Leadership Development Manager

Ariana joined C5LA as a Leadership Development Manager in 2025, bringing a decade of experience in youth-development, arts-based programming, and nonprofit leadership. Her commitment to this work began early in her career while working at a Los Angeles based nonprofit camp serving inner-city students, an experience that inspired her to become a first generation graduate and shaped her belief in the power of immersive, community-centered youth programs.

After co-founding a dance and street art nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, Ariana relocated back to Los Angeles, where she deepened her impact across youth development and arts education. She supported large-scale programming that blended creativity and academic growth, and helped design meaningful experiences coordinating partnerships and elevating opportunities for over 200 LAUSD after-school arts & education programs. 

Ariana is passionate about educational equity, expanding access to creative opportunities, and cultivating spaces where young people feel seen, grounded, and inspired to grow.