Mike Bonin, the incoming executive director for the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs (PBI), is ready to get to work.
Still a few days away from starting his new role, Bonin outlined his vision for the organization during the PBI VIP reception at the Walter P. Moore office in the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, April 24.
“I want PBI to be a place that researches, examines, and spotlights policy through the lens of equity to make sure that all of Los Angeles is being addressed by what our policymakers are doing,” he said. “I want this to be a place that magnifies the voices that are not heard and the voices of the people who are most impacted by policy.”
The educator, podcaster, and former Los Angeles City Councilmember will begin his PBI tenure on May 1, succeeding interim executive director Sascha Brown Rice, the granddaughter of former California Gov. Pat Brown.
The PBI event highlighted the power of participation and discussed how increased civic engagement can fuel leadership on smart policy and good governance in Los Angeles and the state.
In introducing Bonin, Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said, “The Pat Brown Institute was founded on advancing civic engagement and empowering communities, and we want you to know Mike Bonin is going to continue doing just that. I admire his lifelong commitment to economic justice. Tonight, we celebrate the Pat Brown Institute’s proud legacy and bright future, as well as the collective efforts of promoting public policy and inclusive dialogue.”
Bonin has more than 25 years of experience in government, politics, and public service. He served on the Los Angeles City Council from 2013 to 2022, representing the neighborhoods on the Westside.
He has taught public policy at Occidental College and Loyola Marymount University, and hosts a pair of podcasts, What’s Next Los Angeles and LA Podcast.
During the event, Bonin urged students, faculty, and the rest of the audience to engage.
“What does LA need? What does California need? What does Cal State LA need?” he said. “That’s a lot of big asks, a lot of big tasks. It’s not going to be easy… I need your help. PBI needs your help. We need your partnership and your ideas.”
In addition to Bonin, guest speakers included PBI Board Emeritus James R. Galbraith and Kathleen Brown, former state treasurer and daughter of Gov. Brown. Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman joined Bonin for a fireside chat and Q&A session, covering such topics as the housing crisis and homelessness, voter engagement, and the community response to the January wildfires.
Gov. Brown brought PBI to Cal State LA in 1987. The nonpartisan, presidentially chartered institute is dedicated to the quest for social justice and equity, enlightened civic engagement, and an enhanced quality of life for everyone in the state.
Today, PBI seeks to sustain the vision and legacy of Gov. Brown by promoting civic and community engagement; helping to advance an inclusive public policy; connecting with and energizing the next generation of community leaders next generation of community leaders; and serving as a thought leader on vital issues for the region and the state.
“It’s really an honor to be at the helm of an organization named after Pat Brown, who for me is a legendary figure,” Bonin said. “He was a governor who insisted that government can and must lift people up, that public leaders can and must think long-term about the future, that public leaders can and must take risks to do what’s right, and that the public must participate in making change.”
# # #
California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
