HRC Board Co-Chairs

Julie Rusk, Founder, Civic Wellbeing Partners
Julie was the City of Santa Monica’s first Chief of Civic Wellbeing. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded responsive government policy and innovations to improve community outcomes through creative partnerships, social impact initiatives and civic engagement. In 2017, she created the City’s first Office of Civic Wellbeing within the City Manager’s Office after leading the City’s winning government innovation proposal to develop a local wellbeing index from Bloomberg Philanthropies and Santa Monica’s 2016 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health prize. Ms. Rusk was a 2016/17 Fellow with Business Alliance for a Local Living Economy (BALLE); was named to the 2017 List of 25 Top Influencers by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL); and is currently a Senior Fellow with UCLA’s Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities.

Dr. Karen S. Gunn, Community Member/Business Owner
Dr. Karen S. Gunn is a psychologist with over thirty years of experience working as a consultant and educator in the public and private sectors. Her expertise lies in organizational, management and program development, leadership skills, cross-cultural and diversity issues, interpersonal communication and human relations. Dr. Gunn was a tenured faculty member in the Psychology Department at Santa Monica College and served as department chair during that time. Dr. Gunn has served as a board member for national and local organizations as well as non-profit agencies. Dr. Gunn served as the prior Human Relations Council Board Chair.

Learn more about the HRC Executive Committee and Board of Directors