Bob Bates has been a professional artist for thirty years and has taught art throughout the country, including at the University of Miami in Florida. While working with kids on Skid Row in Los Angeles, Bob had a spiritual vision: to create an art space where at-risk children could explore their creativity, learn and grow. Joining forces with businessman and entrepreneur Irv Jaeger, Bob realized his vision when Inner-City Arts opened its doors to 60 children in 1989. As Inner-City Arts Artistic Director, Bob still brings vision, passion and dedication to his work with children, teachers and families, and is regularly invited to lead workshops in Los Angeles, throughout the country and internationally. Bob's creative journey as an artist, musician, inventor and educator is ongoing. His love of creativity is deeply linked to the mystery of life itself, and has guided him in all aspects of his explorations and interactions with children, teenagers and adults. Bob received a BA from the Kansas City Art Institute and a MFA from the University of Cincinnati.
Leadership & Staff
Nancy Avila
Accounting SupervisorEugenia Barbuc
Programs CoordinatorVincent Caldera
Programs CoordinatorWendy Cruz
H.R. GeneralistAmy Cuenco
Director of FinanceAmanda Edwards
Associate Director of CommunicationsGeorge Garcia
EVP & Chief Operating OfficerJustin Izbinski
Grant WriterHolly Le
Staff AccountantOrlando Moreno
Outreach + Programs ManagerGladis Munguia
Studio Assistant and Teaching Artist, Creativity LabLatrice Postell
Teaching Artist, DanceJackie Rivera
Development Operations AssociateMichael Sample
Co-Artistic DirectorRebecca Tager
Teaching Artist, CeramicsBoard Officers
Jonathan Schreter
Chair, BoltonBoard Members
Kingsley Afemikhe
Xos TrucksErikk Aldridge
AEGPatricia Brum
Snell & Wilmer, LLPEric Coleman
Television ProducerMalik Ducard
PinterestPeter Gal
DreamworksBrian Goldsmith
LionsgateKapil Gupta
Boston ScientificJackie Harman
COYNBrian Ishida
Pacific Western BankJeffrey E. Jaeger
Standard PropertiesSam Kunianski
SK ConsultingKevin Pleasant
JPMorgan Chase & Co.Darris Sherman
NBCUniversalTom Stillwell
Big Fish ConsultingVanessa Walker-Oakes
Flintridge Preparatory SchoolGrant Withers
Capital GroupThe Founders
- Bob Bates Co-Founder
- Irwin J. Jaeger Co-Founder
Founders Board Members
- Geoffrey Anenberg Creative Space
- Wallis Annenberg
- Kim Baer
- Bill & Tamara Bagnard
- Jon Basalone Trader Joe's
- Frank Baxter
- Craig Benell
- Alan Berro
- Cynthia Harnisch Breunig
- Al Brooks
- Marvin G. Burns
- Vera R. Campbell
- Ira Cohen
- Bob Davidson
- Sharon DeBriere
- Susan Emerling-Torres
- Mitchell Frank Spaceland Productions
- Bobbie Greenfield
- Crosby Haffner Synan Holdings
- Eugene L. Hernandez
- Douglas Hinchliffe
- Steve Hirsh
- Linda Hothem
- Paul C. Johnson
- Glorya Kaufman
- Laurie Konheim
- Melanie Lundquist
- Rick Madden Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- Michael Maltzan
- Jay Mangel
- Jeff Marine
- Silvia Marjoram American Business Bank
- Randy Miller
- Connie Moran-Romero
- Scott Morielli Graff Californiawear
- Anthony E. Nicholas
- Drew Planting
- Maura Rampolla
- Monica Rosenthal
- Joseph Sanford
- Martha Saucedo
- Steve Schoenholz Tempted Apparel
- William Schoenholz
- Eric Schotz
- Michael Schreter
- Bob Shearin
- Mithra Sheybani Attorney
- Mark Slavkin
- Beatriz Stotzer
- Katerina Tana
- Joni Topper JP Morgan Chase
Young Professionals Board Members
- Justin J. Garza The Dream Adopters
- Amanda Hovest KBDA
- Michael Khosravifard UX Design
- Toyin Moses Actress