Ava Marinelli (she/her)

ava.marinelli@lacity.org
Public Information Officer
Awareness & Engagement Division

Ava Marinelli (she/her) serves as EmpowerLA’s Public Information Officer. As Public Information Officer, Ava oversees and manages internal and external communications for the Department. She develops and executes effective communications and marketing campaigns and strategies in partnership with other Department leaders and City partners to increase Angelenos’ civic participation and make the government more responsive to local needs.

Ava’s career has always been rooted in public and community service. She first served as an early elementary special education teacher in Los Angeles Unified Public Schools, where she was also elected to represent her school site in United Teachers of Los Angeles’ House of Representatives. She continued her community-driven organizing and advocacy work as a field and communications staffer on progressive presidential, state, and local campaigns during the 2020 and 2022 elections. Additionally, Ava has worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting college and career readiness opportunities for California’s young people at the Linked Learning Alliance as Communications Manager. She also served on the Mid City West Neighborhood Council prior to joining the EmpowerLA staff.

Ava graduated summa cum laude from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and minor in education. She also graduated summa cum laude from Loyola Marymount University with a master’s degree in education policy. She proudly hails from the East Coast, and is an avid home chef and baker, community organizer, and public transportation rider. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and rescue dog, Bruce.

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