Aura Garcia was appointed to the Board of Public Works Commission and confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council on February 14, 2018. She was elected President of the Board on March 16, 2022, was re-elected on July 29, 2022, and most recently re-elected on July 28, 2023.
As President of the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works, Aura Garcia continues to pave the way for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for the city she loves. Her leadership inspires others to work collaboratively toward a shared vision of a vibrant and thriving Los Angeles that serves as a model for cities worldwide.
The daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Aura is a native Angeleno who has dedicated her career to advocating for the advancement of the most vulnerable in her community, including minorities, at-risk youth, students, and small business owners. Aura has more than 20 years of experience in building community revitalization projects. With a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents of the city, Aura brings a wealth of experience and a passion for sustainable urban development to her role.
Aura served as Mayor Garcetti's Regional Manager in the Office of Public Engagement and East Valley Area Representative. In addition, her experience includes managing grant programs, developing contracts, and designing and implementing comprehensive projects throughout the city. Aura has a proven ability to bring people together, and she has aligned public agencies, the private sector, business leaders, and community residents to build partnerships and work collaboratively throughout the City of Los Angeles. She is deeply committed to community engagement and social justice. Aura has championed initiatives like the Department of Public Works Career Fairs, Clean L.A Jobs Program, Accessing L.A, KLAB Annual Beautification Conference, and the Beautification Grant Project to revitalize underserved neighborhoods, create career opportunities, and promote green spaces for all residents to enjoy.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Child Development from California State University Northridge and a Master’s degree in Executive Leadership from the University of Southern California (USC). Born and raised in Los Angeles, she has lived in different parts of the city, including Pico-Union, South LA, Boyle Heights, and most recently, Aura has resided in the San Fernando Valley for more than 25 years.