Devon Medina

Assistant Conference Director of Outreach and Media 

USC

Dr. Basheer has been described as “One of the nation’s premier, practitioner-based Violence Intermediation Professionals, Elite Public Safety Experts and Hard-Core Gang Intervention Specialists” in society today. He is recognized as being at the top of a league of specialists in the area of discipline and acknowledged as one of the most accomplished authorities in this field of expertise. Dr. Basheer is also a highly regarded Adjunct Professor and subject matter expert at Alliant University International. He instructs & consults worldwide and has trained thousands in the area of expertise.

Benjamin Valdez, USC’s M.S.W. alumni class of 2022, now serves as Coordinator of the Service Learning
program for Keck School of Medicine where he is tasked with serving the Eastside and South LA areas
with Medical Student volunteers, these experiences will ultimately inform the Medical Students’
education and experience. He has a bigger task of developing USC’s Health Science Campus
Interdisciplinary Service Learning Department that would invite all Graduate and Medical programs to
focus on servicing local efforts and community needs. He began with the Weingart East Los Angeles
YMCA at the age of 13 as a volunteer coordinator where he ran sports clinics and health programs for
their Youth and Families department, and later a Co-director of the Resident Summer Camp. He was one
of the few staff that WELA was able to keep during the pandemic despite historic layoffs, in order to co-
operationalize the Pandemic Relief programs in his dual role with USC University Relations Department
as a graduate student intern, and academic studies. He is a co-founder of the Covid19 Workforce
Development in Community Response Internship. Where he co-operationalized internship opportunities
for 56 adolescents, and transitional-aged-youth at the peak of the pandemic, offering them certification
programs like Forklift, Osha10, Resume Building, Professional Development, and Dog Grooming
Certification. As the first in his family to graduate high school, Benjamin’s community focus and
dedication to young adult mentorship has led him to be the community leader he is today, with hopes to
continue developing as a professional and mentor the next generation of community leaders and social
workers.

Scot Obler

​USC

Dulce Acosta serves as your Senior Principle Director for the University of Southern California
for Community and Local Government Partnerships. Joining the University Relations team was
not a decision but a calling. Growing up less than a mile from the USC's Health Campus, I
witness the obstacles and barriers community members face daily, unemployment, poverty,
violence, and social determinants of health. Limited resources plague our families. I was
discouraged by the lack of career opportunities in my community. I interacted with the best
plumbers, seamstresses, and mechanics growing up. However, the only professionals I
interacted with were my teachers. Youth in our community lack professional networks, careers,
exposure, and mentorship. My personal and professional goal is to eliminate the gap by utilizing
my platform within and beyond the University. Witnessing the importance of networking stems
from my experience at USC.
Over two decades ago, I became employed at USC, and witnessing professionals led me to
believe that I, too, could return to school. It was hard to find in myself; the reality of being an
unsuccessful high school led me to think I was not good enough. But I decided to work hard and
believe in myself. I received an Associate Degree from East Los Angeles Community College. I
transferred to California State University, Los Angeles, and received a bachelor's degree in
sociology. In 2014, I received my master's degree from the USC School of Social Work. My
academic journey as a full-time employee, student, wife, and mother of four was challenging,
but the opportunity to plant the seed of higher

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​​​Roxann Wright, M.S., PsyD

Regional Center

Roxann Wright is completing her final year of the Clinical Forensic Psychology Doctoral Program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles. Roxann holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology for the Helping Professions and a Masters in Forensic Psychology. She has worked as a therapist at Ness Counseling Center, a non-profit for court ordered and voluntary low income client and San Fernando Valley Mental Health Centers for Older Adults FCCS providing mental health care for 55+.  Ms. Wright currently works at the Psychology Assessment Resource Center in Rocklin, CA providing psychological assessments/evaluations for forensic, educational, immigration, diagnostic, and treatment purposes.

Raymiro Gomez-Galiano attends the University of Southern California as a current third-year
student where he studies Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change with a minor in
Environmental Studies at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. He is also a
first-year graduate student receiving his Master’s of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE)
at the USC Marshall School of Business.
Raymiro is a first-generation middle and high school graduate, and soon, a college graduate with
two degrees. He comes from a low-income background where he grew up in a mixed
immigration status household, which has shaped his perspective on politics and advocacy. This
clash has allowed him to be more empathetic towards others' experiences. He hopes to use his
multi-identity to create change and advocate for others in his community and beyond.
He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the NewColorsProject, a 501(c)3 non-profit
focused on supporting his community through volunteer programs and opportunities. At USC, he
is involved with Dornsife Ambassadors, IDEAS (an advocacy group for DACA and
Undocumented students), USC Fisher Fellowship, Alpha Gamma Omega, InterVarsity, LaFe at
USC, and is the youngest elected Chief of Staff for the MSSE Student Association. Raymiro also
serves as the Community Relations Coordinator (Student Worker) for USC’s Office of
Community and Local Government Partnerships. Outside of school, he is a volunteer Intern for
the Cal YMCA's Youth and Government program, Vice President of Fundraising for the
Palmdale High School Band Booster Club, and supports the SCRIPT Conference.
He hopes to work in the private and public sectors, and eventually, become a USC professor!

