Hilda Avila is an amazing parent leader who is part of Latino Padres Unidos. She has been serving her community in Wilmington for many years. From leading the PTO at her son's school to teaching literacy classes for parents, Hilda's unstoppable passion for education advocacy led her to join Speak UP's Digital Task Force to create awareness about the search for the next LAUSD superintendent. She believes this is a chance for the district, parents and community organizations to collaborate to improve the quality of education in Los Angeles schools. "There's a great opportunity for us as parents to get involved in the search for the right superintendent, because improvement starts with the right person heading the district in the right direction, making the right decision from top to bottom." We are very proud of the leadership skills Hilda has brought to the Speak UP family. Thank you Hilda!

In honor of Parent’s Day, we are awarding a Parent of the Year award to Carla Suárez-Capdet, an incredible mother, friend and advocate for kids with exceptional needs who has left us too soon. Carla was a true champion for equity in education, especially as it pertains to students with disabilities. Not only was she an outspoken advocate for her own 6-year-old son, but she was generous with her time and helped anyone who asked in her mission to support kids with special needs. Carla’s passing has left a gaping void in the special education advocacy world, and because of this the Speak UP Special Education Task Force has created Carla’s Way: A Mentorship Network for Families of Exceptional Kids. Carla’s Way is a volunteer network of experienced special education parents who will mentor less seasoned parents of exceptional kids in their advocacy. Our hope is that this mentorship network will not only carry on Carla's voice and mission, but amplify it by tapping into an ever expanding network of parents seeking equity for their children.

Kevin Corbin

Kevin is a parent leader in South L.A and a native resident of Watts. He has two daughters attending LAUSD schools. As a member of Speak UP, Kevin has participated in several Black Kids Can't Wait Facebook Live programs as a parent panelist and he has interviewed with major media outlets to speak on behalf of Black children from his community. Besides being an active parent, Kevin is in the community every day as a social worker providing services to the unhoused men and women on the streets of Los Angeles. Thank you, Kevin, for all your work speaking up on behalf of your community and being a great father/leader to your children.

Lyliana Madrid

Lyliana is a parent leader in Southeast L.A. Her two daughters attend LAUSD schools in South Gate. As a member of Speak UP, she has attended several workshops and is frequently interviewed in major media outlets to speak on behalf of the most vulnerable kids in her community. Lyliana believes that it's very important to promote parent engagement in the education of their children. That is why she supports the advocacy campaigns of Speak UP. Thank you, Lyliana, for all your work speaking up on behalf of your community!

Brittania Hurst

Brittania is an active member of Speak UP's African American Parent Advocacy Team. A single working mom to a son in an LAUSD elementary school, she still manages to find time to advocate to lift Black student achievement and to push for equity and racial justice within all LAUSD schools. Thank, you, Brittania, for speaking up for LAUSD students!

Renée Bailey

Renée is a mom of two LAUSD kids in South L.A., a kindergartener and a 14-year-old son with disabilities. Renée, who recently joined Speak UP's Special Education Task Force and African American Parent Advocacy Team, has been a fierce advocate for reopening schools and giving high-needs kids the option to return. She has spoken up at the LAUSD board and in media appearances about the suffering her family and others in her community have faced with distance learning. She was also one of the lead organizers alongside Women of Watts of an "Open Our Schools" rally. Thank you, Renée, for speaking truth to power and being a champion for the rights of parents to have a seat at the table when decisions are made affecting our kids.

María Rangel

Maria has four children, two of whom attend the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center in Southeast L.A. Maria has been active parent in Speak UP for some time, advocating for English Learners. "I am very grateful to Speak UP for all the help they have given me. I have learned a lot with them. 'There are no barriers or distances if you want to continue learning,' as a friend once said to me." Thank you, Maria, for speaking up on behalf of L.A.'s kids!

