MAYOR GARCETTI NAMES HEAD OF L.A.’S NEW INNOVATION DELIVERY TEAM
Amanda Daflos to lead team driving neighborhood revitalization across Los Angeles through a $2,550,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies grant
LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti has named Amanda Daflos to lead his administration’s new Innovation Delivery Team, a group of “in-house consultants” that will work on key mayoral priorities thanks to a $2.55 million, three-year grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Los Angeles was one of 14 cities to win the grant, which sponsors the creation of Innovation Delivery Teams that aim to design and implement new approaches for city halls across the nation to improve neighborhoods and residents’ quality of life – relying on data, open innovation, and strong project and performance management. The Los Angeles team will first focus on neighborhood revitalization in low-income areas, with the goal of improving the lives of existing residents and minimizing displacement of long-time residents and local businesses.
“It’s not enough to have innovative ideas; the ultimate test is delivering results,” Mayor Eric Garcetti noted in making the appointment. “The Innovation Delivery Team will help us tackle our toughest challenges to mobilize the right ideas, the right people and the right metrics to make sure we deliver real results. The team’s first focus will be on enabling new public and private investment to flow toward some of our most challenged neighborhoods — to benefit the people who live there and the local businesses who serve them. Daflos brings the right combination of skills to lead this ambitious effort.”
“I’m honored by the opportunity to contribute to Mayor Garcetti’s back to basics agenda,” Daflos stated. “We aim to make a visible difference in the lives of Angelenos, starting with working with the Mayor’s Great Streets initiative, our Promise Zone program and a wide range of public, civic, business and community partners so that the benefits of neighborhood revitalization are enjoyed by residents and local businesses.”
Daflos was selected after a national search that drew nearly 100 applicants. As a Senior Manager at Deloitte Consulting, she spent the last decade leading major Federal, state and local government projects in the US and abroad. Her work focused on business process and organizational redesign, cost savings, change management and IT transformation. Her innovative work resulted in her government clients winning awards such as the 2009 Social Innovation Spotlight Award from Governor Schwarzenegger and the 2014 National Association of Counties (NACo) Recognition Award.
Prior to joining Deloitte, Daflos spent more than four years working as the Director of Programs for an international non-profit organization and cofounded the Nepal Trek and Trail Run, an annual event that benefits organizations in Nepal, in addition to directing the fundraising and building of a school that she founded in Nepal. She also serves in support of the Los Angeles Honorary Consul General to Nepal.
Daflos holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a BA from Hamilton College. Daflos recently graduated from the Leadership Tomorrow program in Seattle.
The Innovation Delivery Team model has been tested in five cities (Chicago, Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans and Louisville) resulting in a “Playbook” for a data-driven, results focused approach. The effort was launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies with a focus on five key areas for creating lasting change: Public Health, Environment, Education, Government Innovation, and the Arts. For more information about the Bloomberg Innovation Teams, please visit http://bloombg.org/1HwHtPB.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Public Health, Environment, Education, Government Innovation and the Arts. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $462 million. For more information on the philanthropy, please visit bloomberg.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @BloombergDotOrg.
