A City Council committee Tuesday advanced the nomination of Domenika Lynch to serve as the next general manager of the Department of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.
In a unanimous vote, the three-member Arts, Parks, Libraries and Community Enrichment Committee approved the nomination, which now heads to the full City Council for consideration. Mayor Karen Bass named Lynch as the next leader of the department in July, who is set to replace Arturo Chavez, who retired in February.
Edgar Garcia, assistant general manager, has been serving as the interim GM of the department.
If confirmed by the City Council, Lynch would become the first Latina to lead El Pueblo.
The department oversees El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles, an early pueblo or town established as a farming community in September 1781 by some 44 settlers of Native American, African and European heritage, according to the city’s website.
The site serves as a living museum, attracting two million visitors annually. El Pueblo is also home to Olvera Street, where visitors can visit restaurants and shops, and Plaza de Los Angeles, the oldest plaza in California, among other historic attractions.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Lynch said El Pueblo is part of her own L.A. story. She said she often visited the area as a child in the 1980s and later as a University of Southern California student in the 1990s.
“Olvera Street was where we celebrated family and friends, found great food and affordable treasures,” Lynch said.
“My approach and my vision for El Pueblo is to lead a community-led reinvestment that reintroduces El Pueblo as a living civic commons,” she added.
Lynch noted that the coronavirus pandemic hurt activity in downtown districts across the country, including El Pueblo.
“There’s an opportunity to rebuild, to re-energize. It’s important not to be one singular vision or silos, but to really integrate the collective because El Pueblo is not one thing. It’s a lot of different things and experiences,” Lynch said.
City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, chair of the committee, thanked Lynch for her remarks, describing them as a “breath of fresh air.” Jurado represents the 14th Council District, encompassing downtown and northeast L.A. neighborhoods.
The councilwoman echoed Lynch’s sentiments, emphasizing that El Pueblo has struggled for some time and has lost foot traffic over the years.
Lynch noted she has many ideas to reinvigorate El Pueblo, and it will take a collective to do so.
“I think it begins by listening and understanding what the pain points are, what are the pieces of the history that we must preserve, recognize, acknowledge and then some ideas that the collective feel excited about because that excitement is what we need to support,” Lynch said.
Lynch serves as executive director of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program, where she convenes cross-sector leaders to advance economic mobility and systems change for a more prosperous America.
When Bass announced her nomination, the mayor touted Lynch’s more than two decades of experience in community building, fundraising and implementing strategic visions.
“El Pueblo is not only the birthplace of Los Angeles, but a cultural anchor with restaurants and small businesses right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles,” said Mayor Karen Bass in a statement last month.
“Especially during this challenging time for immigrant communities, El Pueblo needs a leader who can marshal the resources needed to both preserve its history and also activate the living, working business hub and event space. I feel confident that Ms. Lynch will help bring back those who may not have visited for a while, as well as attract new visitors to El Pueblo as a lively gathering place filled with both rich history and vibrant cultural offerings and events.”
Previously, Lynch served as President and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a national nonprofit dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders, and as executive director of the University of Southern California’s Latino Alumni Association.
A USC alumna herself, Ms. Lynch began her career at Univision, writing in both Spanish and English about college access, financial aid and scholarships. Her professional background also extends into the corporate sector, with a leadership position at Bank of America and as a member of the Bank of America National Community Advisory Council.