A fierce advocate for educational justice for students, particularly Black students, Tyrese McKie is a mother of two who founded Mentor the Motivated, a nonprofit mentoring organization. She loves spending time with her mentees encouraging them to live life to its fullest through their educational endeavors. On weekends, Tyrese distributes food and clothing to homeless people around Los Angeles. Tyrese is a member of Speak UP’s LCAP/LCFF Parent Advocacy Team (LLPAT) and African American Parent Advocacy Team (AAPAT). This year, she will complete her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Leadership from Capella University.

Carla Suárez-Capdet

Carla is a parent of a kindergartner in the San Fernando Valley. This is Carla’s first year as a parent of a student with special needs in LAUSD, and she lost no time in advocating for improved access to high-quality and equitable education for her son and all kids. She’s a key member of Speak UP’s special education task force and serves as a recently elected member of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) for LAUSD. Carla has tirelessly volunteered her time to advocate at the school board and with other key decision makers in the District to improve education for kids with disabilities, all while navigating distance learning with her son. Her calm, measured voice belies the grit and determination she constantly demonstrates while advocating for improved public education for our most vulnerable kids. Thank you, Carla, for all that you do!

Maribel Campos and Kenchy Ragsdale

Maribel Campos and Kenchy Ragsdale are both active parent leaders in the San Fernando Valley. Maribel’s daughter is in the 3rd grade at a highly gifted magnet school, and her son is in the 7th grade at Granada Hills High, where she was one of the first parents to complete the school’s Parent Ambassador program. Maribel has attended every Speak UP workshop and policy meeting in the San Fernando Valley Board Districts 3 and 6. She has also helped facilitate workshops to help parents understand how to advocate for their kids and why local school board elections are important. Ragsdale is the parent of a 9-year-old son and co-founded the education advocacy group Kids Not Politics and ran for LAUSD School board in 2019. He’s president of the Board for the Scarlet Foundation and treasurer of iLEAD California Board. He’s also spoken up multiple times at LAUSD board meetings to hold elected leaders accountable for policies and actions that put kids first. Congratulations to two parents who have the courage to consistently speak up on behalf of kids!

Irma Villalpando

Irma is a parent of a 9th grader and an 11th grader at LAUSD's Maywood Center for Enriched Studies Magnet School and an active member of Speak UP's Parent Leadership Advisory Network. Irma, a former LAUSD teacher, has been a member of her School Site Council, Local School Leadership Council, a member of the District Title 1 study group, the District LCAP study group, and this year a member of the Parent Advisory Committees (PAC). She was part of organizing and engaging parents from the Southeast L.A. community to join Speak UP's 2019 Peace Walk. She continues to advocate at the school board to improve education for L.A. kids and helps other parents in need during the pandemic. Irma your dedication, enthusiasm, and insight are really inspiring! 

Mayra Zamora

Mayra is a parent of two students with disabilities that attend school in District 7. You’ll often see Mayra and her two sons advocating for parent and student rights at the LAUSD Board. Mayra has been helping parents advocate for their students in special education for over 10 years and is currently an LAUSD Community Advisory Committee for Special Education officer and LAUSD Parent Advisory Committee member. Mayra serves on Speak UP's Parent Leadership Advisory Network, our Special Ed Task Force and our Local Control Accountability Plan advocacy group. She's also a member of her School Site Council and Local School Leadership Council. Thank you, Mayra, for being a champion for LAUSD kids!

Magda Vargas

Thank you Magda for your leadership, for being the voice of families in your community and for demanding a better education for our children in LAUSD. We are very proud that you are part of #SpeakUP4Kids #latinapower #BD5.

Stanley Harris

Stanley has an Ed.D in Educational Leadership from UCLA and he is a father to a student at Clover Elementary. He is a member of Speak UP’s African American Parent Advocacy Team and our Parent Leadership Advisory Network. Additionally, Stanley has advised parents on how to help their children with distance learning on Speak UP's "Black Kids Can't Wait" Facebook Live broadcasts and on parent webinars. Stanley has spoken at the LAUSD board, advocating for policies to lift Black student achievement, and his efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you for all of your work Stanley!

