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It reminded Roldan to take advantage of opportunities in their new home. He attended Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary and John Adams Middle School, and was later bussed to Fairfax High School. He started in English as a Second Language classes until a sixth-grade teacher who believed in Roldan helped him transition out of ESL into LAUSD’s Magnet program.When he was 13, Roldan was recruited by Community Coalition, an organization that helps transform social and economic conditions in South LA by building Black and Latino power. Through their youth leadership programs, he didn’t just find his voice—he discovered his calling. He organized and mentored peers, and after graduating from high school, he got his first job as a Youth Organizer, fighting to transform his neighborhood from the ground up.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/fc64c00b-8ba1-4b82-9afc-4f9647148456/fc64c00b-8ba1-4b82-9afc-4f9647148456.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=126%2C49%2C965%2C924&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base">At Community Coalition, he organized campaigns that brought over $100 million to provide schools with safe drinking water and air conditioning and made college prep classes mandatory for all LA students. His hard work was soon recognized, and he was recruited to join the Development department, where he brought in resources for the organization and community. To this day, Roldan says these opportunities helped him acquire the leadership skills that “got me out of poverty.”&nbsp;Roldan went on to serve as Community Affairs Deputy for the LA Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia, where he built relationships with community organizations and over 120 schools. He helped parents and students access the resources they needed from the district. His experience led him to another leadership opportunity as Director of Education Programs at United Way of Greater Los Angeles where he administered grants to nonprofits across Los Angeles and fought for equitable funding for our schools. He later led the Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS), a coalition to help change how Black and Latino students are treated in public education by promoting policies that dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. With this track record, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner recruited Roldan as his Director of Civic Engagement.&nbsp;Today, Roldan serves as Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), a dropout/pushout prevention nonprofit that connects students to resources, caring mentors, and real-world opportunities in high needs communities. Even though 32% of LAUSD students are chronically absent - 100% of CISLA students show up and graduate.In addition to his work at CISLA, Roldan served as President of the City’s Commission on Community &amp; Family Services, advising on the needs, concerns, and interests of poor children, youth, and their families. He also volunteers with other South LA residents to clean neighborhoods and collect donations for families who need food but can’t leave their homes because of the fear of ICE raids.&nbsp;&nbsp;Roldan became a single father in his early 20s and spent his career balancing fatherhood, work, and earning his college degree. He graduated with his Bachelor’s in Public Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills in 2019.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/fb94c5c9-db0a-4708-b8b0-0f51d4ffc82a/fb94c5c9-db0a-4708-b8b0-0f51d4ffc82a.heic?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=7&amp;con=8&amp;sat=8&amp;high=0&amp;shad=-44&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4032%2C3024&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">He’s a homeowner in South LA, where he raised his two sons and lives with their three dogs. On weekends, Roldan spends time with his fiancée and gathers with his family in a way his mother could only dream of when she scrubbed floors for strangers — surrounded by the joy, dignity, and purpose that once seemed out of reach. He hasn’t forgotten where he came from. That’s exactly why he’s running for City Council.

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Su madre sabía que la educación era un camino para salir de la pobreza y a menudo le decía: “Yo limpio inodoros, para que tú no tengas que hacerlo”.

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Elmer Roldan is running for City Council because he knows the stakes. He’s lived the consequences of inaction. That's why he believes every Angeleno—especially those living in South Los Angeles—deserves the chance to thrive, not just survive.

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Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson endorses Elmer Roldan for City Council

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<img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/a03cec8f-dc5c-479a-8e38-655a0055a151/a03cec8f-dc5c-479a-8e38-655a0055a151.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1200%2C1600&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" variant="base"><h2>Sobre el Distrito 9</h2>El Distrito 9 del Concejo abarca una diversa colección de vecindarios históricos y vibrantes en el Sur Centro de Los Ángeles, incluyendo Vermont Square, Central-Alameda y Green Meadows. El distrito también incluye atracciones destacadas como el Centro de Convenciones de Los Ángeles, LA Live y Exposition Park.¿No está seguro si es elegible para votar en estas elecciones? Consulte su información de registro <a href="https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ES" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aquí</a>.

