From Eagle Rock to Sacramento | FIlAM Jessica Caloza ignites change in the 2024 Californa State Assembly Race

Written by Jennifer Redondo

Hey there, fellow voters and game-changers! Guess what? It's 2024, and we've got an election year on our hands – and it's not just any election year, it's a mega, super important one! Now, we know the media is all hyped up about the big presidential showdown, but let's not forget the power-packed punch that comes with voting locally and statewide. It's like choosing the toppings for your democracy pizza – you want the whole experience, right?

Now, you've probably heard that "representation matters," and oh boy, does it ever! Unfortunately, our Filipino friends on both national and local levels haven't had the spotlight in politics, even though we've got a huge gang repping in places like sunny California. But hold on to your ballots, folks, because this year is our time to shine! It's time to step up, be seen, and make some noise – all while exercising our right to vote. It's not just talk; it's action time, backed up with some serious vocal chords and a sprinkle of cash, of course, if you can.

And for you Angeleno’s, here's the deal – we've got a dynamo on the scene! Ever heard of Jessica Caloza? She's not just running; she's sprinting for the Assembly in the heart of Los Angeles – District 52, to be exact. District 52 includes Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Lincoln Heights, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Cypress Park, Elysian Valley, Monterey Hills, Hermon, Montecito Heights, El Sereno, East Los Angeles, and South Glendale – an area that has a commanding FilAm presence. And the chance to make history.

Why is Jessica a big deal? Well, for starters, she's a champion of women's rights, a proud immigrant, and a true daughter of hardworking parents, so you know she knows what our people value. Born in Quezon City, Philippines, she migrated to the US at the ripe age of four and set up camp in good ol' Eagle Rock, California – the very district she's aiming to represent! And here's the kicker – if she clinches the victory, she'll be making history as the first Filipino woman elected to the State Assembly. Let’s get to know her better….🌟

Here’s 10 facts about the Filipina Democrat running for California’s State Assembly. 

1. She was the first in her family to graduate from college in the United States. 

Jessica only attended public school from elementary school up until college. Jessica graduated from the University of California, San Diego where she double majored in Ethnic Studies and Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. She’s dedicated her life to public service because she believes in the power of government and how it can transform people’s lives, like it did for her family. She remains committed to creating policies that prioritize working families like fully funding our public education system. 

2. She is breaking barriers in politics.   

Jessica is a dedicated public servant and is breaking the glass ceiling for women, especially Filipinas. She has worked in various roles at the federal, state, and local levels. Jessica worked for Barack Obama, the first black President of the United States, Eric Garcetti, the first Jewish Mayor of Los Angeles, and Rob Bonta, the first Filipino Attorney General of California.

She served in the Obama Administration in the U.S. Department of Education, where she helped underfunded schools get the resources they needed. In 2019, she became the first Filipina American Commissioner on the Board of Public Works, the governing and oversight body of more than 5,500 employees responsible for delivering services and infrastructure projects in the City of Los Angeles. She also served as the lead Commissioner for the Bureau of Engineering and helped lead some of the city’s most iconic projects from the Sixth Street Bridge to the Historic Filipinotown Gateway. Jessica also worked with her Fil-Am colleagues to light L.A. City Hall in the colors of the Philippine flag during Filipino American History Month!

3. She has a big heart for public service and is a women’s rights advocate. 

Being a woman and an immigrant, Jessica is a huge advocate for our most underserved communities. During her time with Public Works, she spent a lot of time in hard hats and boots, visiting infrastructure projects, creating good-paying union jobs and requiring equal pay for women. She promoted women empowerment and was involved with Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER), a non-profit work development program whose mission is to train, educate, and prepare women for transformative careers in the construction industry.   

At the height of anti-Asian hate crimes, Jessica helped champion the LA For All campaign which was launched in 2021. LA For All is a multilingual program focused on sharing information and resources for everyday people to learn what they can do to be vigilant and how to report a crime if they see it happening. It is also a campaign that celebrates diversity, belonging and inclusion in Los Angeles. 

In the Assembly, Jessica will continue to be a champion for women, immigrants, and our most underserved communities. She will protect a woman’s right to choose and reproductive freedom for all – she’s been endorsed by Reproductive Freedom for All California and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project L.A. County. She is also committed to improving the cost of living by building more low-income and affordable housing so that people can live in cities where they work. 

