Biography of Jill Banks Barad-Hopkins

Commissioner

Ms. Jill Banks Barad-Hopkins was appointed to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners by Mayor Eric Garcetti and was confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council on September 11, 2013. She was re-appointed by the Mayor and then re-confirmed by City Council on June 29, 2018. Her term will end on June 30, 2023.

Ms. Barad-Hopkins is a recognized civic leader and businesswoman who has distinguished herself by demonstrated leadership and achievements in a wide range of activities. 

Ms. Barad-Hopkins owns her own political consulting, public relations, and government affairs firm, Jill Barad & Associates. She has provided consulting and management for federal, state, local and judicial campaigns, as well as statewide and local ballot measures. She has taught Political PR, media and fundraising at UCLA. She was featured as a top consultant in California Journal, and was profiled on National Public Radio (NPR).

Ms. Barad-Hopkins developed the original public relations and fundraising strategy for the creation of Para Los Ninos, the first child care facility on Skid Row, personally convincing Mayor Bradley, the LA Times, and the LA corporate community to sponsor the project.

Ms. Barad-Hopkins has a long list of civic recognitions: the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) awarded her the Harmon Ballin Award for outstanding community service; six-time finalist for the Fernando Award, the highest award for volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley; named “Valley Leader of the Year” by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal in their recognition of “Women Who Mean Business”; and awarded “The Most Inspirational Woman in Business” Award by California Senate and Assembly members . In 2010, Jill was honored by the LA City Council as Pioneer Woman, CD 5. In 2017 Jill was named a “Star of the Valley” by the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley.

Ms. Barad-Hopkins chaired Mayor Tom Bradley’s Advisory Committee on Education for six years. The Mayor appointed her to serve on the citywide Citizens Advisory Committee on Student Integration (CACSI). In 1976 she founded The Open School to create the first community-initiated magnet school in the LAUSD. The Open School served as the model for magnet schools throughout the LAUSD, and became the first Charter school in the State of California.

Ms. Barad-Hopkins is Founder and Chair of the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils (VANC), a coalition of the 34 neighborhood councils throughout the Valley. The Alliance, now in its 15th year, has been described as the “model of regional governance.” She is the founder of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and served as its President for 14 years.

Ms. Barad-Hopkins was a long-time member of the Board of Directors of VICA and is past Chair of the State Issues Committee. She served as a member of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity SFV, Board member of the Valley Community Legal Foundation, and Vice President of The Executives, the support group for the Jewish Home for the Aging. Jill was appointed to the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Neighborhood Council Plan Review Committee and was elected Chair of the North and South Valley Areas. She was appointed to City Attorney Mike Feuer’s Transition Team and Councilman David Ryu’s Transition Team.

Ms. Barad-Hopkins graduated from Friends’ Central School in Main Line Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Temple University where she earned a BA in Drama with honors in English, and was named an Outstanding Senior Class Woman.

(Biography provided by Commissioner Barad-Hopkins)