Team

Joe Brooks, Vice President for Civic Engagement, works to foster civic engagement by individuals and community organizations, a key component of the PolicyLink mission and goals. As a member of the senior management team, Brooks develops and maintains close working relationships with local, regional, and national organizations. He is also the team leader for the PolicyLink Men and Boys of Color Policy Planning and Advocacy project. Brooks has also served as president of the Emergency Land Fund, Atlanta, Georgia, and was editor of the Review of Black Political Economy. He was formerly program executive for Neighborhood and Community Development at the San Francisco Foundation, where he directed the foundation’s Workforce Development and Interfaith Initiative, FAITHS. Brooks served as the national co-chair of the Neighborhood Funders Group and vice-chair of the Association of Black Foundation Executives. (full bio)

Mary Lee, Associate Director, is a member of the PolicyLink health team, providing research, technical assistance and training to public and private agencies collaborating to build healthy communities. Lee is a practicing attorney with more than 25 years of experience working on civil rights, land use and economic development strategies to revitalize neighborhoods and enhance public participation in the policy arena. Her expertise includes affordable housing, job creation and redevelopment law. She has been an adjunct professor of law and teaches public policy and civil rights courses at the college level. Lee is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law, U. C. Berkeley (full bio)

Rubén Lizardo, Associate Director, leads equitable public investment efforts to ensure public investments in infrastructure generate community benefits. His work includes research and public education, training and technical assistance to strengthen community and civic participation in decision-making, and working with public officials to develop investment strategies and policies that further equity and economic vitality.  Prior to joining PolicyLink, he was the capacity-building director of California Tomorrow, where he led advocacy, training, and technical assistance efforts to address diversity and equity issues. He also served as director of the Community Planning and Economic Development Program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.  He is a former president of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and was awarded The California Wellness Foundation’s California Peace Prize for his work to address root causes of youth violence.  He currently serves on the boards of Californians for Justice and Justice Matters. (full bio)

Marc Philpart , Senior Project Associate, a member of the health and federal policy teams working closely with partners to highlight policy opportunities to advance equity. On the health team, Philpart is actively engaged in an initiative that addresses the multi-faceted challenges facing men and boys of color. With the federal policy team, Philpart conducts research and policy analysis for the equitable implementation of federal policies and resources at state and local levels. Prior to joining PolicyLink, Philpart worked in the president’s office at PATH, a non-profit global health organization. He holds masters degrees in public affairs and public health from the University of Washington in Seattle and earned his BA in History from Xavier University of Louisiana.