14 Dec A Conversation With Sonya Blake

A Conversation With:

Sonya Blake

Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
Director of Community Business

How long have you been volunteering in the community?

I have been volunteering and living in the San Fernando Valley for 15 years and various areas of Los Angeles since moving here from Connecticut after college graduation.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My parents were immigrants from Jamaica who arrived on the East Coast and met with many economic challenges and much cultural adversity.  Through resilience and determination, they were able to instill a love of creativity and business in me that ultimately led me to my current post of leading Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Community Business team in his Office of Economic Development. It’s been quite a wonderful journey and the best is yet to come.

What is one of your Passion Projects that you are working on?

I am passionate about promoting entrepreneurship in the inner-city, particularly among youth, as a way of eradicating poverty.  I’m honored to be a judge for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, an international organization which teaches entrepreneurship in public schools.

Why do you continue to be a member of The Valley Economic Alliance?

I believe that the Valley is a great place to live, work, and play; all three of my children were born here and our roots are planted here. TVEA is a powerful influence for change and does great work to advance the quality of life for all Angelinos, especially those of us who call the Valley home sweet home.  I am honored to serve others in this way and participate in such a great cause.