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<h2>Elmer Roldán representa lo mejor de Los Ángeles: un inmigrante que superó retos y dedicó su vida a construir un futuro mejor para nuestra comunidad.</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/243fc7d9-714a-4904-be97-b47117b34ec8/d1bdafc0-8ab2-4172-95ab-6d767ea60d56.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=4&amp;con=8&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=19&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=325%2C93%2C3494%2C2598&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="45" variant="base"><h4>Roldán reconoce que su éxito no lo consiguió solo. Los sacrificios de su familia y el apoyo de educadores, organizadores comunitarios y mentores le inspiraron para seguir esforzándose, incluso ante la adversidad. Desde los años 90, ha formado parte de movimientos en los que los angelinos se unieron para construir un futuro mejor y sabe que el cambio es posible, sin importar las adversidades.</h4>Nacido en Guatemala en una familia de clase trabajadora, su madre dejó la escuela en el tercer grado para ayudar a mantener a su familia. Huyendo de la pobreza y la violencia doméstica, llegó a Los Ángeles y se dedicó a limpiar casas hasta que ahorró lo suficiente para que Roldán y sus hermanas se reunieran con ella. Con sólo nueve años, Roldán y sus primos emprendieron un peligroso viaje de 13 días por un terreno desconocido y a lo largo del camino les robaron todo su dinero y pertenencias. Llegaron a Los Ángeles para reunirse con su familia sin nada más que la ropa que llevaban puesta y la determinación de construir una vida mejor.Mientras se adaptaba a la vida en su nuevo país, Roldán vivía en un apartamento de una habitación en el Sur Centro de Los Ángeles con seis miembros de su familia. Rodeado por la epidemia de crack, la violencia de las pandillas y la pobreza generacional, Roldán podría haberse convertido en una estadística más. En lugar de ello, se convirtió en una chispa de esperanza, canalizando la adversidad en ambición y el dolor en propósito. Recibió apoyo de las vibrantes comunidades afroamericanas y latinas que fueron fundamentales en su formación.

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Elmer's mom knew that education was a pathway out of poverty and often told him: “I clean toilets, so you won’t have to.”

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<h2>Elmer Roldan represents the best of Los Angeles — an immigrant who overcame challenges and dedicated his life to building a better future for our community.</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/243fc7d9-714a-4904-be97-b47117b34ec8/d1bdafc0-8ab2-4172-95ab-6d767ea60d56.webp?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=4&amp;con=8&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=19&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=325%2C93%2C3494%2C2598&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="45" variant="base"><h4>Roldan recognizes his success was not achieved by him alone. Sacrifices made by his family and support provided by educators, community organizers, and mentors inspired him to keep striving, even when faced with adversity. Since the 90s, he’s been a part of movements where Angelenos came together to build a better future and knows that change is possible, no matter the odds.</h4><h4>Roldan is running for City Council because he knows the stakes. He’s lived the consequences of inaction. He believes every Angeleno—especially those living in South Los Angeles—deserves the chance to thrive, not just survive.</h4>Born in Guatemala to a working-class family, his mom left school in the 3rd grade to help support their family. Fleeing poverty and domestic violence, she came to Los Angeles and cleaned houses until she saved enough to send for Elmer and his siblings to join her.&nbsp;At just nine years old, Elmer and his cousins embarked on a dangerous 13-day journey through unfamiliar terrain and had all their money and belongings stolen along the way. They arrived in Los Angeles to reunite their family with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the determination to build a better life.Getting acclimated to living in his new country, Roldan lived in a one-bedroom apartment in South Central LA with six family members. Surrounded by the crack epidemic, gang violence, and generational poverty, Roldan could have become another statistic. Instead, he became a spark of hope — channeling adversity into ambition and pain into purpose. He found support in the vibrant Black and Latino communities that shaped his upbringing.

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Construyendo un Futuro MejorElmer Roldán postula a concejal porque conoce lo que está en juego. Ha vivido las consecuencias de la inacción. Por eso cree que todos los angelinos — especialmente los que viven en el sur de Los Ángeles — merecen la oportunidad de prosperar, no sólo de sobrevivir.¿Preguntas o inquietudes? ¡<a href="/e1b25e6d-fdf4-42d3-b7f2-2bdbb9a8900b#block-3af1a510-4560-438e-9038-c3b98d58473b">Comparta sus ideas</a>!

