Commissioner representing District 2
Marilyn currently works as a Deputy District Director for a California legislator. She is motivated by her core values, instilled by her parents, to serve the community by actively working for justice in a beloved community. She holds a Bachelor and Masters degree from Santa Clara University, and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Marilyn has directed non-profits, facilitated education agency teams to design student-centered plans, and provided trainings on equity, accessibility, organizing, advocacy, and leadership development. She continues to provide pro bono consulting to nonprofit and grassroots groups. She has extensive background and experience as a community organizer and on political campaigns. She has worked on projects with ACLU, Racial Justice Coalition, Immigrant Rights Alliance, and numerous disability advocacy organizations. She is trained to facilitate discussions and trainings on racial equity by Race Forward, serves on the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force of a state electoral organization, and served as the DEI State Chair for a non partisan child and family advocacy organization. She is a board member of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association, PFLAG, and Commission for Women and Girls. She has been with First 5 since 2015, having served as its Chair 2019-2021. She remains committed to the transformative work that the First 5 team does with young children, families, and communities.
She lives in the Contra Costa with her neurodiverse family and believes that society thrives when families, in their many beautiful constellations, thrive.