Candidate for
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 1

Maria "Sokie" Quintero is a Political Science Professor at East Los Angeles College who was raised in Boyle Heights and who currently resides in El Sereno with her family. She has demonstrated she is strongly committed and dedicated to improving the educational opportunities and outcomes for community college students--especially Latina/o students.

​Ms. Quintero has the knowledge, understanding and experience in working with community college students. She understands first-hand the challenges students face as they maneuver through the system to meet their goals of completing a certificate for a career or transferring to four year institutions of higher learning. Throughout the years, she has mentored and assisted many of these students. ​ Ms. Quintero graduated from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies with a Bilingual/ Bicultural emphasis. She received her Master's degree in Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.

Her previous professional experience includes:

​Scholarship Program Director for TELACU Education Foundation. Youth Program Manager at Hub Cities Consortium, a county certified WorkSource California center, serving the cities of Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lynwood, Maywood & South Gate. ​Manager for the research development department at Hub Cities Lead staff in the 2006 Recertification process. Through her leadership, the agency received various grants and met the Performance Measures for the County WIA youth program from 2000-2006.

As a lifelong active community member, Sokie has focused on programs that empower youth and women. Her activities include:

​Current board member of Alma Family Services Current volunteer for the Parent Booster Club and Alumni Foundation of Roosevelt High Committee member for the ELA Classic Beef Bowl Past Coach for the JV Softball Team Past Board Member, Lambda Theta Nu Sorority Inc. National Board Past-President, Comisión Femenil de Los Angeles Established Latina Mentorship Program at Bravo Medical Magnet Past Vice-Chair, Variety Boys & Girls Club Founders Circle ​​​ ​ Ms. Quintero is also active in her faculty department. Her colleagues recently elected her as the AFT Adjunct Representative to the East Los Angeles College Social Sciences Department. In this capacity she is the faculty liaison on labor related matters. Ms. Quintero was a member of SEIU Local 99's organizing team. The team was successful in unionizing the teacher assistant staff for LAUSD.

Maria "Sokie" Quintero is a well-rounded individual who is active in her community and in her professional academic life. Her depth of understanding and wealth of experience in community colleges make her an excellent candidate for the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees.

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