Sheldon Cruz

Director at Large
Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department

Sheldon Cruz has been a member of the LAABP’s Executive Board since 2019. In his current capacity as a board member, Sheldon sits on the Civic Engagement, Fundraising, Special Events, Membership, and EEO Committee’s. 

Sheldon has over 20 years of experience as a civil servant. He currently serves as a Senior Human Relations Advocate for the LA Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights), in charge of designing and implementing the department’s youth engagement strategy, advocating for equity and inclusion, and advocating for grassroots community engagement. Sheldon’s civil service portfolio also includes extensive programmatic design, research, and community engagement work in some of the most underrepresented and underserved communities in Los Angeles including Watts, South LA, Oakwood Venice, and Boyle Heights. Sheldon is very passionate about youth and community engagement and created a citywide youth engagement program that empowers and engages youth populations in the civic process. In 2017, he received a Presidential Greeting from President Barack Obama for his youth engagement work.

Having met Mayor Tom Bradley at the age of 14 at his local neighborhood Recreation Center in South Central Los Angeles, Sheldon was inspired by Mayor Bradley’s visionary leadership and ability to transcend racial barriers in pursuit of building a world-class city and metropolis. In his current capacity, Sheldon aims to offer his expertise in strategic ways that can proliferate the LAABP organization’s presence as well as assisting with upholding its professional mandate and strategic directives.  

LAABP represents an added layer of support and advocacy for the professional development and advancement of city employees and their careers.   

Contact Sheldon at s.cruz@laabp.org.