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<h2>Sobre el Distrito 9</h2>El Distrito 9 del Concejo abarca una diversa colección de vecindarios históricos y vibrantes en el Sur Centro de Los Ángeles, incluyendo Vermont Square, Central-Alameda y Green Meadows. El distrito también incluye atracciones destacadas como el Centro de Convenciones de Los Ángeles, LA Live y Exposition Park.¿No está seguro si es elegible para votar en estas elecciones? Consulte su información de registro <a href="https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ES" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aquí</a>.

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Le recordaba a Roldán que debía aprovechar las oportunidades de su nuevo hogar. Asistió a Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary y a John Adams Middle School, y luego le llevaron en autobús al Fairfax High School. Empezó en clases de inglés como segundo idioma hasta que un profesor de sexto grado que creía en Roldán le ayudó a pasar de ESL al programa Magnet de LAUSD.Cuando tenía 13 años, Roldán fue reclutado por Community Coalition, una organización que ayuda a transformar las condiciones sociales y económicas del Sur de Los Ángeles mediante el fortalecimiento del poder de las comunidades afroamericanas y latinas. A través de sus programas de liderazgo juvenil, no solo encontró su voz, sino que también descubrió su llamado. Organizó y orientó a sus compañeros, y después de graduarse de la preparatoria, consiguió su primer empleo como Organizador Juvenil, luchando por transformar su vecindario desde sus cimientos.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/fc64c00b-8ba1-4b82-9afc-4f9647148456/fc64c00b-8ba1-4b82-9afc-4f9647148456.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=126%2C49%2C965%2C924&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base">En Community Coalition, organizó campañas que aportaron más de $100 millones de dólares para dotar a las escuelas de agua potable y aire acondicionado e hicieron obligatorias las clases de preparación para la universidad para todos los estudiantes de Los Ángeles. Pronto se reconoció su arduo trabajo y fue contratado para formar parte del Departamento de Desarrollo, donde aportó recursos para la organización y la comunidad. Hoy, Roldán dice que estas oportunidades le ayudaron a adquirir las habilidades de liderazgo que “me sacaron de la pobreza”.Roldán pasó a desempeñar el cargo de Adjunto de Asuntos Comunitarios para la Presidenta de la Junta del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles, Mónica García, donde entabló relaciones con organizaciones comunitarias y más de 120 escuelas. Ayudó a padres y alumnos a acceder a los recursos que necesitaban del distrito. Su experiencia le llevó a otra oportunidad de liderazgo como Director de Programas Educativos en United Way of Greater Los Angeles, donde administró fondos para organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro de todo Los Angeles y luchó por una financiación equitativa para nuestras escuelas. Más tarde dirigió Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS), una coalición para ayudar a cambiar la forma en que los estudiantes afroamericanos y latinos son tratados en la educación pública mediante la promoción de políticas que desmantelan la vía de la escuela a la cárcel. Con este historial, el Superintendente del LAUSD, Austin Beutner, contrató a Roldán como Director de Participación Cívica.Hoy, Roldán es Director Ejecutivo de Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), una organización sin ánimo de lucro para la prevención del abandono escolar que pone en contacto a los estudiantes con recursos, mentores comprometidos y oportunidades reales en comunidades altamente necesitadas. Aunque el 32% de los estudiantes del LAUSD sufren absentismo crónico, el 100% de los estudiantes de CISLA se presentan y se gradúan.Además de su trabajo en CISLA, Roldán se desempeñó como Presidente de la Comisión de Servicios Comunitarios y Familiares de la Ciudad, asesorando sobre las necesidades, preocupaciones e intereses de los niños, jóvenes y familias en situación de pobreza. También colabora como voluntario junto a otros residentes del Sur de Los Ángeles para limpiar los vecindarios y recolectar donaciones para familias que necesitan alimentos pero no pueden salir de sus hogares debido al temor a las redadas de ICE.Roldán se convirtió en padre soltero a principios de sus veinte años y ha dedicado su carrera a equilibrar la paternidad, el trabajo y la obtención de su título universitario. Se graduó en 2019 con una Licenciatura en Administración Pública de la Universidad Estatal de California en Dominguez Hills (CSU Dominguez Hills).<img src="https://run.imgix.net/bd6a9855-f254-49d6-8e39-e8a8a665b1f2/fb94c5c9-db0a-4708-b8b0-0f51d4ffc82a/fb94c5c9-db0a-4708-b8b0-0f51d4ffc82a.heic?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=7&amp;con=8&amp;sat=8&amp;high=0&amp;shad=-44&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C4032%2C3024&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" variant="base">Es propietario de una casa en el Sur de Los Ángeles, donde crió a sus dos hijos y vive con sus tres perros. Los fines de semana, Roldán pasa tiempo con su prometida y se reúne con su familia de una manera que su madre solo podía soñar cuando limpiaba pisos para extraños — rodeado de la alegría, la dignidad y el propósito que antes parecían inalcanzables. No ha olvidado de dónde viene. Y esa es precisamente la razón por la que se postula para el Concejo Municipal.

