Leadership
Founder and Director
Curtis Sliwa
A bold spirit with a lust for life and amazing energy, Curtis Sliwa is a New Yorker in the truest and best sense of the word. Born and raised in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, Curtis is a pioneer who forged his grassroots activism into a global vocation. Although offered a partial scholarship to study political science at Brown University, Curtis found himself expelled from the prestigious Brooklyn Prep School during his senior year for student activism. In lieu of a brick and mortar education, Curtis enrolled in the reality of Fordham Road…a crime ridden section of the Bronx. Visit CurtisSliwa.com for more information about Curtis.
Los Angeles Chapter Leader
Peter Steeves
Our Chapter Leader in Los Angeles is available for Public Speaking engagements. Peter has dedicated his life to being of service to his community as a participant and a trainer. He moved to rural Japan after college to train in traditional martial arts, which he now shares with his private students.
Peter is currently the elected Chairman of the Public Safety Committee in the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. He holds certifications with FEMA, CERT, the CDC and has trained with law enforcement agencies from local to federal in scope. Peter now serves as the trainer for a Fugitive Recovery Team in south-central Los Angeles, and is the coordinator for the Guardian Angels liability-conscious arrest and control training, which can be found at GuardianAngelsTraining.com
Los Angeles Operations Consultant
Alex Makarczyk
An elderly neighbor asked Alex, “Why don’t you do something with your martial arts and Join the Guardian Angels?” He combined her advice with his desire to help his community he became a fully trained Guardian Angel on Dec. 6th 1985 & served in the Los Angeles Chapter for several years.
In 2001, when local gang members killed a former Guardian Angel in Venice, CA it was clear to Alex that he had to recommit to the Guardian Angels, but the chapter had disappeared by then. After a call with Curtis Sliwa in the first part of 2006, Alex began to rebuild the LA Chapter, and served as Chapter Leader until the start of 2012. On Aug. 9 2009 he was severely injured in a brawl in which Guardian Angels were outnumbered 25 to 8, and he spent a week in the intensive care unit. Alex soon returned to head up the Chapter and received the “Angel of the Year Award“ by Curtis Sliwa on August 6, 2010 in San Francisco, CA at the Guardian Angels World Conference.
Hollywood Chief Liaison
Jeremy Meyer
Jeremy Meyer is the San Diego Chargers beat reporter and author of the Hollywood Unwrapped entertainment column.
Because Jeremy has a talent for influential use of words beyond his work as a writer, he is the main liaison between Hollywood Guardian Angels and the community they patrol. You’ll know Jeremy is on patrol when you see us stop to talk to someone on every block because they recognize him and want to stop and greet him.
Technology & Projects Coordinator
Matt “Hound Dog” Marotta
Working to coordinate the efforts of Guardian Angels, Matt has made several trips from Northern California to Southern California. His tireless efforts have made him well known throughout the state, and we are fortunate to have him in Los Angeles. He is ready at a moment’s notice, and pushes himself to always be at his best to represent the Angels.
Matt is our version of the old TV show, MacGyver – if something breaks, he can fix it; if we need some impossible tool for something, Matt either already owns it, or will practically make one on the spot. Our radios, antennas, flashlights, and everything that still works at our Hollywood Headquarters has received his attention … and that’s why they still work!
Community Relations
Tricia Mercaldi
As Community Relations Liaison for the Los Angeles Chapter, Tricia acts in a supportive role for the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol. Her long-term interest in crime prevention and neighborhood safety is expressed in her involvement in CERT, her research assistant position in the UCLA “Middle School Diversity Project”, and in her pursuit of a PhD in Developmental Psychology.
While working with the Angels, she hopes to connect with public safety groups, political associations, and education organizations in an effort to create safer neighborhoods, empower local residents, and to educate youths so that they may grow to become the leaders of tomorrow. To achieve these goals, she is looking for financial and material contributions from businesses in the community, and is working to organize an annual fundraising event.
If anyone is looking to get involved with the Angels on this level, please contact:
Tricia@LAGuardian Angels.org
