonda Coleman
Board Member
Award winning international speaker and educator, La Shonda Coleman embodies the values of compassion, service, justice and empowerment. As a leading administrator within higher education, she has developed programs to combat interpersonal violence and inspire wellness and resilience.
La Shonda earned her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Southern California (USC) with a concentration in Community Organization, Planning and Administration. As a licensed clinical social worker, La Shonda anticipates completing her Doctorate in the Philosophy of Clinical Social Work at The Institute for Clinical Social Work (ICSW) in Chicago, IL in 2021. She has established a thriving private psychotherapy and clinical consultation practice in Los Angeles and serves as a consultant to a variety of organizations. Her expertise includes gender based violence prevention, trauma informed care, wellness and resilience. La Shonda is known for her compassionate approach to empowering individuals and communities to live well.
Mario Ortiz
Board Member
Mario Adriel Ortiz was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. in 1989. He has been in the ministry for many years and has served in worship and senior pastor roles for Spanish-language churches. Currently, he serves on the Senior Executive Team at The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, CA. Mario is also a Fuller Seminary student. He has a passion for Jesus, great music, his beautiful family (his wife, Mayra, and six-year-old daughter, Sarah), and is always searching for the next best Taco spot!
Eddy Ekmekji
Board Member
Eddy Ekmekji serves as Greater Los Angeles Regional Director with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and as Lead Pastor of As You Are Missionary Church in Reseda, CA. With over 25 years of ministry, Eddy has had opportunities to work in a variety of ministry contexts to plant and grow communities of faith. In his current role, he loves collaborating and partnering with a variety of leaders, to deploy the gifts of God in pursuit of the vision of God. Eddy received an MA in Inter-Cultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. In his spare time, he bakes bread, makes hot sauce, and roasts coffee.
Meet Our Officers
Phil Allen Jr.
Chairman
Susan Christopher
Vice President