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LAUSD extends home internet program for a year after federal funding ends. What then?

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Rock the Vote Launches Municipal Voter Guide Pilot in Los Angeles, Targeting Young Voters

Los Angeles Leaders and Activists Call on the Next Mayor to Collaborate with LAUSD

Los Ángeles, CA — Elmer Roldán, líder comunitario y defensor de la educación en el Sur de Los Ángeles, declaró su candidatura para representar al Distrito 9 del Concejo Municipal de Los Ángeles. El Director Ejecutivo de Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), Roldan se postula para crear soluciones reales para avanzar en la justicia racial, económica y ambiental."Mi vida representa lo mejor de Los Ángeles: un inmigrante que superó las dificultades y se comprometió a construir un futuro mejor para nuestra comunidad. Sé lo que es dormir en un piso abarrotado, ver a su madre luchar para pagar los gastos familiares y que te digan que sobrevivir es lo mejor a lo que puede aspirar tu familia. Pero también sé lo que es posible cuando una comunidad cree en ti. He visto que el cambio es posible cuando educadores, organizadores y vecinos se unen para luchar por la dignidad, las oportunidades y la justicia", declaró Roldán."Me postulo como concejal porque tenemos que hacer más fácil y accesible vivir en Los Ángeles. Todos los angelinos merecen una educación de calidad, un trabajo bien pagado y un vecindario seguro y próspero. El sur de Los Ángeles ha vivido las consecuencias de la inacción, la desinversión y el descuido, y todas las familias trabajadoras merecen la oportunidad de prosperar, no sólo de sobrevivir. Las comunidades de clase trabajadora son la columna vertebral de Los Ángeles, y es hora de que nuestra ciudad invierta en ellas." El distrito 9 del Consejo Municipal de Los Ángeles está representado por el concejal Curren Price, que alcanzará el límite de su mandato en 2026. El distrito incluye el Centro de Convenciones de Los Ángeles, el complejo LA Live, la Universidad del Sur de California, Exposition Park y las comunidades históricas de Vermont Square, South Park, el Corredor Central-Alameda y Green MeadowsLas elecciones primarias tendrán lugar el 2 de junio de 2026.Sobre Elmer RoldánElmer Roldán representa lo mejor de Los Ángeles: un inmigrante que superó retos y dedicó su vida a construir un futuro mejor para nuestra comunidad.Roldán reconoce que su éxito no lo consiguió solo. Los sacrificios de su familia y el apoyo de educadores, organizadores comunitarios y mentores le inspiraron para seguir esforzándose, incluso ante la adversidad. Desde los años 90, ha formado parte de movimientos en los que los angelinos se unieron para construir un futuro mejor y sabe que el cambio es posible, sin importar las adversidades.Nacido en Guatemala en una familia de clase trabajadora, su madre dejó la escuela en el tercer grado para ayudar a mantener a su familia. Huyendo de la pobreza y la violencia doméstica, llegó a Los Ángeles y se dedicó a limpiar casas hasta que ahorró lo suficiente para que Roldán y sus hermanas se reunieran con ella. Con sólo nueve años, Roldán y sus primos emprendieron un peligroso viaje de 13 días por un terreno desconocido y a lo largo del camino les robaron todo su dinero y pertenencias. Llegaron a Los Ángeles para reunirse con su familia sin nada más que la ropa que llevaban puesta y la determinación de construir una vida mejor.Mientras se adaptaba a la vida en su nuevo país, Roldán vivía en un apartamento de una habitación en el Sur Centro de Los Ángeles con seis miembros de su familia. Rodeado por la epidemia de crack, la violencia de las pandillas y la pobreza generacional, Roldán podría haberse convertido en una estadística más. En lugar de ello, se convirtió en una chispa de esperanza, canalizando la adversidad en ambición y el dolor en propósito. Recibió apoyo de las vibrantes comunidades afroamericanas y latinas que fueron fundamentales en su formación.Su madre sabía que la educación era un camino para salir de la pobreza y a menudo le decía: “Yo limpio inodoros, para que tú no tengas que hacerlo”. Le recordaba a Roldán que debía aprovechar las