Kelsey Iino, trustee of the Los Angeles Community College District (center), Tamlyn Tomita and Naomi Hayase at a campaign event for Iino held at the Gardena Valley JCI on Oct. 5.
LACCD trustee holds “Karate Kid”-themed campaign event.
By GWEN MURANAKA
RAFU SENIOR EDITOR
GARDENA —?Supporters of Kelsey Iino’s reelection campaign for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees held a “Karate Kid”-themed fundraiser on Oct. 5 at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Iino wore a yukata — a nod to Tamlyn Tomita, who played Kumiko in “Karate Kid II” and the Netflix series “Cobra Kai” — and the gathering of more than 100 danced “Tanko Bushi” with taiko performed by Naomi Hayase. The event, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first “Karate Kid” movie, also featured live music by Kokoro.
Tomita urged the gathering to support Iino, who is seeking a second term on the LACCD Board of Trustees, where she currently serves as first vice president.
LACCD is the largest community college district in the country; the nine colleges cover nearly 900 square miles and the district serves over 200,000 students a year. The district includes East L.A. College, Harbor College, L.A. City College, L.A. Trade-Technical College, Mission College, Pierce College, Southwest College, Valley College and West L.A. College.
Since her appointment to the LACCD board in April 2022, Iino has served as chair of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee and chair of the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Advisory Committee to the Chancellor. She is also a member of the Facilities and Master Planning Committee and the Basic Needs Ad Hoc Committee and has served on the Budget Committee, African American/Black Ad Hoc Committee, Gender Equity Ad Hoc Committee, and Athletic Ad Hoc Committee.
In her platform, Iino says she seeks to provide solutions to the housing insecurity, food insecurity, and rising cost of living that students face. In addition, she is providing a voice for LACCD’s students of color, including AAPIs, who make up nearly 10% of the student population. She serves as the faculty representative on the Board of Directors for the El Camino College Foundation, and is a board member of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) and key organizer of the “Straight Outta Little Tokyo” event series.
In a statement to The Rafu, Iino thanked her supporters: “Sometimes your life takes you on this journey as you follow your heart, your gut, and your wildest dreams, wondering if you’ll make it, if it’s all worth it, and if you’re worthy of it all … The last 2.5 years (but really 9 years and maybe my whole life) have taught me so much about my limits, my strengths and weaknesses, and the heart, soul, and depth of our/my community.
“I am so grateful to my family, friends, labor family, education family, and community. We’ve all shown up in ways beyond my imagination and my heart is so full. The work of a Los Angeles Community College Trustee is challenging, but also so fulfilling. I’m holding on, standing proud, and I’m giving it my all. Thank you!”