LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles health, homeless services and housing leaders applaud Mayor Bass’ appointment of Dr. Etsemaye P. Agonafer as the City’s Deputy Mayor of Homelessness & Community Health today. Here’s what they’re saying:
Jason Pu, Regional Administrator, HUD Region IX, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
“Dr. Agonafer is an excellent choice for Deputy Mayor of Homelessness and Community Health. From her time at HUD, Dr. Agonafer already has a wealth of familiarity and experience with HUD resources. Dr. Agonafer’s appointment could not come at a better time as housing is fundamental to all social services and we look to advance “housing as health” initiatives across the federal government.”
Troy F. Vaughn, President and CEO, Los Angeles Mission:
“The Mayor’s selection of Dr. Etsemaye Agonafer as Deputy Mayor is both prudent and responsive in meeting the Mayor’s continuing efforts to address housing attainability, and diversity in healthcare. This appointment demonstrates once again how Mayor Bass is thoughtful on who she surrounds herself with to meet the challenges we face in this city. I have worked with Dr. Agonafer, and can attest to both her competence and compassion for meeting the challenges in this critical role. I wholeheartedly support this decision, and will do all I can to ensure that she is successful and look forward to continuing to partner with her.”
Demetra Lambros, Chair, President’s Commission on White House Fellows Program:
“Mayor Bass has made a splendid choice — and in Etsemaye Agonafer, Angelenos struggling with homelessness will have a fierce and tireless champion. Dr. Agonafer is the brightest of lights: innovative, deeply skilled, collaborative and, perhaps most of all, lion-hearted.”
Kelli Poole, CEO, Talent Poole Consulting and Founding Director, Racial Equity in Homelessness Initiative, Social Justice Partners LA:
“We are at a critical juncture in addressing the pressing issue of homelessness, a challenge that demands not only profound vision but also a deep sense of compassion. I commend Mayor Bass for her appointment of Dr. Etsemaye Agonafer as the Deputy Mayor of Homelessness and Community Health. Dr. Agonafer is not only an accomplished physician, public health and policy expert, but, most importantly, she is a Los Angeles native that understands firsthand the needs of our community. Etsemaye’s appointment is a testament to her outstanding leadership, unwavering commitment, and her role as a true advocate for our community's most vulnerable members.”
Mark Schuster, M.D., PhD, Founding Dean and CEO, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine:
“The complex needs of people experiencing homelessness in LA call for talented, compassionate leadership. We are thrilled about Mayor Bass’s appointment of Dr. Etsemaye Agonafer as Deputy Mayor of Homelessness and Community Health. Our school has benefited from Dr. Agonafer’s expertise in health and social systems. We are excited that now all of LA will benefit from her commitment to improving the lives of individuals and communities.”
Anish Mahajan, M.D., Chief Deputy Director, LA County Department of Public Health:
"Dr. Agonafer is the ideal choice for Deputy Mayor of Homelessness and Community Health. She is a doctor to patients in primary care as well as in the LA County jail, she is a health policy expert who has served as a White House Fellow in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and she is a native Angeleno with an outstanding track record of working side-by-side with our most vulnerable and at-risk communities in Los Angeles. Mayor Bass could not have selected a more talented and committed person to help our City bring real-world solutions to homelessness and its negative impacts in our communities.”
David M. Carlisle, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine:
“Dr. Etsemaye Agonafer is one of the most skilled and capable individuals I know. As a physician, she is an expert on the “social determinants of health” that drive the health status of our community – chief among them being homelessness. I am very proud that she is an alumnus of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine Science as she exemplifies everything our institution stands for.”