Candidate for
Trustee; Peralta Community College District; Trustee Area 7

I am a two-term incumbent and bring the experiences of having served on the board for eight years. I have been and continue to do the work and make the decisions that are needed to move the Peralta District forward.

I am running to continue my work "to make a difference" by working to ensure that there are flexible student's services, innovative teaching and 21st century programs, and to make sure that Peralta Colleges continue to become better entry points for people of all cultures and incomes to improve the quality of their lives through education. I bring eight years of commitment, experience and results.

There are areas where I have made considerable strides and have acheived the most progress:

I led the effort to bring a highly successful multicultural UC-sponsored transfer program to the Peralta Colleges to increase our transfer rates to the University of California.

I initiated and spearheaded the board's small local emerging business enterprise policy and procedures to work with small local and emerging businesses, recognizing that these are the businesses that will hire more local residents including Peralta students, as well as support our tax base.

Under my leadership the board's Equal Opportunity and Access Committee was successful in:

• lobbying for increased hours of the faculty diversity internship coordinator's hours, a role crucial to recruiting a diversified staff. Diversity is critical to having a healthy teaching and learning environment for Peralta students.

• *I am working with the Building and Construction trades to introduce more possibilities for Peralta Students to engage in Apprenticeship Opportunities, especially women and ethnic minorities.

• *When labor wanted to use a Project Labor Agreement, I was the first trustee contacted and asked to review the potential for Peralta agreeing to such an agreement. This Agreement was to provide additional access and opportunities for the building of Berkeley City College.

• *I have led the effort to include draft and pass through our board a Resolution prohibiting sweatshop labor.

• *I worked diligently to increase the hours of the Labor Studies Instructor. Our labor studies department is critical for students that desire to develop a career path in organized labor.

• *I was the most vocal trustee in objecting to eliminating the enfant/toddler program at Laney Childcare Center. My action prompted the Chancellor to form a childcare task force to develop better alternatives.

• *I got the Oakland Police Chief to agree to meet with members of the African American leadership of the Faith Community to discuss opportunities to attract local residents to engage in the Pre Police Academy being offered at Merritt. This will allow a larger number of residents to pursue employment opportunities for these high demand and high paying careers which in turn will also add a very needed diminsion to the police force, the hiring of more residents that come from our local communities.

• *I serve on the steering committee of a nascent organziation called the Black Alliance for Just Immigration. A group whose mission is to expand the public discourse and understanding about immigration issues. To recognize that immigrants from African and Caribbean countries should also be integral part of the discussion. Moreoever, the immigration issues also impacts Peralta students.