MAY 7, 2002 (LOS ANGELES, CA) - Continuing to address key citywide issues that affect area government, businesses and individuals, Brown, Winfield & Canzoneri (BWC) will host its second Public/Private Forum on May 22.

Entitled "Building Education into the Urban Core: The Nexus Between Schools and Housing," the Forum will be a discussion on the role educational needs can and should play in community master planning. Panelists include The Honorable Jan Perry, Councilmember for the 9th District; Caprice Young, President of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education; and Greg Vilkin, President of Forest City Residential West, Inc.

The breakfast forum-which will feature industry leaders from both the public and private sector-will take place at the Colburn School for Performing Arts in downtown Los Angeles from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Tony Canzoneri, BWC's Managing Officer and visionary of the firm's Public/Private Forum series, believes that "building education into the Urban Core is the most valuable investment we can make in both the present and the future. From the pure short-term profit perspective, every home builder or seller knows that the quality of public school education has a very direct impact on the value of housing. On the longer term and public side, the education and care of children dictates the quality of our future. Their attitudes, talents and knowledge are the destiny of civilization."

BWC's Public/Private Forum series was launched in November 2001. Attended by more than 120 people, the premier session featured insight from Mayor Hahn's Chief of Staff Tim McOsker, Special Assistant City Attorney Cecilia Estolano and prominent Southern California developer Jerry Snyder on public/private partnerships with regard to the new administration and the development community.

The Public/Private Forums are designed to facilitate creative, critical and productive discussions on issues of prime importance to our communities: education, housing, jobs and transportation. Featuring prominent members of the public and private sector, the Forums act as a "call to action" for attendees to use their abilities and leadership positions as a catalyst to improve area communities. Guests include elected and appointed government officials and recognized leaders in business, real estate, transportation and education, among other areas.

"We are hosting these Forums to provide an opportunity for our invited guests to discuss community development issues with key governmental and business leaders," stated Canzoneri. "In doing so, we may all better understand the overlying housing, health, educational, transportation, social and infrastructure needs of our communities and their members."

About the Forum Panelists

Councilwoman Jan Perry was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001 with one of the largest margins of victory. She currently chairs the Public Works committee, is vice-chair of the Economic Development and Employment committee and is a member of the Public Safety committee. Perry has also served on the boards of many community and business organizations, and has held leadership positions on the boards of the African-American/Jewish Leadership Connection (1997), Coro Foundation (1997), Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (1990-1993), the Japanese American National Museum (Currently), and the Black-Korean Alliance (1992).

During the five years that Perry spent as Chief of Staff for the Ninth District, she became intimately involved with the concerns of the community and developed programs to meet its immediate needs.

Elected president of the Los Angeles Board of Education in 2001, Caprice Young represents Board District 3, which encompasses areas of West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Wilshire Center, Koreatown, Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Echo Park and North Hollywood.

As president, Young conducts all regular Board of Education meetings and chairs special board meetings scheduled to take action on time-sensitive matters.

When not serving students, Young also works as a consultant. She also serves on the board of Hollygrove, a home for abused and neglected children where she developed a technology learning center that helps children read and learn.

From 1994-1997, she served as Assistant Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles, leading reform efforts in technology, infrastructure and budget.

Greg Vilkin joined Forest City Enterprises, Inc. in May 1990 and was named president of Forest City Residential West, Inc. five years later after supervising the development of more than 5,000 units of multi-family housing as well as all of the company's residential development activities in the Western United States.

Vilkin is also President of Forest City Stapleton, Inc., the master developer chosen to transform Denver's former Stapleton International Airport into one of the nation's premier, mixed-use urban communities.

With more than 20 years of experience in all areas of residential and commercial development in the real estate industry, Vilkin has participated in the development of more than 10,000 multi-family residential units and 5 million square feet of office, retail, hotel and industrial properties.

He serves as Chairman of the Housing and Land Use Committee and as Director of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, and is also the Chairman of the Los Angeles Center Building Improvement District. (BID)

About Brown, Winfield & Canzoneri
For 28 years, Brown, Winfield & Canzoneri has combined legal expertise and service with a keen understanding of its clients' business goals. The firm's strategic, solution-oriented approach focuses on optimizing outcome and minimizing cost. BWC's no-nonsense philosophy has enabled the firm to maintain long-standing relationships with real estate developers, investors, lenders and local government agencies seeking real world solutions with a focus on the bottom line. More information can be obtained by visiting the company's website at www.bwcalaw.com.