Captain Ann Young retired from the Los Angeles on July 13, 2016, after a 35 year career.
Captain Young was appointed to the Department in June of 1981. She promoted to include
Police Officer III (Training Officer) in 1984. She worked as an undercover narcotics officer
before promoting to the rank of Detective in July of 1988. As a detective she worked 77 th Area,
Juvenile Division (Abused Child Unit), Robbery Homicide Division (Rape Special Section) and
Internal Affairs Division. Young was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1991. During that
assignment, she was assigned as a field supervisor in Central Area. She transferred to South
Traffic Division after her probationary period as a sergeant had ended. She was upgraded to
Sergeant II and was assigned to Tactical Planning Section in charge of Special Events.
In July of 1995, Young was promoted to Lieutenant, Her assignments included Hollywood Area,
Pacific Area, and Transit Group. In March of 1999, she promoted to Lieutenant II and was
assigned as the Commanding Officer of Operations Support Division, Van Nuys Area. In April
2000 Young was promoted to Captain and became the First African American Woman to be
promoted to the rank of Captain in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department. In 2002,
Young was promoted to Captain II and was assigned to South Traffic Division. As a captain, she
worked Central Traffic Division and Detective Support and Vice Division. Her last assignment
was Central Traffic Division.
Captain Young earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology at the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She earned a teaching credential from the University of
California, Irvine. Captain Young earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of
Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Captain Young is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy of Law
Enforcement in Quantico, Virginia, in 1998, Class 195 Session. She is also a graduate of the
West Point Leadership Program and Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Captain Ann Young

Devon Medina has recently received her Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work where she concentrated in Children, Youth, and Families and School Social Work. Devon graduated from Pacific University in Oregon with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice, Law, and Society. At Pacific, Devon wrote a thesis examining the inaccurate portrayal of intimate partner violence in film and the effects it has on survivors of sexual assault. Devon has previously volunteered at the Sexual Assault Resource Center in Beaverton, Oregon as a crisis advocate for survivors of sexual assault and has been interning as school social work mental health counselor throughout her time at USC to obtain her PPSC and CWA credentials. Devon is currently pursuing the continuing education to work as a bi-lingual clinician in English and American Sign Language.

Devon wants to challenge and change inconsistent and harmful representations of individuals on various media platforms by being an empathic, compassionate, and understanding social worker while observing human behavior through a socio-theoretical lens.

Dulce Acosta

A CPA and graduate of the USC Marshall business school, Scot is the president of Allen Packaging Company, a packaging products distribution company in Tustin, CA.  He is a board member of the USC Athletics Board of Counselors and of A Better LA (a non-profit organization established by former USC football coach Pete Carroll to change the culture of gang violence in L.A. communities).  Scot is involved with the USC Athletics Trojan Outreach and the annual USC Community Safety Conference as well as the planning committee for SCRIPT.

Sonya Carey, M.S.

Sonya Carey is a former foster youth and foster care advocate. She is a recent graduate and part of the first cohort for the Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management at USC. She is the author of Make It or Bake It: Recipes for Transitioning Foster Youth. She has been working in food service for more than 15 years and has worked as a food service manager for LAUSD and Chicago Public Schools. Currently, she is working as an administrative services coordinator/manager for Dr. Debra, LLC helping to build e-courses through the LLU, provide HR support, and assist in building up the Dr. Debra, LLC brand through social media. 

Debra Warner, Psy.D.

Dr. Warner received her Master of Arts and Master of Education in counseling psychology from Columbia University, Teachers College, in New York City.  She completed her doctorate in Forensic Psychology from Alliant International University, in Fresno. She has served as an adjunct professor for several universities and as Lead Faculty for Chapman University's Marriage and Family Therapy program. She is currently a Full Professor for the Los Angeles campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology's Psy.D. program in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She has also served as Special Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs: Diversity and Community Engagement and Lead Faculty for the Forensic Psychology department for Los Angeles and Irvine. Some of her other professional assignments have included the Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles Police Department, C.U.R.E.-A Better Los Angeles, the Department of Defense, the Department of Corrections, and Regional Center. For these assignments, she designed the program elements related to mental health and evaluation. Moreover, she served as clinical supervisor relating to human trafficking, trauma, PTSD and multicultural therapeutic techniques. 

Conference Director
CEO, Dr. Debra LLC
Full Professor, Forensic Psychology

STOP THE STIGMA

In 2009 she received several awards and recognitions for community engagement from the Los Angeles City Attorney, Department of Defense, Los Angeles Police Department, and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In 2013 she was given a distinguished teaching award for Outstanding Public Service Teaching.  She currently is a peer reviewer on several academic journals and is part of the Medical Advisory Board for Quality Health. In 2015 she became a regular Tuesday night co-host of the weekly syndicated radio show Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) on Blog Talk Radio with Bill Murray. She is on the board of directors for The National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV) relating to public awareness and publicity.  She is on the advisory board for A Better LA. She is an invited consultant involving academic program review and evaluation, both nationally and internationally.  She is also an invited speaker pertaining to community gang intervention.  She now focuses her clinical practice on male survivor issues of abuse, violence and trauma. She has written a number of encyclopedia entries related to crime and justice for Sage publications (Encyclopedia of Transnational Crime and Justice and Encyclopedia of Criminal Justice Ethics). Currently, her research focuses on diversity issues connected to forensic community mental health and male survivor trauma.  Her book about male survivor relationships with their significant others, “His History, Her Story” is due out in August 2017.  In her spare time, she creates trainings for law enforcement and attorneys related to mental health and the court system. It should be noted that in all of her professional endeavors she involves students for professional development.

Raymiro Gomez-Galiano

Aquil Basheer

​SCRIPT

​Summit on Community Resilience, Intervention, Prevention, and Training

Benjamin Valdez