Council Candidate Rodriguez-Carbone Receives National Endorsement

I am so grateful to have the support from one of the longest serving national progressive organizations in the United States, People for the American Way.

Thank you for your confidence in me! I appreciate the fact that being a woman of the people, someone who has spent over 18 years in community advocacy, that an organization of this historic caliber has chosen to support our campaign.

"People for the American Way was founded in 1981 by legendary television and film producer Norman Lear, the late civil rights activist and Congresswoman, Barbara Jordan, and a group of business, civic, religious, and civil rights leaders who were dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American.

"Our vision is a vibrantly diverse society in which the laws are just and applied equitably; where everyone has the freedom, opportunity and access to pursue their dreams; and where all people are encouraged to participate in civic and political life. Our America acknowledges its history, respects difference and dissent, combats hatred and bigotry, nurtures creativity, and seeks justice and equity for all." Read more....."

This endorsement is truly meaningful. As a community advocate, it is an honor to stand with the generations of advocates and activists who have fought for the fundamental rights that have paved the way for myself, and candidates like me, to have the opportunity to serve meaningfully in their communities and work for transformative change.

Among the distinguished board members of People for the American Way is Dolores Huerta, an activist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, who helped start what would eventually become the United Farm Workers of America.

As a daughter of a migrant farmer who emigrated here from Puerto Rico, this endorsement hits very close to home for me and my family.

This campaign is not about me, it is about the future of Lakewood, inclusion, voices being heard and residents having a say in the future of our city. I wholeheartedly embody the principles of justice, equity, combating hatred and bigotry, and acknowledging our history as a prescriptive element to ensure that all communities have an equitable voice. These principles have been the foundation of my work for the past 18 years and I look forward to carrying it forward onto city council.

Thank you from the little girl who hoped and dreamed to live a life that made a difference, and to all those who have helped to make that dream a reality.