Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Rio Hondo Community College District; Trustee Area 4

Margarita Macedonio represents the community's progress, strengths, and future opportunities for the Rio Hondo College District - Area 4. As the daughter of two hardworking parents, Margarita's success is attributed to growing up with the values of faith, family, community, education, and justice.

Margarita is the product of a strong union family as her parents have worked in manufacturing industries for almost 54 years combined. Earning decent wages and benefits was essential to creating the economic viability that opened doors for Margarita's parents to become first-time homeowners and raise four college-bound children who have all earned their undergraduate degrees from public universities.

Having graduated from El Rancho High School, Margarita was the first person in her family to attend college at UCLA, where she earned a Bachelor's degree and then a Master's degree in Urban Planning. She presently serves as the Community Development District Manager for the City of Santa Ana. Margarita provides leadership training and strategic planning to strengthen the cohesion between the hundreds of voluntary neighborhood groups, homeowner associations, police, businesses, and community-based organizations.

At UCLA, Margarita's leadership in the areas of student services and community building for college outreach, student retention, and community service programs has achieved significant outcomes that were essential to making the university more responsive to student needs. Margarita was elected Vice President-Internal of the Graduate Students Association and successfully managed the Student, Programs, Activities, and Resource Complex (SPARC) Referendum of 2000 campaign which created the Student Activities Center (SAC).

Margarita is a graduate of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute, a non-partisan organization that promotes leadership, advocacy and equality for all women and served as Board member with the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, a community-based organization focused on building the leadership capacity and college preparation of youth across the State.

As a firm believer that education transforms lives, Margarita's priorities are to: 1) ensure Rio Hondo College's budget is fiscally sound and reflects the community's needs; 2) ensure students are able to graduate, transfer, or complete career technical training in three years or less; 3) create new partnerships that will leverage funding and bring resources that support Rio Hondo's students; and 4) strengthen outreach efforts to connect Rio Hondo College with the community.

Ms. Macedonio is married to a United States Marine Corps Veteran who is currently providing services to homeless veterans in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. They were able to achieve the American dream of becoming first-time homeowners in the Los Nietos community of West Whittier.

Margarita is a member of her local Catholic Church and enjoys walking, a variety of music, and spending quality time with her family and network of friends.