Mia Marano

Mia Marano is a mom of two kids in Board District 1 who attend LAUSD’s Saturn elementary and Larchmont charter. Mia is a member of Speak UP’s special education task force and a tireless advocate for educational equity. Prior to the pandemic, Mia hosted multiple Speak UP meetings in her home, and since the pandemic, she has spoken up in the media about the need for LAUSD kids with special needs to receive services during school closures. She has also generously donated to help families in crisis. Thank you, Mia, for your constant efforts to improve education for L.A.’s kids.

Dina Orozco

Dina Orozco has worked tirelessly with Speak UP to support advocacy for our parents of kids with special needs. Pulling from her experience helping her mother fight for her brother with disabilities, she helped share her knowledge with others. Dina is now working as behavioral interventionist (BII) so she can continue supporting students with special needs. Thank you for everything you do, Dina!

Alberta Brinson Moore

Alberta Moore is a mother of three kids, two who have been diagnosed with disabilities. As a leader in Speak UP's African American Students Parent Leadership Team, she has testified at the LAUSD board and met with district leaders to push Los Angeles Unified to develop a comprehensive plan with funding and accountability to lift the achievement of Black students in LAUSD. Thank you, Alberta, for being a fierce champion for our kids!

Haan-Fawn Chau

Congratulations to Haan-Fawn Chau, who organized LAX Coastal Kids March for Equality! A mom of twin 4th graders, she's been active with Speak UP since the 2017 school board election in District 4. She recently testified before the LAUSD school board in support of a resolution to make co-locations more peaceful by having district and charter schools work together to jointly apply for funds to improve the campuses for all kids. The resolution passed. She's not only an active member of her own community, but she also attended and supported Speak UP's Peace Walk organized by parents in Southeast Los Angeles. Thank you, Haan-Fawn Chau, for helping build bridges and for being a dedicated advocate for all of L.A.'s kids.

Norma Santiago

Norma has been a strong advocate for her son with special needs and has become a powerful parent leader in the Huntington Park community. Norma recently spoke up at a LAUSD school board meetings to advocate for the School Performance Framework and the release of student growth data, as well as at the final hearing of the Office of the Independent Monitor overseeing LAUSD's delivery of services to kids with special needs. She has also supported other families by organizing parent empowerment workshops. Thank you, Norma, for your leadership and dedication to L.A.'s kids!

Diana Cortez, Irma Villalpando, Maria Cedano, Patty Flores, Raquel Toscano and Brenda Bautista

Congratulations to our Speak UP Parents of the Month, who did a fantastic job organizing a Peace Walk in Southeast L.A.! Diana Cortez, Irma Villalpando, Maria Cedano, Patty Flores, Raquel Toscano and Brenda Bautista united parents and families from their communities and called for end to hostility based on immigration status or their choice of public schools. Bravo!

Gloria Rodriguez

Gloria is a fearless leader with a long history of advocating for equitable education in LAUSD and a champion for LGBTQ youth, immigrant families and students with special needs. Gloria works tirelessly to educate parents in Huntington Park around all challenges that students in LAUSD face and to empower parents to make positive change in their schools and community.

Alma Padilla

A mother of three sons in Huntington Park, Alma Padilla campaigned for Measure EE and worked to Get Out the Vote in the Board District 5 special election. During the Measure EE campaign, she advocated for more mental health funding and for an increase in the number of counselors and psychologists in schools to help students with emotional needs. She has remained active during this summer, volunteering at the Farmers Market in Huntington Park to spread the word about Speak UP. Alma, we celebrate your passion and dedication to improving all public schools in Los Angeles.

Mireya Garcia Vega

Mireya Garcia Vega is a mom of three daughters in Board District 6. She filled more than 10 shifts campaigning for Measure EE and recruited fellow parents and students to help canvass and get the word out about the effort to bring more funding to all L.A. public schools. She is a strong advocate for quality public education. Keep up the good work, Mireya!

