ICAN Associates

Judge Mary Thornton House retired from the Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2018 after serving for 22 years. Prior to that, she was an Assistant City Attorney and civil litigator for the City of Los Angeles where she also was a member of ICAN for many years. She has started her third legal career as a private neutral for Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC). In retirement, she has also authored Thomson Reuter’s California Civil Jury Instructions Companion Handbook Judge House has been honored throughout her career by many organizations. In 2004, Los Angeles County honored her as one of its ‘Women of the Year’ and named Judge of the Year by the Pasadena Bar Association. In 2008, the California Judges Association awarded her the Bernard F. Jefferson’s Award for Excellence in Judicial Education. In 2011, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association awarded her the Excellence in Judicial Administration award for her leadership in getting California’s Expedited Jury Trials legislation passed, the development of the current universal judgment form, and simplification of small claims pleadings. In 2013, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association named her their Judge of the Year. Judge House was Dean of the California B.E. Witkin Judicial College which provides for education of all judicial officers in California. The college is a nationally recognized institution and exemplar for judicial education where she has been an instructor and seminar leader since 1997. In 2007, Yale Law School selected her to teach at their China Law Center in Beijing, China, courses on small claims and limited civil procedures to selected judges from throughout China. Judge House graduated from UCLA and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego. During that time, she worked her way through school by playing her viola at local concert venues. She continues to play with the Pasadena Community Orchestra.

Lindsay Wagner, ICAN Associates Chair Emeritus, is best known for her Emmy award winning role as The Bionic Woman, has over 60 TV movies and 12 feature films to her name. For four decades, while working as one of the nation’s most popular television and screen actors, starring in films such as The Paper Chase, Shattered Dreams, The Taking of Flight 846, and A Child’s Cry, Lindsay was also pursuing vigorous studies in holistic healing modalities, integrating mind, body and spirit. Throughout her career, Lindsay has worked in advocacy and public education in the areas of human rights, family violence, animal welfare, and the environment and Teen Talking Circles. Lindsay is passionate about awakening human potential and has combined 45 years of experience and study of Western and Eastern modalities to develop her “Quiet the Mind & Open the Heart” experiential workshops and retreats for the public and special interest groups, sharing techniques and realizations that have greatly impacted her life, inspiring others to realize how amazing they truly are. Lindsay has presented her programs in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean, working with world owned organizations such as the UK National Health Service, Saint Lucia Tourist Board, Kalani Eco community in Hawaii and the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. She has co-authored two books. Lindsay served as Honorary Chairperson of ICAN Associates for over 3 decades before being elected Chairperson of the Board of Directors. She has elevated the profile and effectiveness of ICAN and ICAN Associates through her participation in events, conferences, Public Service Announcements and social media, and remains an active Board Member as Chair Emeritus

Deanne Tilton Durfee is Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN). ICAN is one of the largest county-based child abuse councils in the Country. She also developed ICAN Associates, a private non-profit charity comprised of corporate and media representatives. This partnership promotes the development and networking of comprehensive multi-disciplinary and community-based child abuse programs. She served as a Child Welfare Worker, a Juvenile Court Liaison Supervisor, a Supervising Children's Services Worker, and a Regional Services Administrator before being selected to administer ICAN. In 1996, ICAN was designated the National Center on Child Fatality Review. She served from 1984-1990 as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse (NCPCA). She also served as a Commissioner on the California Attorney General's Commission on the Enforcement of Child Abuse Laws. From June 1, 1985 to May 31, 1986, Ms. Tilton served as a Federal Commissioner on the U.S. Attorney General's Commission on Pornography, Chairing the Committee on Child Pornography. In January, 1987 she was appointed by the Governor to the California Child Victim Witness Judicial Advisory Committee. In 1989, she was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. In 1993, she was elected Chairperson of the Advisory Board. She previously served as a member of the California Children’s Justice Act Task Force and the California State Child Death Review Council. In October 2011, she became a member of the Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the First 5 LA Commission on Children and Families. She holds a Doctorate in Humanities, honoris causa, from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Kasim Khan was born and raised in Los Angeles and takes great pride in his family's diverse multicultural background. In 2005 he graduated from California State University of Northridge with a B.S. in International Business and a Minor in Economics, In 2015 he completed his M.A in Leadership from Woodbury University. During his years at CSUN he co- founded Roots n Culture, an organization dedicated to providing arts programming and youth mentoring services in underserved communities. It was then that he realized one of his callings and passion for community development and working with the youth. From 2005-2009, he served as Director of Education at Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, during which he designed and implemented after school arts programs for schools in North-East Los Angeles. Kasim is also actively involved with Victor Treatment Center where he serves as Member of the Board of Directors and is Co-Chair for Optimist Professionals at Optimist youth and Family Services, both which are youth based organizations. Kasim has been in the Banking industry for over 18 years and current is a Business Relationship Manager II with JP Morgan Chase Bank. He enjoys assisting Business owners grow their business. Kasim is married to Desiree Khan and they have a 2 year old baby boy. During any down time , Kasim enjoys traveling and playing golf!

For over thirty years, Paul Mones has been a leading nationwide advocate for victims of child sexual abuse, representing hundreds of people who had been sexually abused as children by their Boy Scout leaders, priests, ministers, coaches, employers, teachers, guidance counselors as well as by their parents and guardians. He has been at the forefront of representing Boy Scout victims of sexual abuse. In 2010 he and his co-counsel obtained the largest verdict ever against the Boy Scouts of America – $19.9 million – against the Boy Scouts of America. The trial represented the first time that the Boy Scouts’ ‘Perversion Files’ – confidential files maintained by the BSA on pedophiles – were admitted into evidence. The perversion files were finally publicly released in 2012 to national and international news coverage. Paul has also represented numerous victims of Catholic clergy abuse throughout the nation. In 2000, he and his co-counsel tried the first sexual abuse case to a jury against the Archdiocese of New York (the case settled during trial).In 2007, he and his co-counsel obtained an $11.45 million jury verdict against the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York on behalf of two victims –the largest verdict rendered against a Diocese in New York. Over the course of his career, Paul has obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for clients all over the nation. Although every case is different and past results therefore do not guarantee success in any particular case, these kinds of results do reflect Paul’s hard work and dedication to his clients.

