Say hello to Darshana Patel who is running for the California State Assembly in 2024.
Families continue to struggle with accessing affordable housing, higher education, high quality healthcare. Many of the resources offered are not provided in a culturally competent way, where the communities congregate, or in the languages needed to access those services. There continues to be racial bias and bigotry for immigrants and those that are not perceived as typically “American,” regardless of citizenship. This is where representation matters.
It is important for Democracy to include diverse representation within our governmental systems. More specifically, our CA State Legislature has only 41.7 % women despite women being about 50% of our state population. Furthermore, we don’t have many moms, scientists, or Indian Americans in elected office at that level. These gaps contribute to policy blind spots where those communities won’t have their needs addressed. Many immigrant families continually struggle with finding the right balance between achievement, success, and well-being as they make sacrifices on their pathway to the American Dream. Our government policies should help them along their journey.
I was appointed to the State Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs by Senator Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins. In her public announcement of my appointment, she said, “Dr. Patel is a trusted leader in her community and tireless advocate for quality education in California schools,” Pro Tem Atkins said. “Dr. Patel’s impressive analytical and organizing background, combined with her lived experiences as a woman of color in California, make her an ideal addition to the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.” As a commissioner, I serve on the Higher Education Committee and the Data Equity Subcommittee. As commissioners, we oversee development of programs to help bridge the equity gaps for diverse members of the APIAA community.
I have been President of the San Diego County School Boards Association for the past three years and have led our regional elected Trustees through the difficult times of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the school closures, and rise in harassment of local elected officials. Over the past three years I have organized trainings and governance workshops on managing orderly board meetings, de-escalation, and new board member orientation. My colleagues have confidence in my leadership and have asked me to run for a fourth year as President.
Read the full interview that first appeared in Seema Magazine here:
