Marcia has worked in the private and public sectors as well as holding teaching assignments. She consults with nonprofit organizations committed to addressing issues of racial equity. She previously served as Vice President of Community Relations at Wells Fargo Bank focused on reinvestment in and revitalization of low-income communities. She held director level positions at two national museums and in municipal government. She holds a MSSW from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. She serves as a board member for the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Genesis LA (CDFI), LA Más Advisory Board, Los Angeles Business Council, and Trust for Public Land California Advisory Board.
At the City Manager’s Office in Austin, Texas, Marcia assisted with oversight of the departments of Health and Human Services, Neighborhood Housing and Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Libraries, Primary Care Clinics, and Special Projects dealing with such issues as homeless shelter services, day labor site management, and community relations. In her capacity as the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, Marcia was at the forefront of race relations conflict resolution. For three years, she helped facilitate policy initiatives between the City of Compton and the Samoan community following a double police shooting. Committed to developing partnerships for resolving inter-group conflicts, she engaged in training and community building around boycotts, protests, and public policy disputes in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest.