Dina Cervantes; Chicana, daughter of once immigrant parents who worked the fields in pursuit of the American Dream, and first in her family to go to college. Although a once labeled “At Risk Youth,” Dina found her way and voice in organizing for education.

Currently, Dina works as the So. Cal Program’s Assistant for CEERT (Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies), an environmental organization which promotes the creation of more renewable energy policies and projects in CA and on the West Coast.

Prior, Dina focused on the fight to advance the quality of education in Los Angeles and for CA’s Higher Education Systems. In Los Angeles, 2009-2010, she worked for LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer, as a School & Community Coordinator, where she focused on organizing and constituent empowerment in the West Los Angeles Area and the Southern-West San Fernando Valley. As a college student, Dina organized to promote access and quality to CA’s Higher Education Systems. In 2007-2008, while a student at Cal State Northridge, she served as Chair of the California State Student Association (CSSA), the nation’s largest four-year statewide student association. She graduated from CSUN, in 2007 with a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development and in 2009 with a B.S. in Family Consumer Science-Family Studies.  As community college student, 2001-2005, Dina served as the California Student Association of Community Colleges (CalSACC) Region Chair and Statewide Representative to the 14 Los Angeles Area Community Colleges. Locally, as a student at Santa Monica College, she served as the Student Trustee, and Inter-Club Council Chair. She graduated in 2005 with an A.A in both Liberal Studies and Early Childhood Education.

Dina Cervantes is very active with local democratic efforts in the San Fernando Valley and supports organizations that develop youth leadership and young professionals. In the Democratic Party, she serves as an elected Delegate for the 40th Assembly District, an elected executive member to the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, and as an executive board member to the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. In order to help cultivate new leadership, she serves as an Advisory Board Member for the New Leaders Council-Los Angeles Chapter and an advocate for the CA Student Sustainability Coalition.

Personally, she is helping her family’s machine shop business move into cleaner and greener pastures, and preparing to launch a voter registration project for the 2012 elections; Do IT In A Booth