Representing nearly 10 cities in both Orange and LA county, 67th District of California Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva documents her journey to becoming a politician and how she uses her platform to battle barriers to economic stability.
Starting her road to politics 25 years ago, she became a teacher at Richmond Elementary serving the classrooms that taught her prior. Exposed to the city’s needs, she applied to the Fullerton Parks and Recreation Commission.
Her initial path into politics was the ability to “connect students and families in a highly impoverished area… to services within [her] community.”
Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva marks this position as her “first step into politics”. Inspired to become more involved within her city, Quirk-Silva served eight years on Fullerton City Council before she ran to be one of California’s Assemblymembers in 2012.
The Assemblywoman made it clear about her steps to actively engage herself with her community: “#1 to be accessible, #2 listening to what the constituents are saying that is either of concern or their needs, and #3 trying to take action followed by those requests”
Having passed over 50 bills into California legislature and asked what her most memorable bill was, Quirk-Silva responds with one of her earlier bills dedicated to giving a “fee waiver to individuals experiencing homelessness, [allowing] them to get a valid ID or driver’s license.” Demonstrating a passion to uplift impoverished communities, from day one, the Assemblywoman has continued to use her efforts and platform to provide affordable housing and break the cycle of systemic issues.
As a strong asset to the California Assembly, Quirk-Silva enjoys representing the 67th District of California having changed the lives of thousands for the better.
“It’s not a particular bill, it’s the steady effort to continue to work in a space that is very difficult to see accomplishments.”
What are some of the dreams you have yet to accomplish?
“A better livelihood and better life for our most hard-working Californians.”
If you had one thing to say to everyone around you, what would that be?
“Even if we starkly differ from someone…we look for ways to find common ground, that we look for ways to respect each other and uplift each other.”
“Social equity” - a major barrier to economic mobility, watch the full interview to hear more about how the Assemblywoman plans to battle this concept and serve as a “voice not only to keep homelessness from increasing but to [provide housing]” as well.
Watch the full interview down below!