For Immediate Release

LAUSD Needs and Office of Immigrant Services

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 29, 2023 -Los Angeles is a city of immigrants. Nearly one third of the city's population is immigrant, one fifth undocumented. These numbers translate to the schools within the Los Angeles Unified Schools District, which also have large immigrant populations. Undocumented students and families face both similar and widely different challenges than documented students and families.

Many of the Mexican American families that currently live in Los Angeles have roots that stretch far beyond the founding of this country. The border quite literally crossed them rendering generations of families strangers in their homeland and today the targets of hate. Immigrants from other countries who were pushed to move to the US due to war, drought or merely the desire for a better life face language barriers, work + housing insecurity and discrimination.

It was not that long ago that prop 187 passed in California and restricted access to public services for undocumented immigrants. Since then a slew of progressive policy changes have pushed back providing everything from drivers licenses to health insurance. This June the LAUSD Board of Directors passed a resolution urging the Biden administration to pass more equitable immigration policies for migrants and asylum seekers. But, the district can take one more affirmative step by creating a Department of Immigrant Services. This office can be aligned with the Los Angeles County office of Immigration Services, community groups such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Council on American Islamic Relations and other community groups who provide aid and services while maintaining privacy.

Los Angeles is a City of Immigrants. In order to provide the most productive learning environment for immigrant students, the programs and services provided by the Los Angeles Unified School District must more thoroughly reckon with this reality.

El Pueblo de Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles es una ciudad de inmigrantes. Casi un tercio de la población de la ciudad es inmigrante, una quinta parte indocumentada. Estas cifras se trasladan a las escuelas del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles, que también cuentan con una gran población inmigrante. Los estudiantes y las familias indocumentadas se enfrentan a retos similares y muy diferentes a los de los estudiantes y las familias documentados.

Muchas de las familias mexicano-americanas que viven actualmente en Los Ángeles tienen raíces que se extienden mucho más allá de la fundación de este país. La frontera, literalmente, las cruzó, convirtiendo a generaciones de familias en extraños en su tierra natal y, hoy en día, en objeto de odio. Los inmigrantes de otros países que se vieron obligados a trasladarse a Estados Unidos por la guerra, la sequía o simplemente por el deseo de una vida mejor se enfrentan a barreras lingüísticas, inseguridad laboral y de vivienda y discriminación.

No hace mucho se aprobó en California la Proposición 187, que restringía el acceso de los inmigrantes indocumentados a los servicios públicos. Desde entonces, una serie de cambios políticos progresistas han hecho retroceder el acceso a todo tipo de servicios, desde el permiso de conducir hasta el seguro médico. Este mes de junio, el Consejo de Administración del LAUSD aprobó una resolución instando al gobierno de Biden a aprobar políticas de inmigración más equitativas para los inmigrantes y los solicitantes de asilo. Pero el distrito puede dar un paso afirmativo más creando un Departamento de Servicios para Inmigrantes. Esta oficina puede alinearse con la oficina de Servicios de Inmigración del condado de Los Ángeles, grupos comunitarios como la Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, la Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, el Council on American Islamic Relations y otros grupos comunitarios que prestan ayuda y servicios manteniendo la privacidad.

Los Ángeles es una ciudad de inmigrantes. Con el fin de proporcionar el entorno de aprendizaje más productivo para los estudiantes inmigrantes, los programas y servicios proporcionados por el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles deben reconocer más a fondo esta realidad.

Dr. Daniel Lee, DSW, MSW

Last week a federal judge ruled that the barbed wire sided buoys in the Rio Grande along the Texas/Mexico border were illegal. Texas Governor Greg Abbott knew they were illegal. He did it anyway. He and other governors around the country are testing the limits and seeking to the further negative narratives about migration.  Just as with the "Parent's Rights'" groups that seek ban books  that feature LGBTQIA+ characters, realistically portray the Enslaved African experience, or which teach basic civics this latest manufactured outrage will soon find its way to California (just as they did with the group that recently rallied at LA City Hall).

El Pueblo de Los Angeles

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DR. DANIEL LEE LAUNCHES BID FOR LAUSD DISTRICT 1

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 29, 2023 – Former Culver City Mayor Dr. Daniel Lee has declared his intention to run for Los Angeles Unified School District Board District 1, the seat being vacated by longtime board member George McKenna.

“Education is under attack from ideological forces who don’t care about the harm that they are causing our students. This is happening not just in other far flung states. But, here in California. We must be clear that we will support and defend the rights of students to a quality safe education no matter how much money their parents/guardians make and no matter how they identify.” - Dr. Daniel Lee

As Mayor and Council Member in Culver City, CA Lee notably helped lead the effort to close down the Inglewood Oil Field, passed rent control, installed protected bus and bike lanes in downtown Culver City, began a process for unarmed mental health response, provided on demand childcare at all city meetings, started a participatory budgeting process and led the effort to pass a resolution apologizing for our city’s history as a sundown town + began a reparations process, among other successes.

Through California's Project Homekey program Lee and colleagues worked to purchase two motels to convert to permanent supportive and transitional housing for unhoused folks. During this same time period Lee also approved a community center that would also provide low income housing to refugee artists from around the world and strengthened sanctuary city protections and single use plastic restrictions.

In the past Lee has worked as a mental health professional with students from both the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Santa Monica Malibu School District.

He currently works as Project Director for the James Lawson Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching nonviolent civil disobedience throughout North America. He also serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit Move to Amend, The Backbone Campaign, Mockingbird Incubator, Elected Officials Protecting America and the Pro Rep Coalition. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and California the Air National Guard. He has a bachelor’s degree from USC, a master’s degree in social welfare from UCLA and a doctorate in social work from USC where he focused on ACES or Adverse Childhood Experiences and their negative effects on educational outcomes.

Lee’s campaign is built on three fundamental beliefs, SPF 2024: (1) serve students, (2) protect teachers and school staff, and (3) fully fund and defend public education.

    • SERVE STUDENTS - Many of the decisions made in educational systems de-prioritize the needs of the students. Students perform better when they are safe + fed and their concerns are validated. Many students in the district are dealing with unaddressed ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) the district can help identify and address these issues.

    • PROTECT TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF: Attacks on educators and curriculum make headlines in other parts of the country. But, the same regressive elements exist in Southern California. Instead of accusing, we must empower and support teachers and staff.

    • FULLY FUND AND DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION : LAUSD has dwindling enrollment and ample reserves. Yet class size remains large and schools across district 1 still lack basic resources and repairs. We must make sure that all schools in district 1 are appropriately outfitted and supplied. Public schools must be prioritized.