There’s Something Wonderful About Being Terrified

Nonprofit Leader Christine Margiotta Can’t Imagine Not Fighting for Social Justice

Christine Margiotta is vice president of community impact at United Way Greater Los Angeles, a nonprofit on a mission to fight poverty and end homelessness. Before participating in a UCLA/Zócalo panel discussion about homelessness in cities, she talked in the Zócalo Green Room about Obama, pugs, and her son’s dinosaur Halloween costume.

Q:

Who inspires you?


A:

The first person who came to mind is President Obama. I’ve found his courage around what I feel are the most important issues in our country so inspiring.


Q:

Your Twitter profile has a picture of you with your son, who’s dressed as a dinosaur. Where did he get the cool costume?


A:

He got that from the downtown Macy’s. It was for his first Halloween.


Q:

What’s a good under-the-radar place to eat in downtown Los Angeles?


A:

Blossom, for Vietnamese. And Perch is really good.


Q:

Where do you go to get away from L.A.?


A:

I really love Ojai. That’s one of my favorite beautiful, serene places.


Q:

If you weren’t fighting to end homelessness, what would you be doing?


A:

Homelessness would have to be over for me not to be fighting it. But I feel really passionate about a whole range of social justice issues. The reason I don’t live in Ojai is that I couldn’t imagine not fighting for social justice causes.


Q:

If you had to be a gymnast, which event would you do?


A:

I was a gymnast! I was always torn between floor and beam. I liked beam, because it terrified me, and there was something wonderful about being terrified but doing it anyway. Yet I also liked floor, because you couldn’t fall off.


Q:

You have a pug. What do you like about the breed?


A:

I’m the stepmom of a pug, so I don’t have the passion of a primary owner. Her named is Esther. You never have to worry about the house being too quiet.


Q:

Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail?


A:

My son’s pediatrician.


Q:

When’s the last time you got a traffic ticket?


A:

I’ve had a lot of parking tickets, so if those count, last week?


*Photo by Aaron Salcido.