Laura Gutierrez

Laura is an amazing mom for her own kids but also an inspiring advocate in her community in Southeast L.A.! She joins three different Speak UP teams to organize for better education for kids with severe special needs, to organize parents to Get Out The Vote during education-related elections and to improve education in her community. Over the past year, we have seen her grow into a true leader, asking elected officials how they can better support LAUSD students and speaking up for all kids!

Tunette Powell

Tunette Powell is an educator and mother of three kids in South Los Angeles, two of whom attend Baldwin Hills Elementary and one who starts in 2020. Tunette is a fearless parent leader and powerful voice leading the movement for educational justice for African American students. She recently called on the LAUSD Board to “pay off its debt to Black children.” A doctoral candidate in Urban Schooling at UCLA and Parent Engagement Coach and Program Lead for the UCLA Parent Project, Tunette works with LAUSD schools to engage historically marginalized parents. She also partnered with LAUSD's Student Empowerment Unit to implement one of the district's first mentoring programs for Black and Brown girls.

Elia, Brenda, Angelica, Norma, Alma, Maria, Perla, Laura and Silvia

This incredible team of moms from all over Board District 5 and beyond has been working for two months on a campaign to make sure their community knows about the special election for LAUSD school board and to encourage their community to vote. Rain or shine, our team of moms came to canvass with positive energy, and they had incredible results. Together, they worked almost 400 canvassing and phone banking shifts. They have shown enormous parent power and are inspiring us to continue our work to put kids first! Thank you Elia, Brenda, Angelica, Norma, Alma, Maria, Perla, Laura and Silvia!

Perla Esparza

Perla Esparza is a tireless parent advocate for kids with special needs and a frequent volunteer at her child’s school. She has led the charge in southeast Los Angeles to get out the vote for the next school board District 5 representative, alerting her community to the need to have its voice represented. Thank you, Perla, for everything you do!

Justine Gonzalez

Justine Gonzalez has been a fierce and fearless voice for equality, diversity and parent empowerment. Justine spoke up for the rights of parents in the Southeast of Board District 5 to have their voices heard in the selection of their Board representative. After realizing that no parents of LAUSD children served on the LAUSD Board, Justine, the parent of an LAUSD pre-K student, decided to run herself. While this transgender human rights activist, who has worked for two Los Angeles mayors and served as President of the Human Relations Commission, ended her bid for financial and family reasons, she remains an advocate for the rights of L.A.’s most vulnerable kids. And she’s now running for Assembly District Delegate at the California Democratic Party on the Working progressives slate. Best of luck, Justine, and thank you for speaking up on behalf of parents and kids!

Maria Cedano

Maria has four children who graduated from Maywood Academy in Board District 5, and her children are all in college now. Maria has been a parent leader and community advocate for more than 10 years. She has advocated for the rights of parents and kids before the LAUSD Board, and she is currently serving on Speak UP's candidate interview panel for the Board District 5 special election. Thanks, Maria, for your dedication to helping L.A. kids! 

Emma Orozco

Emma runs the support group “Un Paso Más,” which means "an extra step." Thanks, Emma, for partnering with Speak UP to help empower parents in Huntington Park!

Chantel Hunter Mah

Chantel, a parent of two kids in Board District 4, participated in our parent-teacher working group. She's a fierce advocate for equity and social justice in education. Thank you, Chantel, for always speaking up on behalf of LA's kids! 

Raquel Toscano

Raquel spoke up on behalf of an open, transparent and democratic process to fill the vacant Board seat in District 5, where two of her children currently attend an LAUSD magnet school. She is always looking for ways to improve public education in her community, and we were so impressed with her passion and dedication that we invited her to join our Speak UP team. So please welcome, Raquel, our newest parent engagement coordinator! 

Annie Hall

Annie Hall has been an active parent leader in Board District 1. With three grown children and five more that she has fostered, she recently advocated for better education for South LA students at an LAUSD Board meeting. She also spoke up and spoke out strongly against Donald Trump’s immigrant family separation policies at The Keep Families Together: Rally and Toy drive organized and co-sponsored by Speak UP at the Federal Building in Westwood. We are grateful for Annie’s dedication and leadership on behalf of our most vulnerable kids.