Why is Desiree the ideal candidate for the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees in District 1?
Because of her heart and life-long commitment to giving back to communities for improving lives for the next generation to follow.
About Desiree
A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
Desiree has been serving for four years as a Glendale College Trustee during the unprecedented time of COVID-19. She has worked closely with the President and colleagues to maintain enrollment through virtual Zoom classes, expand wrap-around social services, counseling, financial aid, and grant support for students enrolled at the college. After COVID restrictions were lifted, we worked on a smooth transition to in-person, High flex classes, free programs geared toward mental health and well-being, and housing assistance. Additionally, we have used this period to reassess to streamline and upgrade our website software platform, cyber security, and computer equipment for our faculty, staff, and student laptop/Wi-Fi services.
Before being a Trustee, she did serve for seven years as a Councilmember and Treasurer for Crescenta Valley Town Council, where she was able to utilize her transportation expertise by facilitating through the County depts, constructed Landscape medians on Foothill Blvd., which included an Active Transportation Plan for the corridor, a Safe Routes to School Plan, and 210 Fwy Soundwalls and Ped/bike Street enhancements.
Desiree brings her long track record of advocacy and broad experience in the public and private sectors to the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees to help build an educational institution that offers the highest quality education and services to our community. She lives in La Crescenta with her husband Paul Rabinov and their dog Sonny.
Her service positions held over 30 years include:
Advisory Board Member and previously California Co-chair for the Trust for Public Land
Advisory Board Member for the GCC Symphony of the Verdugos orchestra
Advisory Board member to Peace over Violence San Gabriel Valley Chapter
Past president and Co-founder of National Women's Political Caucus-LA Metro chapter
Previously V.P. of Programs Soroptimist Int’l of Glendale to inform women on timely issues/events, served as the Chair “Live your Dream” women’s grant program, and Chair of GCC scholarship program for women in music and performing arts
Women in Public Finance-scholarship committee
Executive Cabinet Leader for United Way Pathways Out of Poverty program
National President of Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional
Legislative Analyst for the National Council of La Raza
Desiree’s Accomplishments as a Glendale Community College Trustee
Monitored the costs and timeline to complete the state-of-the-art Science building and construct and rehabilitate sports facilities and administration buildings to address the operation and curriculum needs through the GC Bond measure.
Approved expanding our CARES program that increases the campus food pantry and food for extended families, student housing vouchers, and free transportation “Metro Go Pass” to use on Metro service and a dozen participating transit agencies to retain and expand enrollment.
Addressed mental health issues by increasing wellness and well-being resources and programs, i.e., yoga, access to the fitness center, meditations, and experts through the health center.
Expanded the collaboration with local and national organizations that support the various identity groups of our students through scholarships, internships, and mentorships.
Advocated for financial reform through California legislators to increase the State Grant Program level consistent with the Federal Pell Grant. And accelerating the certificate education program track to an eight-week schedule allows for stacking credentials toward better employment options and compensation.
Desiree’s Priorities
Advance and promote state-of-the-art programs and curriculum to ensure students receive a quality education and are competitive in the changing trends of the job market to continue growing a stronger economy.
Ensure the Glendale Community College Student Basic Needs Ad hoc Task Force moves forward with realistic, sustainable, and implementable solutions to supporting efforts on housing and food insecurities for the student population.
Foster programs in career counseling that further assist women and LGBTQ in traditional or non-traditional career choices, and support services to attain their degree or certificate.
Act as a conduit to the community in bringing their ideas, concerns, and interests relevant to meeting the goals in accessing higher education, and that support and produce student learning.
Utilize my fiscal management experience to maximize the state allocation of local budget and accountability to the State.
Desiree’s Story
Desiree has lived in Glendale and La Crescenta for a combined total of 30 years with her husband, where they raised their children in the GUSD public school system. As a parent, professional, and volunteer, her experiences will bring fiscal responsibility, bi-cultural knowledge, and managerial and communication skills that are relevant to being an effective Trustee.
Her volunteer experience spans over thirty years. She has served as a Council member since 2015 and as the Chair of the Streets and Transportation Committee for the Crescenta Valley Town Council. In her elected position, her efforts included improving connectivity to public transit, implementing bicycle lanes on Foothill Blvd, with the anticipation of a near-future expansion, and facilitating the development of landscape medians. The project under consideration is a Safe Routes to School Plan for Crescenta Valley Elementary schools. And an Open Streets day for families to walk, bike, and scoot on closed streets within La Crescenta and the City of Glendale. She was instrumental in securing additional funding from LACMTA for the 210 Soundwall program to build eight walls out of the twelve needed to initiate the project.
She advocates for empowering women to run for public office. She served as Vice President, immediate past president, and founding member of the National Women's Political Caucus-Los Angeles Metro Chapter, established in 1991.
Passionate about the outdoors, she is promoting equity for low-income communities to have access to parks within a 10-minute walk and open space through the lens of environmental justice. Desiree is currently Co-chair of the California Advisory Board for the Trust for Public Lands as an ambassador while leveraging resources to be invested in poor park communities.
Growing up in a disadvantaged community in the Eastside of Los Angeles, she and her mother co-founded in 1995 Project Amiga, a non-profit organization in San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles. The program was dedicated to assisting young at-risk women, men, and their families through bilingual and bi-cultural services in life skills education, GED preparation, and vocational training certified programs. Through these programs, she has served as an Executive Cabinet Leader for the United Way Pathways out of poverty program, as well as a finance committee member of the San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance in bridging public and private partnerships for job creation.
Early in her career, she served as National President of Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional to provide scholarships to disadvantaged Latina students and housing for at-risk emancipated women. She also served as a Legislative Analyst for the National Council of La Raza, a civil rights organization.
Desiree was a Senior Transportation Planning Manager at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) for thirty years as a lead manager in multiple capacities. Her final position was managing the Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant Program, overseeing a $25 million budget for cities to develop transit-supportive regulatory documents. Additionally, she was responsible for the Active Transportation bicycle reservation web system and data collection training. She managed the Transit Orange Line Corridor Implementation studies along transit stops/stations for future transit-oriented development. She was a founding team architect for the SB 375 Sustainability Transportation Program. She also received commendation for her innovative leadership in the area of transportation demand management strategies. She is currently a transportation consultant with Communitiy Connections LLC as a strategic advisory manager to collaborate with community and public stakeholders in planning and implementing transit alternative programs and infrastructure development.