Edward Avila

Fellowship Advisory Committee Member

Edward Avila is President of Project Restore, and is the founding spirit behind the creation of this nonprofit organization committed to the historic restoration and revitalization of City of Los Angeles-owned facilities and surrounding neighborhoods. Prior to Project Restore, Mr. Avila served as Vice President of Affiliated Computer Services State & Local Solutions (formerly Lockheed Martin IMS). Ed brings a distinguished record of public service, including Senior Policy Advisor to the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works, Administrator of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, Deputy Mayor of the City of Los Angeles under Mayor Tom Bradley, and as a Commissioner and the President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works for the City. He was the first Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). Ed’s extensive volunteer work includes serving on the board of directors for QueensCare, Children’s Bureau of Southern California, President of the Alliance for a Better Community, United Way, Inc., MALDEF and the National Council of La Raza. Mr. Avila holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles. He has done undergraduate work at the University of Uppsala and graduate work at the University of Stockholm, both in Sweden.