Oceana Gilliam

Oceana R. Gilliam is the Senior Program Manager for Center for Justice Innovation’s West Coast Initiative Team. Oceana was born and raised in South Central LA’s Crenshaw District. She received her B.A. in Political Science and Russian from Beloit College, and she earned a Master of Public Policy degree from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Oceana brings a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge and experience to The Center. As an MPP candidate, Oceana and a team of her UCLA peers completed a rigorous Applied Policy Project for the LA County Office of Youth Diversion and Development. The project was awarded Highest Honors, the highest accolade achievable in the UCLA Public Policy department. In 2020, Oceana designed and managed a program that distributed over 17,000 boxes of locally grown produce and food to South LA families to address food insecurity exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Oceana is passionate about building equitable programs to help create healthier, thriving communities. Through her work, Oceana strives to honor her mother, family, community, and ancestors.