The Fault Line's Advisory Board
The Fault Line’s advisory board brings together leaders in journalism, community engagement, technology, education and social justice to support the publication’s editorial vision and long-term growth.
Karen Hawkins is a veteran journalist, editor and media leader whose career spans reporting, publishing and newsroom leadership. A former story editor at The 19th and co-publisher of the Chicago Reader, she has spent her career strengthening local news and expanding opportunities for underrepresented voices in media. Hawkins is also the founder of Rebellious Magazine for Women and an ICF-credentialed leadership coach who works with journalists and news organizations to build healthier, more sustainable newsroom cultures. In 2018, she received the Jeanne Córdova Award from NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists for her contributions to LGBTQ+ journalism.
Jean-Michel Dissard is an award-winning filmmaker whose work focuses on youth, immigration and social change. With support from the MacArthur Foundation, he directed and produced “I Learn America,” a documentary that grew into a youth-led educational initiative using storytelling to foster empathy and understanding around the immigrant experience. His previous film work includes acclaimed projects such as “Raising Victor Vargas” and “Rikers High.” He also serves on the advisory board of the Cine Institute, Haiti's only film school. Originally from France, Dissard immigrated to the United States as a teenager and has dedicated much of his career to amplifying the voices of young people navigating questions of identity and belonging.
Li'i Furumoto is a community organizer, educator and civil rights advocate with decades of experience serving Los Angeles communities. As executive director and president of Urban Visionaries, she leads initiatives that connect students and families to critical support services, educational opportunities and community resources. Furumoto previously worked with Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Southern California, where she championed immigrant rights, supported hate crime victims and advanced equity for underserved communities. Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed her to the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission.
Chad Lauterbach is the founder and CTO of Be Structured Technology Group, a Los Angeles-based managed IT and cybersecurity firm serving small and mid-sized businesses. A technologist since his teens, he has spent more than two decades designing secure, resilient systems for organizations across Southern California, including regulated industries such as defense, healthcare and financial services. Under his leadership, Be Structured has grown from a solo practice into a full-service MSP and security provider, with advisory services spanning compliance frameworks such as CMMC and HIPAA. He also serves as a virtual CISO for clients operating in high-stakes environments.
Christena Cleveland, Ph.D., is a social psychologist, public theologian, mystic-activist and author of several books, including “The Black Madonna: Icon of Resistance and Nourisher of Souls” and “God Is a Black Woman.” She is founder of the Black Madonna Freedom School, which nurtures courageous and compassionate people who are uprooting white patriarchal religious conditioning in themselves and their communities, while skillfully planting intersectional divine feminine wisdom. She brings expertise in cultural analysis, community transformation and equity-centered leadership to The Fault Line's advisory board.