Candidate for
Trustee; West Valley-Mission Community College District; Trustee Area 2

Maggie is a Santa Clara resident, born, raised and schooled in West San Jose. She went to Prospect and Del Mar High School, both in the Campbell Unified High School District that is in the West Valley Mission District. Maggie was a student at West-Valley Community College in a program that enabled her to earn college credits before earning her bachelor's degree in Political Science at Santa Clara University. As a community resident and former student, Maggie is dedicated to the district's image and future. She is currently an organizer with SEIU 521 representing employees from Santa Clara and San Mateo County Court, Housing Authority of Santa Clara County and a private non-profit school AchieveKids. As an organizer, Maggie sees that local boards have an immense responsibility to make tough decisions but also have the opportunity and ability to make positive influential change

Maggie believes that community colleges are a cost effective way to gain one's credentials and receive a high quality education. Community colleges are THE resource for community residents to develop job skills, build new abilities, move on to a 4-yr. institute, or retool into a new career field as a result of the economy and the realities of layoffs. It's also a way for students to play catch up if they didn't go to a good high school. Community colleges are best able to respond to the communities' educational needs and will not turn you away.

Maggie's passion comes from being a product of public schools. As a first generation Chinese-American, Maggie had to seek a lot of guidance from her high school counselor. Only then was she able to find her way to college. Maggie later became an Academic and Career Advisor for a local non-profit, helping foster youth enroll in college and enter the workforce but due to lack of funding the program was discontinued. Maggie experienced the importance of support programs and that is one of the areas that she will champion for. She strongly believes that the community should have all the best resources available to them nearby, especially the disadvantaged. As a recipient of the benefits the community and it's college has had to offer, Maggie feels it's time for her to give back and take a more active role in the community.

EDUCATION:

Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara,CA Thurgood Marshall Scholarship; Law Faculty Scholarship; Pro Bono Plaque; Co-Vice President, Criminal Law Society; Member, Asian Bar Assoc.; Member, Asian Pacific American Law Student Assoc., Member, Public Interest & Social Justice Coalition; Member, La Raza Law Students Assoc.

Santa Clara University, Santa Clara,CA

BS, June 2004 Major: Political Science Minor: Asian Studies Magna cum laude; Dean's List, 2001-2002; Political Science Honor's Department; Santa Clara Community Action Program; Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Center for Community-Based Learning.

Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Completed Yale in China Program, Fall 2003

West Valley Community College,Saratoga,CA

PUBLIC SERVICE & EXPERIENCE: SEIU 521 + advocate and organizer for fair wages, benefits and working conditions.

Unity Care Group - Academic and Career Advisor assisting foster youth in college enrollment and graduation success.

Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) - teacher of law related education in juvenile hall and alternative schools.

San Jose Unified School District - substitute teacher

City of San Jose - innovative education programming and tutoring.

SCORE! Educational Center - individual programming and curriculum building.

Asian Law Alliance + referred legal resources to indignant Asian and Pacific Islanders.