Officers
CEO and Community Advisory Committee Bios
Patricia Levinson | President, Founder
Ms. Levinson has been an educator all her life. Initially teaching in juvenile court and foster youth facilities, she became a principal serving in the juvenile court system’s community schools within Los Angeles County. She served her last 12 years in education as the Project Director III for Foster Youth Services (FYS), representing Los Angeles County to the State of California reporting on the educational status of foster youth in Los Angeles County, consisting of 80 school districts. She collaborated with parents and caregivers, judges, attorneys, probation, educators, social workers and others to promote the educational successes of youth. Upon retirement she continued her community involvement in political campaigns, working with foster youth, fundraising for the Sandy Segal Youth Health Center and more. Her current focus is Womanhood.the museum.
Robert Charles Sciortino | Secretary & Treasurer
Mr. Sciortino has a background that includes the breadth and depth of life's experiences. Mr. Sciortino has his MS in Educational Administration and a BA in Communications. He has been an experienced Teacher, Assistant Principal and Program Developer with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, serving in the Juvenile Court Schools.
He served as a Captain in the US Navy (Ret.) Supply Corps in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He is a Veteran with the Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare.
Robert is a member of Musical Theater West Footlighters and Guild Clubs and sings tenor for St Bartholomew Church. He also sings with the Musical Theater West.
Haifaa al Moammar | Community Organizer
Ms. Al-Moammar is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Ms. Al-Moammar worked for the United Nations Development Programme in New York as an Economic Officer. She served as an Organizational and Policy Analyst for the Saudi Arabian National Guard Health Affairs where she advised the CEO (minister level). Moving to California she became involved in the League of Women Voters as a Director of Publications. Haifaa worked as a Program Manager at the UCLA Near East Center. She is fluent in reading, writing and speaking Arabic and English. She is active in her community in political campaigns (City Council and School Board), Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations and with Sister City International, particularly as Chair of the South Korean city, Iksan. She is married with one son.
Arlene Gibson | Educator, Counselor
While a New Yorker in her heart, Ms. Gibson, lives in California. She has travelled extensively, all the time devoting her professional career to secondary teaching, then to high school, college and career counseling. She has an extended background working with foster youth in the educational field.
Khin Khin Gyi, MD, Ph.D. | Neurologist, Community Organizer
Dr. Gyi trained at the University of Vermont, College of Medicine. She is currently a self-employed neurologist with a multiple sclerosis fellowship-trained subspecialty as well as twenty-two years of general neurology practice in migraine management, stroke prevention, Parkinson’s disease treatment and pain management. As a community activist, she is deeply involved in the Sierra Club and statewide and local political campaigns.
Cerie Segal | Travel Expert, Adventurer
Ms. Segal is a noted Travel Expert who has been featured on the ABC Radio Networks, CBS-TV, NBC-TV and numerous radio stations. She offers travel advice and destination tips for domestic and international venues. She has a background in theatre and speaks English and Italian. She is currently a resident near Dallas, Texas.
Diana Hauptman | Business Woman, Artist, Community Organizer
Ms. Hauptman works with her husband in a local business. Because she is an amazing artist, Diana provides the catalog, product advertising and designing in the office and makes time to create ceramics in her leisure time. She devotes her time to her passions – children and grandchildren – as well as to community programs: Sister City, Historical Society, Religious involvement, Education Foundation, Art Foundation and the Sandy Segal Youth Health Center, located on the local middle and high school campuses. Since Ms. Hauptman’s business centers around sports, she and her husband are active in sports and education. She and her husband are generous philanthropists.
Barbara Honig, J.D. | Attorney, Educator, Community Organizer
Ms. Honig was an attorney representing immigrants in both the court system and in their quest for US residency and citizenship. She most recently retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District as an Elementary Assistant Principal. As a long time activist, she served eight years as a Member and President on the Culver City Board of Education. She is married to Gary Silbiger, attorney, and former Mayor of Culver City and they have two adult children.
Evelyn Toliver | Consultant, Educator, Youth Advocate
Ms. Toliver has served as a consultant for the United States Department of Education evaluating projects in the areas of early childhood systems development and coordination, juvenile justice and transition from school-to-career. She has an extensive background in the areas of transition services for youth ages 12-22. She has managed multiple school-to-career programs and initiatives. She has also worked with the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, UCLA’s Business and Policy schools, United Parcel Service and Ready Nation thus increasing the interest by local business and political leaders around Early Childhood Education. She has served on the Boards of four community non-profits that focus on education and support services for youth.
Maria Miñon, M.D. | Chief Medical Officer, Children’s Hospital of Orange County
A pediatrician by training, Dr. Miñon serves as CHOC Children’s senior vice president of medical affairs and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Miñon also holds a volunteer faculty position as associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. She enjoys mentoring family and friends of colleagues considering careers in medicine. She served on California First Five Commission for four years, president of the Orange County Medical Association, Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees including as board chair from 2013-15, as president of the California Chapter IV of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has received many awards and honors for her work in medicine, healthcare and philanthropy. Dr. Miñon graduated cum laude, has been UC Irvine Alumna of the Year and has been recognized by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez as Outstanding Woman in the field of Health.