David Ambroz

Austin Hargrave

David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon. Previously, he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission and as a California Child Welfare Council member. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles. Ambroz has recently published his first book, a memoir called "A Place Called Home." 

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Communities: LGBTQ+

Tough Beginnings

David Ambroz, Joseph Thomas and Javier Zamora all survived tumultuous childhoods. Be it immigration, poverty, drug abuse or mental illness, they somehow emerged victorious. What kept them going? How did these experience shape the people they are today?

Koffler Room 216 (Seats 89, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 4, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: David Ambroz, Javier Zamora
Moderator: Dylan Smith

Finding Home, Keeping Friends

Reaching deep into their souls, these authors today will recount their journeys to hope and opportunity, courage and tenacity, surviving and thriving.

Integrated Learning Center Room 120 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 4, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  

Panelists: David Ambroz, Efrén Olivares, Will Schwalbe
Moderator: Laura Penny

Finding Hope

Life's uphill battles, both personal and professional, can be overcome with hard truths, fearlessness, strength and enlightenment. Just ask our three authors. They've been there and done that!

Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 5, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: David Ambroz, Jamie Fiore Higgins, Jemele Hill
Moderator: Randy Emerson

Book:

A Place Called Home

A Memoir
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Grand Central Publishing
September 2022
ISBN 9780306903540