Lillian KawasakiLillian Kawasaki was elected to the WRD Board of Directors in November 2006. She represents Division Three, which includes the cities of Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Lakewood, Long Beach and Signal Hill. Ms. Kawasaki is a member of the California Bay-Delta Public Advisory Committee (BDPAC), an appointment by the Governor and the U.S. Secretary of Interior.
In March, 2008, Ms. Kawasaki retired from the City of Los Angeles after nearly 30 years of public service. During her tenure at Los Angeles City, her responsibilities included serving as the Assistant General Manager of Environmental Affairs for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). At LADWP, Ms. Kawasaki had oversight responsibilities for Green LA and other environmental public benefits programs, environmental compliance for the CEQA review, and economic development programs. The major environmental programs included solar, energy efficiency, trees, and recycling.
Ms. Kawasaki was actively involved in the development of the LA River Revitalization Master Plan, habitat restoration projects, preparation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and wastewater quality compliance.
Prior to her tenure at LADWP, Ms. Kawasaki served as the General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department (CDD) for three years. Ms. Kawasaki managed 500 employees and over $300 million annually in federal block grant and other public funds earmarked to promote economic/community revitalization, neighborhood improvements, human services, and workforce development programs for low-income and disadvantaged members of the community.
In 1990, Ms. Kawasaki was appointed to head the then newly created Los Angeles City Environmental Affairs Department. She also became the first Asian American woman to become a General Manager for the City of Los Angeles . The Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) advises the City of Los Angeles on environmental policies and programs. Major environmental initiatives spearheaded during her years at EAD included: Los Angeles City Brownfields Revitalization and Job Training Initiative; City's Clean Air Plan; City CEQA Thresholds Guidelines and Environmental Justice program.
Ms. Kawasaki also worked at the Port of Los Angeles for 12 years in the Environmental Management Division, responsible for managing the water quality, air quality and other port environmental issues.
Ms. Kawasaki is the co-chair for the Friends of Manzanar, a National Historic Site, where Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II. She is a member of the Women's Foundation Donor Circle , which provides grants to foster financial literacy for women and girls; and the Enterprise Foundation Leadership Council, which promotes sustainable affordable housing. In addition, Ms. Kawasaki served on the California State University LA Foundation Board for more than 5 years.
Lillian holds a BS in Zoology and MS in Biology from California State University , Los Angeles .
Email Director Kawasaki: lkawasaki@wrd.org
