Allison Wilhite (she/her) coordinates the LA REPAIR Participatory Budgeting pilot program with the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights).
Prior to joining LA Civil Rights, Allison worked with the Office of the City Administrative Officer to create over 6,000 new beds for people experiencing homelessness and to provide emergency housing during the COVID-19 emergency. Previously, she worked with City Councilmember Mike Bonin (Council District 11) to open the Pacific Sunset A Bridge Home, an interim housing site for 100 adults and 54 young adults experiencing homelessness in the Venice neighborhood. She also worked with the Mayor’s Data Team and the Department of City Planning to evaluate the Department’s outreach methods with an equity lens, providing guidance on how to improve engagement with underrepresented communities in the planning process.
Allison started her career in national service programs. She served for three years in Baltimore as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, first as a community organizer and then as a program manager supporting VISTA members across the state of Maryland. Later, she served for two years with the Peace Corps in Ecuador as an English Teacher Trainer, facilitating professional development and language skills building for local teachers.
Allison has a MPA from the University of Southern California with a focus on City/County Management, where she studied innovations in civic engagement and community empowerment including participatory budgeting, and a BA in International Studies from Stonehill College. She was born and raised in San Diego County and enjoys taking road trips to visit as many National Parks as possible.