Candidate for
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 4

Education is the answer!

Knowledge and skills mean a better standard of living for you and those around you. The purpose of the Los Angeles Community College District is to promote higher academic standards for the residents of Los Angeles County. As the demand for higher education continues to grow, the L.A.C.C.D. must be in a position to accommodate the increasing body of students. Equally as important are the choices pertaining to student expansion so that the already strained ecological health of Los Angeles, including water, is not negatively impacted.

The community colleges only really seriously considered the environmental impact on new construction when a fellow environmentalist who I was instrumental in getting elected showed incumbents that the environment must be considered in all phases of construction and operation of the community colleges. With me on the board, we two environmentalists will strengthen environmental policies in the Los Angeles Community Colleges and ensure that the 48 new buildings are environmentally sustainable and that our stakeholders - households, students, government, NGO's, and businesses develop sustainability goals through local educational systems and training.

The role of any public servant is to "ensure a better quality of life for all, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems." (Julian Agyeman, Assistant Professor at Tufts University). As public servants, trustees must develop curriculum and help the community identify and select sustainability goals.

Education essential in many other types of programs, such as public-health efforts to stop the spread of specific diseases, can enlighten policies and government initiatives, and help governments enact sustainable measures. People need basic knowledge from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to understand the principles of sustainable development, how they can be implemented, the values involved, and ramifications of their implementation. Training teaches us how to use equipment safely, be more efficient, and comply with regulations. I will encourage business, industry, higher education, governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and community organizations to train our stakeholders to ensure a clean and healthy environment.