Candidate for
Trustee; Peralta Community College District; Area 2

I grew up in the flatlands of Oakland in a working-class family, experiencing poverty and violence. My parents hard work ethic, along with mentoring opportunities provided to me, allowed me to attend Merritt College and then successfully graduate from Saint Mary's College of California. As a college student I organized and led campaigns on issues of educational equality. I have experienced the challenges of growing up in Oakland but also the power that Oakland residents have to make change.

Crime, violence, and unemployment have affected us negatively for decades. Our communities have made minimal progress, socially and economically. Status-quo leadership has left many Oakland residents living like second-class citizens. My combination of education and life-experiences prepares me for leadership now.

I want to serve on the Peralta Board to work actively to reverse the cuts to the Community Colleges. I will fight to tax the rich to pay for adequate funding for public education. I will prioritize and emphasize budget reform that will produce stability.

I believe in treating Peralta employees and their unions fairly, including engaging in good-faith contract negotiations. I will be accessible to employees and their unions at all times.

The Greens have a slate of candidates proposing social, economic, and political reform in the city of Oakland. The Oakland Green's seek to create jobs for the community, reduce the crime and violence affecting people of color and the youth, and to stop the privatization that has only provided mass profits to the bankers. Join us in taking back our future!