Councilmember, 14th District,
City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.,
Trustee, Princeton University

José Huizar was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in November 2005 following his service as both president and member of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District (2001–05). He has received numerous distinctions, including profiles by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 25 figures in the Los Angeles area that “stand out for their potential to shape lives,” and by Hispanic Business magazine as one of the “100 most influential Hispanics' in the United States.

As councilmember, José has focused on providing new opportunities to the youth and families in the 14th District, including a safe environment in which to work and play; summer jobs and afterschool programs; thriving pedestrian-friendly corridors; and access to expanded park space and recreational facilities.

As the Los Angeles School Board president, José earned a reputation as a champion for educational justice and as an aggressive policymaker who tackled difficult issues to get results for students and families.

During his tenure, he oversaw plans to build over 160 new schools within eight years, constituting the largest school construction program in the nation's history. Huizar also successfully led the curriculum change to ensure that all school district students have access to college preparatory courses.

“WWS opened up even greater possibilities of public service than I had ever imagined,” he says. “I gained a world-class education that equipped me with the requisite tools and skills to enable me to make a greater, positive impact on my community in East Los Angeles. I entered public service to make a difference in my neighborhood and to give back to the community that had given me so much.

“Overall, my academic training prepared me well for my current role as a City Councilmember and my previous position as School Board president. Whether helping to craft one of the most ambitious public works projects in the nation's history or making policy decisions as a councilmember, WWS provided me with the tools to accomplish my goals, broaden my horizons, and realize my dreams.”