oportunidades de su nuevo hogar. Asistió a Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary y a John Adams Middle School, y luego le llevaron en autobús al Fairfax High School. Empezó en clases de inglés como segundo idioma hasta que un profesor de sexto grado que creía en Roldán le ayudó a pasar de ESL al programa Magnet de LAUSD.Cuando tenía 13 años, Roldán fue reclutado por Community Coalition, una organización que ayuda a transformar las condiciones sociales y económicas del Sur de Los Ángeles mediante el fortalecimiento del poder de las comunidades afroamericanas y latinas. A través de sus programas de liderazgo juvenil, no solo encontró su voz, sino que también descubrió su llamado. Organizó y orientó a sus compañeros, y después de graduarse de la preparatoria, consiguió su primer empleo como Organizador Juvenil, luchando por transformar su vecindario desde sus cimientos.En Community Coalition, organizó campañas que aportaron más de $100 millones de dólares para dotar a las escuelas de agua potable y aire acondicionado e hicieron obligatorias las clases de preparación para la universidad para todos los estudiantes de Los Ángeles. Pronto se reconoció su arduo trabajo y fue contratado para formar parte del Departamento de Desarrollo, donde aportó recursos para la organización y la comunidad. Hoy, Roldán dice que estas oportunidades le ayudaron a adquirir las habilidades de liderazgo que “me sacaron de la pobreza”.Roldán pasó a desempeñar el cargo de Adjunto de Asuntos Comunitarios para la Presidenta de la Junta del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles, Mónica García, donde entabló relaciones con organizaciones comunitarias y más de 120 escuelas. Ayudó a padres y alumnos a acceder a los recursos que necesitaban del distrito. Su experiencia le llevó a otra oportunidad de liderazgo como Director de Programas Educativos en United Way of Greater Los Angeles, donde administró fondos para organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro de todo Los Angeles y luchó por una financiación equitativa para nuestras escuelas. Más tarde dirigió Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS), una coalición para ayudar a cambiar la forma en que los estudiantes afroamericanos y latinos son tratados en la educación pública mediante la promoción de políticas que desmantelan la vía de la escuela a la cárcel. Con este historial, el Superintendente del LAUSD, Austin Beutner, contrató a Roldán como Director de Participación Cívica.Hoy, Roldán es Director Ejecutivo de Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), una organización sin ánimo de lucro para la prevención del abandono escolar que pone en contacto a los estudiantes con recursos, mentores comprometidos y oportunidades reales en comunidades altamente necesitadas. Aunque el 32% de los estudiantes del LAUSD sufren absentismo crónico, el 100% de los estudiantes de CISLA se presentan y se gradúan.Además de su trabajo en CISLA, Roldán se desempeñó como Presidente de la Comisión de Servicios Comunitarios y Familiares de la Ciudad, asesorando sobre las necesidades, preocupaciones e intereses de los niños, jóvenes y familias en situación de pobreza. También colabora como voluntario junto a otros residentes del Sur de Los Ángeles para limpiar los vecindarios y recolectar donaciones para familias que necesitan alimentos pero no pueden salir de sus hogares debido al temor a las redadas de ICE.Roldán se convirtió en padre soltero a principios de sus veinte años y ha dedicado su carrera a equilibrar la paternidad, el trabajo y la obtención de su título universitario. Se graduó en 2019 con una Licenciatura en Administración Pública de la Universidad Estatal de California en Dominguez Hills (CSU Dominguez Hills).Es propietario de una casa en el Sur de Los Ángeles, donde crió a sus dos hijos y vive con sus tres perros. Los fines de semana, Roldán pasa tiempo con su prometida y se reúne con su familia de una manera que su madre solo podía soñar cuando limpiaba pisos para extraños — rodeado de la alegría, la dignidad y el propósito que antes parecían inalcanzables. No ha olvidado de dónde viene. Y esa es precisamente la razón por la que se postula para el Concejo Municipal.###