Justin Chambers is a child abuse and prevention advocate for ICAN. He has donated his time and dedication to ICAN conferences for several years. Additionally, he also lends time to the Disabled Veteran Business Alliance supporting entrepreneurship. Justin is best known for his role as Dr. Alex Karev on the ABC hit show Grey’s Anatomy, where for the past 16 seasons, he played a pediatrician dedicated to the health and survival of children. For his role, he received the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actor in TV Drama, Prism Award for Best Male Performance In a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award and Satellite Award for Best Television Ensemble. Justin’s acting career is vast, starring in numerous films, such as, The Wedding Planner opposite Jennifer Lopez, Hysterical Blindless with Uma Thurman, The Zodiac with Rory Caulkin, Leo with Dennis Hopper & Sam Shepherd, Liberty Heights with Adrien Brody and Ben Foster, including many other film and tv projects. Prior to acting, he lived in Europe and appeared in a multitude of fashion campaigns including Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabana. Currently, he can be seen in the upcoming project, The Offer, playing the role of Marlon Brando. Most importantly, Justin is a devoted husband to Keisha and dedicated father to their five children.

Keisha León-Chambers is dedicated to ICAN’s mission of building healthy, safe, and supportive environments for children and their families that are free of abuse, neglect, and violence. Keisha is a devoted mother to five wonderful children she shares with her husband, Justin. She worked in film, television and also as a model agent in fashion. She graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. Later in life, she went on to receive a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. She began coaching young adults, teens and mothers through life challenges utilizing transformational tools to encourage resilience, self awareness and inner strength. Keisha is honored to devote her experience towards ensuring ICAN’s ongoing success and purpose.

A star on both the silver and small screens, including the Academy Award-winning film THE ARTIST, NBC’s iconic daytime series “Days of Our Lives,” ABC’s “General Hospital,” and a regular leading lady on the Hallmark Channel, actress/singer/philanthropist Jen Lilley has tackled countless roles throughout her illustrious career. Jen Lilley’s creative prowess does not end when the director yells cut, she is also a singer and songwriter. Lilley balances her day job with her lifelong passion of 1960’s girl groups to create a collection of timeless songs that is set to have a whole new generation singing along. Her music exudes the same sultry ferocity of Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton, with Phil Spector’s wall of sound treatment via Rosie Danvers and her 50-piece orchestra. When Jen Lilley is not busy in front of a camera, or perfecting her vocals in a studio, she can be found working with various charities and spending time with her new baby and adopted children and husband. Jen has even garnered the National Educators Award for her work in Guatemala.

Elaine Trebek-Kares is a Los Angeles business entrepreneur who co-founded ICAN associates in 1978 to help raise funds from the public to better the lives and lessen the trauma of abused Children. ICAN Associates goal is to develop programs to help combat abuse and neglect by understanding, supervising and uniting high risk families. She is now is retired and lives with her husband Peter Kares in Florida.

A Dedicated advocate for children, families, and women’s rights: appointed to several boards and consultancies in government and county agencies such as Los Angeles County Commission on Self Esteem and Social Responsibility. As a spokesperson for UNICEF´S water relief program she participated and spearheaded several global fundraisers. Presently, she is the long-serving Executive Director for the Children`s FUN (Families Uniquely Nurtured) FUND, created at the renowned Children’s Institute International. Her professional experiences, living in the United States, Europe, Latin America-Colombia, and the United Kingdom give her a cross cultural proficiency that informs her advocacy and hands on work within diverse communities. To her current involvement with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology doctoral program where her multiculturalism and multilinguistic attributes confer a depth which permeates her belief in the importance and benefits of a culturally informed global perspective. Twenty-five years ago, a founding ICAN member introduced her to the Los Angeles County Inter- Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) where she met an impressive board of dedicated generous child advocates: professionals, and luminaries in the field of politics, science, and entertainment. Today It is an honor to be on the Board of ICAN Associates, an integral part of such a visionary organization.

Beverly Kurtz has been working alongside ICAN Associates in hosting the Student Poster Art Contest which is held every year during Child Abuse Prevention Month. The ICAN/ICAN Associates Child Abuse Prevention Month Poster Contest focuses on the health and well-being of children and provides a comfortable forum for discussion in the classroom. This contest emphasizes the importance of child abuse prevention and gives children the ability to convey it to others through their art. Physical and emotional abuse can be reduced with education and awareness and the ICAN/ ICAN Associates Poster Contest is a public awareness campaign that addresses this critical need for protecting and educating our children.

Paul Click, ICAN Technology Manager, has been an employee of ICAN Associates since 2001, and worked closely with ICAN for 10 years prior to that. Paul helps oversee day to day uses of technology, especially photography and video projects. He also helps edit the many reports and articles produced by ICAN. Before coming to ICAN, he was a supervisor with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, overseeing the investigations of child abuse detectives throughout the county.

John Solano, IT and graphic designer, has been with ICAN Associates for 5 years and has been involved with many projects co-sponsored with ICAN. He maintains the website, posting articles weekly and providing information about ICAN and ICAN Associates events and programs. He manages ICAN's E-Marketing, Executive Director Messages and maintaining ICAN's email distribution lists. He also is ICAN's graphic designer, designing and compiling reports that are released each year.