About Joel Lava

Democrat. Activist. Union. Father.

Many people know me as “one of the first activists to protest Elon Musk and DOGE”. I am a national spokesman for Tesla Takedown, and I am an organizer of ICE OUT protests and other rallies in the Burbank area. 

I grew up in Austin, TX - but this was the Blue Texas of Democratic legends like Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, and Lloyd Bentsen. Everything seemed right in the world. Local politics were king in Austin, though over time national politics became my passion.

Filmmaking was a larger passion, and I graduated from Northwestern University with majors in Film & Anthropology. After working in the Chicago film production scene, I ended up at Industrial Light & Magic in the Bay Area, and then came to LA in 2000.  I lead the life of a Emmy Award-winning commercial director/VFX & Motion Graphics Creative Director, and earned the privilege to be in the Director’s Guild of America. I am excited to translate my leadership skills - from working with multiple creative teams at once - to the halls of Congress!

Every step of the way, I stayed engaged in politics by making political videos on a variety of issues and advocacy. I began my volunteer work with California Clean Money Campaign (led by Trent Lange) on the issue of Publicly Financed Elections. The dryness of this issue is inversely proportional to its importance for our democracy!

After the 2022 Uvalde shooting tragedy, I had enough of gun violence and the seeming lack of progress with our lawmakers. I created NameThemToShameThem.com, an anti-gun violence campaign designed to go around the NRA and directly at the Gun & Ammo Manufacturers.  This has led to collaboration with hopeandhealfund.org and outreach with Giffords.org.

I am a believer in universal healthcare. In the meantime we could immediately strengthen Obamacare! 10 years ago I started EasyFixObamacare.com - outlining simple solutions that are easy to talk about.  People should know where Democrats stand - with easy to remember messaging.

I’ve been a Burbank resident for 18 years, raising both kids here their entire lives. One of my proudest moments was taking my kids to go canvassing in the 2018 midterms. And we won! I’ve coached both kids in sports their whole lives as well. In addition to being a political junkie, I’m also an NBA fanatic and would be happy to discuss the benefits of a Horns vs. Triangle offense.