Elmer Roldán lanza su candidatura para representar al Distrito 9 del Concejo Municipal

South LA is treated like a dumping ground—construction waste, old furniture, tree trimmings, and abandoned vehicles pile up along freeways, alleys, and main streets. City Hall has failed to respond to our needs, and we’re tired of waiting for basic services. This makes our streets unsafe - and that is unacceptable.I’ll put my organizing experience to work by:<ul><li>Launching a “Block by Block” Response Plan to prioritize neighborhood needs in real time</li></ul><ul><li>Partner with trusted local nonprofits to invest in community organizing and direct actions</li></ul><ul><li>Use data-driven tools to identify hotspots for illegal dumping and service delays.</li></ul>Responsiveness shouldn't depend on your zip code. I will fight for dignity in every neighborhood.

City Hall has failed to respond to our needs, and we’re tired of waiting for basic services.&nbsp;

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A Council Office that Shows Up

How the LA Riots Changed The Lives Of These 6 People

Los Angeles, CA — South Los Angeles Community Leader and Education Advocate Elmer Roldan declared his candidacy to represent the Los Angeles City Council’s 9th&nbsp;District. The Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), Roldan is running to create real solutions to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.“My life represents the best of Los Angeles - an immigrant who overcame hardship and committed himself to building a better future for our community. I know what it’s like to sleep on a crowded floor, to watch your mom struggle to pay the bills, and to be told that survival is the best your family can hope for. But I also know what’s possible when a community believes in you. I’ve seen that change is possible when educators, organizers, and neighbors come together to fight for dignity, opportunity, and justice,”&nbsp;stated Roldan.“I am running for City Council because we need to make it easier and more affordable to live in Los Angeles. Every Angeleno deserves a quality education, a good-paying job, and a safe and thriving neighborhood. South Los Angeles has lived through the consequences of inaction, divestment, and neglect,&nbsp;and all working families deserve the chance to thrive, not just survive. Working-class communities are the backbone of Los Angeles, and it’s time our city invested in them.”&nbsp;The 9th District of the Los Angeles City Council is represented by Councilmember Curren Price, who will reach his term limit in 2026. The district includes the LA Convention Center, the LA Live Complex, the University of Southern California, Exposition Park, and the historic communities of Vermont Square, South Park,&nbsp;the Central-Alameda Corridor, and Green Meadows.The Primary Election will take place on&nbsp;June 2, 2026.About Elmer RoldanElmer Roldan represents the best of Los Angeles — an immigrant who overcame challenges and dedicated his life to building a better future for our community.Roldan recognizes his success was not achieved by him alone. Sacrifices made by his family and support provided by educators, community organizers, and mentors inspired him to keep striving, even when faced with adversity. Since the 90s, he’s been a part of movements where Angelenos came together to build a better future and knows that change is possible, no matter the odds.Born in Guatemala to a working-class family, his mom left school in the 3rd grade to help support their family. Fleeing poverty and domestic violence, she came to Los Angeles and cleaned houses until she saved enough to send for Roldan and his sisters to join her. At just nine years old, Roldan and his cousins embarked on a dangerous 13-day journey through unfamiliar terrain and had all their money and belongings stolen along the way. They arrived in Los Angeles to reunite their family with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the determination to build a better life.