Karen Mack is a passionate, visionary leader in Los Angeles focused on leveraging the power of arts and culture to empower individuals, build connections and develop communities. In 2000, she created LA Commons based on a vision of communities where everyone has access and freedom to express themselves and the ability to tap into the power that creativity provides. For over 25 years, she and her team have worked in neighborhoods across the city, implementing artistic programs that foster interaction,
dialogue and collaboration for a better Los Angeles. LA Commons plays a unique role as a facilitator of local engagement in arts and culture as well as in other important issues – health, transportation and education, to name a few, giving residents and particularly young people, a voice and an onramp to making positive change. Prior to LA Commons, Karen served as Public Service Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where she researched the role of culture in community building and Vice President at Community Partners, responsible for Program Planning and Development. She holds an MPA from Harvard University and an MBA from the John Anderson School of Management at UCLA. She served for 7 years on the City of Los Angeles City Planning Commission and is currently a member of that City’s Human Relations Commission as well as the board of the California Humanities.