Mary Tanagho Ross

Mary Tanagho Ross

Mary Tanagho Ross is a senior staff attorney at Public Counsel, a pro bono law firm. In this role, she represents immigrant children in state and federal proceedings, securing and protecting their rights. Mary has been at the forefront of federal litigation challenging and overturning government policies that unlawfully harm immigrant children and limit their rights to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and asylum. Currently, Mary is class counsel in federal litigation seeking to halt a policy that strips the right to asylum from unaccompanied immigrant children. 

Previously, Mary represented clients at a civil rights law firm. Her work focused on international human rights and civil rights litigation, employees in discrimination and harassment claims, and incarcerated people. Mary’s clients included Cambodian workers in forced labor and human trafficking claims brought under the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and the Alien Tort Statute.

The Daily Journal named Mary a “Top 40 under 40” attorney in California. She also has been included on the Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. Mary earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and clerked for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. During law school, Mary spent time in Liberia, where she researched the rights of victim witnesses in cases of sexual violence. She has also worked with immigrant populations in Egypt and Spain. As the daughter of immigrants, Mary has made it her life’s mission to welcome the stranger with open arms and stand with the oppressed in their fight for just treatment. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters, who have further inspired her to work toward a more just world for children and future generations.

Storyteller, Healing Our World: Seeking Immigration Justice

David Partida

David Partida

David Partida is an arts educator for P.S. Arts, a nonprofit organization serving students in underrepresented communities. He teaches visual arts to students from pre-K through middle school and to adults. In addition, he coaches elementary and middle school teachers in arts integration. David holds a degree in La Raza Studies from San Francisco State and a California teaching credential, and is pursuing a master’s degree in art education.

He currently leads the Southern California chapter of Xiuhcoatl, an Aztec dance group that preserves and teaches Meso-American traditions. David also plays with Son del Sereno, a jarocho music and dance group that preserves and promotes folk music from Veracruz, Mexico. He has served on the boards of nonprofits focusing on issues ranging from equity in education to tenant rights.

Storyteller, Healing Our World: Facing Climate Change​

Allis Druffel

Allis Druffel

Allis Druffel joined California Interfaith Power & Light in 2009 and serves as Southern California Outreach Director. Involved in environmental issues for two decades, in 2008 she spearheaded the Los Angeles Catholic Environmental Ministry. Allis has a special fondness for policy work that addresses the deeply interconnected issues of systemic racial and environmental injustice, clean energy, job creation, and public health. Inspired by Pope Francis’ message Laudato si’ – subtitled “On care for our common home” – she works with the faith community to implement its call to people worldwide to take “swift and unified global action” on global warming and the environment.

Previously, Allis was Director of Community Services at Holy Family Catholic Church. She also has served in pastoral care and music at various other churches. A classical singer, she holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in pastoral ministries from Santa Clara University. Along with climate change work, Allis continues to sing, often combining Creation education into her recitals. She developed the website bleastearth.com, and her latest recorded song, “You Think of Me,” can be found at bit.ly/YouThinkofMe.

Storyteller, Healing Our World: Facing Climate Change​

Mona Bennani

Mona Bennani

Mona obtained an MS in environmental peacebuilding from New York University. She received her permaculture design certification from the Center for Ethical Living at Zaytuna College in Berkeley. Most recently, Mona worked as a sustainability educator with the Art and Wilderness Institute. Previously, she served with the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office on a global youth study. As a water security consultant for EcoPeace Middle East, Mona helped start a cross-border environmental peacebuilding program in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. She strives to honor her role as khalifah — an inheritor of a tradition that takes the covenant, the trust, as a sacred responsibility.

Storyteller, Healing Our World: Facing Climate Change​

Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar

Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar

Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar (pronouns they/them/their) is a nationally recognized higher education leader, advocate, consultant and author. Their work focuses on intersectional identity development and the experiences of LGBTQ people, immigrants, first-generation students, international students and people of color in higher education.

Dr. Bhattar has held numerous leadership roles in inclusion, multicultural student affairs, LGBTQ student life and student support services at institutions including UCLA, University of Redlands, University of Vermont, University of Chicago and Semester at Sea (University of Virginia). They have been featured in The Advocate Magazine, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Hinduism Today Magazine and many other outlets.

Born in India, Dr. Bhattar comes from a long line of Hindu spiritual leaders. They are trained in the spiritual and scriptural aspects of Hinduism and work to reclaim progressive, feminist and inclusive perspectives of Hinduism, Sanathana Dharma and Vedic rituals. A proud queer and gender non-conforming person of color and spiritual practitioner, Dr. Bhattar approaches their work with a passion for sustainable organizational impact and a bold vision of equity and access through social change. They hold a PhD and Master of Arts degrees in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA.

Storyteller, Healing Our World: Exploring Gender Equality​