&nbsp;Getting acclimated to living in his new country, Roldan lived in a one-bedroom apartment in South Central LA with six family members. Surrounded by the crack epidemic, gang violence, and generational poverty, Roldan could have become another statistic. Instead, he became a spark of hope — channeling adversity into ambition and pain into purpose. He found support in the vibrant Black and Latino communities that shaped his upbringing.His mom knew that education was a pathway out of poverty and often told him: “I clean toilets, so you won’t have to.” It reminded Roldan to take advantage of opportunities in their new home. He attended Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary and John Adams Middle School, and was later bussed to Fairfax High School. He started in English as a Second Language classes until a sixth-grade teacher who believed in Roldan helped him transition out of ESL into LAUSD’s Magnet Program.When he was 13, Roldan was recruited by Community Coalition, an organization that helps transform social and economic conditions in South LA by building Black and Latino power. Through their youth leadership programs, he didn’t just find his voice—he discovered his calling. He organized and mentored peers, and after graduating from high school, he got his first job as a Youth Organizer, fighting to transform his neighborhood from the ground up.At Community Coalition, he organized campaigns that brought over $100 million to provide schools with safe drinking water and air conditioning and made college prep classes mandatory for all LA students. His hard work was soon recognized, and he was recruited to join the Development department, where he brought in resources for the organization and community. To this day, Roldan says these opportunities helped him acquire the leadership skills that “got me out of poverty.”&nbsp;Roldan went on to serve as Community Affairs Deputy for the LA Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia, where he built relationships with community organizations and over 120 schools. He helped parents and students access the resources they needed from the district. His experience led him to another leadership opportunity as Director of Education Programs at United Way of Greater Los Angeles where he administered grants to nonprofits across Los Angeles and fought for equitable funding for our schools. He later led the Brothers, Sons, Selves (BSS), a coalition to help change how Black and Latino students are treated in public education by promoting policies that dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. With this track record, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner recruited Roldan as his Director of Civic Engagement.Today, Roldan serves as Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles (CISLA), a dropout/pushout prevention nonprofit that connects students to resources, caring mentors, and real-world opportunities in high needs communities. Even though 32% of LAUSD students are chronically absent - 100% of CISLA students show up and graduate.In addition to his work at CISLA, Roldan served as President of the City’s Commission on Community &amp; Family Services, advising on the needs, concerns, and interests of poor children, youth, and their families. He also volunteers with other South LA residents to clean neighborhoods and collect donations for families who need food but can’t leave their homes because of the fear of ICE raids.Roldan became a single father in his early 20s and spent his career balancing fatherhood, work, and earning his college degree. He graduated with his Bachelor’s in Public Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills in 2019.He’s a homeowner in South LA, where he raised his two sons and lives with their three dogs. On weekends, Roldan spends time with his fiancée and gathers with his family in a way his mother could only dream of when she scrubbed floors for strangers — surrounded by the joy, dignity, and purpose that once seemed out of reach. He hasn’t forgotten where he came from. That’s exactly why he’s running for City Council.###

Elmer Roldan Launches His Bid to Represent Los Angeles City Council District 9

South Los Angeles has a tremendous opportunity to benefit from stronger partnerships between our local schools, community colleges, and the city—especially when it comes to streamlining school-to-career pipelines. Right now, too many young people are held back by bureaucratic barriers that make it harder to access job training or land well-paying, stable jobs that lead to upward mobility.&nbsp;I’ll leverage my relationships with education leaders to break down those barriers by:<ul><li>Expanding school-to-career pipelines in partnership with LAUSD, LACCD, LACOE and employers.</li></ul><ul><li>Connecting youth and adults to training, apprenticeships, and union jobs.</li></ul><ul><li>Helping start new small businesses and expanding access to financial support for existing businesses who are struggling during this unpredictable economy.</li></ul>Everyone deserves a pathway to prosperity – no matter their background.

