Sandra Gonzalez, in her communications for her campaign, announcement recently said she will run for Waubonsee Community College trustee. She held a private event for her official announcement, Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Millennium Plaza, 11 Stolp Avenue in Aurora.
Here is why she is running for trustee:
“During this time of unprecedented need, community college is going to be essential for those individuals whose employment was either terminated or furloughed as a result of COVID-19, as an alternative and inexpensive route to pursue new skills, or secure apprenticeships to meet the demands of our changing social and economic landscape. Students who were initially at four-year institutions, and early in their college careers, have had to reevaluate the cost of attendance, therefore opting to transfer to two-year institutions given the expense of taking a general education course at a community college versus their respective universities.
“Above all, those greatly afflicted by these educational and labor changes, are largely first-generation black and brown students in addition to working-class families either compounded by issues of health-care access and migration status.
“I am running to ensure that the institution is held accountable for navigating the socio-economic issues further perpetuated by the pandemic and addressing the retention of students as a whole as one of many measures to comprehend the opportunity gaps that continue to persist.”