4. Her favorite sports teams are the Los Angeles Lakers and of course, the Dodgers. 

Jessica’s campaign colors are purple and gold for a reason! She is a Lakers fan, but she also selected these colors because it also represents the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which is the largest labor union representing working class people. Yellow is both hers and her mom’s favorite color. It also represents hope and is the color of the Filipino sun. She chose purple which is the color associated with ube. With baseball season soon approaching, Caloza is most excited for Shohei Ohtani, one of the latest additions to the Dodgers organization. 

5. She’s cut the ribbon for three Jollibee openings. 

Jessica has had the privilege of cutting the ribbon for three Jollibee restaurant openings in Southern California. She’s a proud supporter of small businesses and that’s how Jollibee started – as a humble mom-and-pop ice cream shop. She celebrated alongside a big giant bucket of chicken joy, siopao, and mango cake! 

6. She has a sweet tooth and loves Filipino desserts. 

Jessica loves her Filipino desserts. She definitely supports small, local businesses. Some of her favorite desserts in the district include turon from Fiesta Fast Food, sticky rice from Arko Foods International, halo halo from Kusina Filipina, and ice cream from Wanderlust Creamery. 

When she’s in the mood for something savory, she likes Spoon and Pork, Max’s Chicken, and For the Win smashburgers. When she has time, she loves to cook and bake. She makes her own bread, jam and cheese. 

Jessica realizes that food is a big part of who we are and our culture. Though, she believes that nutrition is something that we need to talk more about. She wants to promote healthy eating, and make sure that we are better educated on the outcomes and what we can do with our diet to prevent some health conditions, like diabetes and heart disease, that are historically predominant in our community. 

Of course, it’s all about balance! Right now, she’s been walking and knocking on doors throughout the neighborhood. Otherwise, she enjoys hiking, yoga and pilates – whatever doesn’t make it feel like she’s working out!   

7. She loves kids and animals!

She loves all animals. Currently, she has two cats: Apple and Meghan, who she adopted from the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). 

Jessica is the youngest of six children. All of her siblings have kids, so that makes her the proud auntie to 13 nephews and nieces. Although she doesn’t have kids of her own yet, she has her hands full with #KidsforCaloza. Kids for Caloza is a group led by Fil-Am, Zoe Zelenski, an L.A. Unified School District student. Kids for Caloza is a group of 8-9 year olds who do outreach to other students and design buttons for Jessica’s campaign. 

8. She is bilingual. 

Jessica is fluent in English and Tagalog. English is her second language. During COVID-19, Jessica did a lot of the Tagalog translations for the City of Los Angeles. In 2021, Mayor Eric Garcetti signed Executive Directive 32, which improved access to city information, programs and services for non-English speaking Angelenos.  

9. She volunteers for several non-profit organizations. 

Jessica is passionate about giving back to the community and serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations including the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), a national organization dedicated to helping human trafficking victims and survivors, and Wellnest, a mental health and wellness organization serving children and families. These organizations are especially important to her because they align with her values.

10. She is on the ballot! Vote for Jessica!

Jessica is officially on the ballot and if you live in Assembly District 52, you can vote for her! Election Day is on Tuesday, March 5th and the good news is that every registered voter in California will get a mail-in ballot. Vote early, vote for Jessica and don’t forget to tell your kapamilya! 

On her website, Jessica shares that her “family had the opportunity to work hard, get good paying jobs, and build a better life. I want all families to have the same opportunity my family did – because it’s not about one of us, it’s about all of us.” 

If you are interested in learning more and/or supporting Jessica Caloza, you can find her on the following social media platforms: Instagram, X, and Facebook. Another way you can support her is by making sure that you are registered to vote! If you’re not sure, check your voter registration status. The Primary Election is on March 5, 2024. All registered voters get a mail-in ballot on February 5th. Be sure to vote early! Jessica needs every vote she can get. She needs all the Filipinos to rally and head to the polls. Let’s make history and help Jessica become the first Filipina to be elected to California’s State Assembly!   

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Written by Jennifer Redondo

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