Too many young people are held back by bureaucratic barriers that make it harder to access job training or land well-paying, stable jobs that lead to upward mobility.&nbsp;

Jobs & Pathways to Economic Mobility 

Council District 9 contains a concentration of wealth in LA Live, Expo Park, BMO Stadium, Convention Center, and USC. We must ensure that those assets remain strong and resourced. We must also ensure that those dollars and amenities are more easily accessible to all residents in the District. As it currently stands, residents are often forced to travel outside the district—or even the city—to access basic goods, services, jobs, and opportunities. This means that our hard-earned dollars are leaving our community!That’s why, I will:<ul><li>Host first 100-days community forums to align community priorities with city budgets.</li></ul><ul><li>Reform zoning and permitting to support mixed-use and affordable developments.</li></ul><ul><li>Promote infrastructure that supports upward mobility for street vendors, small businesses, and working families.</li></ul>Revitalizing our neighborhoods also means creating walkable business corridors, expanding green and recreational spaces, and investing in youth-friendly amenities. I’ll work in close partnership with artists, cultural institutions, running clubs, wellness leaders, and local nonprofits to host festivals, parades, and open street events that celebrate our community’s rich heritage and talent.When we have short-term solutions and residents see results, they'll continue to be involved and help plant the seeds for bigger projects. I will work on investing in cleaner streets, safer sidewalks, and more strategies to ensure dollars to stay in the 9th district.

While our district includes major economic anchors, the benefits of these institutions rarely reach the surrounding communities/

Investing in South LA 

We must be united in defending our city from unlawful and inhumane attacks by the Trump Administration. Trump’s weaponization of ICE and his unconstitutional deployment of the military on the streets of Los Angeles undermined our values, our rights, and our safety. These actions target immigrant communities and escalate fear in neighborhoods already under stress.I will also be relentless and intentional in protecting our Black families, the rich Black history and institutions that serve residents and inspire us to be great.&nbsp; I will also work tirelessly to honor and uplift the needs of the Indigenous, Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and other populations that call CD9 home.I will continue to stand with:<ul><li>Immigrant rights organizations to defend due process and keep families together.</li></ul><ul><li>Faith and civic leaders to mobilize against hate and discrimination.</li></ul><ul><li>Legal advocates to ensure every resident knows their rights.</li></ul><ul><li>Organizations providing basic needs and resources to residents in our community.</li></ul>

We must be united in defending our city from unlawful attacks by the Trump Administration.

Standing Up for our Community  

LAUSD Attacks Chronic Absenteeism

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South LA has the potential to become a greener, healthier, and more walkable community. I believe we can transform our neighborhoods by expanding access to parks, bike paths, and open spaces. I’m committed to working with residents, environmental justice advocates, schools, and state and local agencies to preserve the green spaces we have—and to create more spaces in the neighborhoods where we need them most.I’ll fight to:<ul><li>Activate a 15-mile greenway along the 110 Freeway into one of the largest urban greening projects with trees, plants, and gardens.</li></ul><ul><li>Expand safe walking, biking, and recreation spaces for youth and families.</li></ul><ul><li>Improve our public parks so residents of all ages can lead active, healthy lives in clean, vibrant, and well-maintained spaces.</li></ul><ul><li>Increase mixed-use facility agreements to make school playgrounds more accessible to the community for recreation, exercise, and wellness activities.</li></ul>

We can transform our neighborhoods by expanding access to parks, bike paths, and open spaces.

Increase Greenspace in South LA 

Encampments take root in South L.A. Here’s why clearing them out is so difficult.

Back to School Interview featuring Elmer Roldan

Whether they use Yondr to secure devices or send students to their lockers, educators are finding that setting policy is easy. Enforcement is hard.

So Your School Wants to Ban Cellphones. Now What?

Communities In Schools with Elmer Roldan

Why are more students chronically absent in California, U.S.?

Every Angeleno should be able to build a life here without being priced out of their neighborhood. Growing up, I watched my mom come home after a long day of cleaning houses to bills that ate into every paycheck. No matter how many hours she put in, rising housing costs, grocery prices, and skyrocketing utility bills meant that our family sacrificed a lot in order to make it through the week. Too many families face those same struggles—and worse. We need real solutions to reduce the cost of living.That’s why I’ll champion:<ul><li>Affordable housing that protects tenants and prevents displacement.</li></ul><ul><li>Mixed use housing that supports businesses and housing needs</li></ul><ul><li>Rental relief and utility support programs to help families stay housed.</li></ul><ul><li>Childcare and afterschool programs that give working families the support they need.</li></ul>We must build a city where families can feel proud to call home without struggling to survive.

Every Angeleno should be able to build a life here without being priced out of their neighborhood.

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