National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 75

YEO Bios
committee. Lopez earned a bachelor’s degree in Chicano studies and political science from the
University of California, Riverside. @tweetsbysonia

Kelly Luxenberg

State Representative
Manchester, Connecticut
State Representative Kelly (Juleson-Scopino) Luxenberg is a first time
legislator serving Manchester’s 12th District. She was appointed to the
Committee on Children, Aging, and Labor & Public Employees Committees
for her first legislative session. Prior to becoming a state representative,
she served on the Manchester board of education. She has political and
legislative experience and currently does development work for a nonprofit
organization that focuses on youth issues. Luxenberg is fully engaged in her community and
maintains strong relationships with the people she serves. She prides herself on being a voice for the
voiceless, including animals and children. @K_Luxenberg

Maria G. Machuca

School Board Trustee-President
Mecca, California
Maria Machuca received a B.A. in social sciences with a minor in
Latino studies and a master’s in public administration from California
State University, San Bernardino. Since 2004, she has been serving her
community at the Mecca Family & Farmworker’s Service Center as a
community program specialist II for the county of Riverside’s Department
of Public Social Services. In 2003, Machuca was appointed by the Riverside
County Board of Supervisors to the Mecca Community Council. In 2008, she was elected to the board
of trustees for Coachella Valley Unified School District and in 2012, Machuca ran unopposed. In
2012, Machuca served as acting board president when voters passed Measure X, also known as the
Coachella Valley Unified School District Mobile Learning Initiative. Measure X is the first bond ($41
billion) by a public school district in the U.S. to fund the deployment of iPads to every student from
pre-K to 12th grade as well as to teachers (20,000 in all). @Meccapanther

City Councilmember

Mobile, Alabama
Rev. Levon Charles Manzie serves on the Mobile City Council. Previously,
Manzie was elected to the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners.
He is a fourth-generation minister, and is currently the assistant pastor of
the Saint Joseph Missionary Baptist Church of Whistler, Alabama. He holds
a bachelor’s in political science from Troy University and is working toward
a master’s degree in public administration. @lcmanzie06

YEO National Convening | 2015

Levon Charles Manzie

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