Kristin Sakoda is the Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, with a mission of advancing arts, culture, and creativity throughout the largest county in the U.S. The Department of Arts and Culture provides grants and technical assistance to hundreds of nonprofit organizations; runs the largest arts internship program in the nation; coordinates countywide public-private arts education initiatives; increases access to creative career pathways; commissions civic artwork; supports free community programs; leads the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative; and advances cross-sector cultural strategies to address civic issues. Ms. Sakoda is an arts executive, attorney, and performing artist with more than 25 years in the field and previously served as a key strategist for arts and culture at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. An arts executive, attorney, and artist, Ms. Sakoda has over 20 years of multi-faceted experience in the cultural field. She holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law and B.A. from Stanford University specializing in Race and Ethnicity and Feminist Studies.