Courtesy Photo

Fran Brough

The year was 1995. The newspaper ad was seeking clerical support for the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation, an organization just entering a new phase in its charter as a think tank for the region. Begun in 1972 with early members such as Ray Olson, Wilfred Rothschild, Fred Wilson, and Dr. Mark Mathews, the Conejo Future Foundation had successfully led the efforts to unify the Conejo School District, to create a regional cultural center and auditorium (the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza), and to champion open space and other forward-thinking initiatives. The organization changed its name to the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation to reflect the involvement of the newer cities of the Conejo Valley, including Westlake Village, Agoura, Oak Park and Calabasas.

When Fran Brough answered the ad, she had no idea she would be swept into a new career, eventually being named the Executive Director of the Foundation. Born in the Bronx, she trained as a math teacher, and taught in LAUSD and private schools. A product of the 60s, Fran drove a VW mini-bus complete with "flower power" stickers, and when she married and moved to Thousand Oaks, she felt like a pioneer living at the edge of the small rural city near Lynn Road and the 101.

"The Foundation was just coming off the Vision 2020' project, which helped local leaders focus on the next quarter-century of challenges. As I began to get a look at what the organization did, I found it extremely interesting and became deeply involved in a number of the group's initiatives," Fran noted during an interview at the CLVFF office in Calabasas. "I dove into projects like the Diversity Forum, the Youth Congress (now in its 24th year), and the Teen Assist Card that is updated every two years and distributed to teens, young adults and community service agencies. We found that the Conejo region had some unique challenges: few young people could afford to live here after leaving home, affordable senior housing was in great demand, and the residents of our area were particularly concerned about where our region was going - hoping to maintain the qualities that attracted them here out of the big city."

The CLVFF moved into its current office at the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District building in 1998, and Fran has been instrumental in bringing together a vibrant membership, including key elected representatives and staff from the local governments and agencies, as well as leaders from law enforcement, business, and schools. Along with residents interested in the future of the region, these people meet regularly to examine issues and needs, study opportunities and solutions, and help enable action to better the community. At the same time, the organization operates a number of regular programs to promote communication among sectors of the community, including the CLvFFie Awards for community service, the Youth and Senior Congresses, and its newest effort to assess needs for Housing for the Visual Arts (HVA).

Fran's enthusiasm is evident when describing the group's work: "The CLVFF reflects the changing area - we're no longer in a growth spurt, it's more like maintenance mode. The Conejo region is quickly becoming a travel destination, with theatre, festivals, golf, hotels and spas. I'm excited about the HVA development project, since it's a real opportunity for us as a community to explore our cultural direction." Fran describes the Foundation as being a "catalyst" for local advances. "Eventually, after planting the seeds for new ideas, the Foundation steps aside and other groups move these initiatives to completion. One only needs to see our list of projects to realize the enormous influence we have had on the region over the last 35 years."

She recognizes that the changing face of the community will mean new roles for the Foundation. "We are actively seeking new ideas, new focus, and new points of view, and anyone who cares about the future of the region is encouraged to get involved and become a member." The Future Foundation's immediate challenge is to locate a new Executive Director to fill Fran's shoes. "This is a job for someone who likes meeting the people who make the policies and decisions that shape our region. Every day here has been different - the range of projects and the disciplines required always keep me on my toes. I have always felt connected - a significant part of my community. It has been very rewarding." The CLVFF website (www.clvff.org) has more information about the position, as well as membership information and background on the organization.

After thirteen years being a key player in the Future Foundation, what's next for Fran Brough? Fran enjoys golf and looks forward to spending more time with her family and three grandchildren. "It will be hard to get out of my Foundation mode," she reflects, "This has really been the most exciting job of my life."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT CLVFF AT (818) 880-1054.