It is such an important time to vote locally, and lucky for Angelenos, we have local elections just around the corner! On March 7th, make your mark on LA by voting in municipal elections. We've put together two LA2050 newsletters focused on the upcoming elections.

You can help shape the future of education in Los Angeles!

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is governed by a popularly elected seven-member Board, whose members are elected for four-year terms.

Why is this election important?

• The LACCD trustees help guide the district's efforts across nine campuses that educate 230,000 students.
• The programs offered in LA's community colleges provide vocational training that create pathways to well-paying jobs, expose high school students to college-level courses, and serve as an entry point for many low-income and minority students to four-year colleges.
• LACCD educates almost 3x as many Latino students and nearly 4x as many African-American students, compared to all of the University of California campuses combined. Eighty percent of LACCD students are from underserved populations.
• LA's future rests on educating the next generation of workers, and the decisions and innovative solutions proposed by the board of trustees can strengthen academic and economic achievement in Los Angeles.

Read statements from candidates for Board of Trustees, Seat 2, Board of Trustees, Seat 4, Board of Trustees, Seat 6 via KPCC's Voters Edge.

This overview by Ballotpedia helps break down some of the issues that are at stake for LAUSD, including an upcoming budget deficit of $1.46 billion, ongoing debate about school choice, charter school oversight, and protection of undocumented and DACA/DAPA students.

• Check out Ballotpedia's roundup of candidate statements and candidates' responses to KPCC's survey.

The great folks at LA Food Policy Council also surveyed the LAUSD school board candidates to ask questions about key policy issues related to building on or creating innovative solutions to promote Good Food for all. Check out the responses.

Why is food justice important for LAUSD?

• LAUSD oversees a $150 million food budget
• In 2012, the district committed to supporting local purchasing in a “good food" program that helps keep local farmers in business. Within the system, at least 50% of food served now comes from within 200 miles of Los Angeles.
• More than 520,000 students in LAUSD qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year, and the nutritional value of those meals matters.

Thanks to LA County Bike Coalition for these helpful reminders to guide you through the voting process.

1. Your employer is required by law to give you time off to vote.
2. You can vote if your name isn't on the list using a provisional ballot.
3. You can vote after polls close, as long as you're in line.
4. You can change your vote if you make a mistake — just ask for a new ballot.
5. You can take your vote-by-mail ballot to any polling location (and you can trade it for a new one if you make a mistake on it).

Find out which Council District you live in

Don't forget about your municipal elections in:

Azusa • Bell • Bellflower • Beverly Hills • Burbank (election Feb 28th) • Claremont • Compton • Covina • Cudahy • Gardena • Glendale • Glendora • Huntington Park • Inglewood • La Mirada • La Canada Flintridge • Lakewood • Los Angeles • La Verne • Manhattan Beach • Monrovia • Monterey Park • Norwalk • Palos Verdes Estates • Paramount • Pasadena • Redondo Beach • San Dimas • San Fernando • San Gabriel • Signal Hill • South Gate • Vernon • West Hollywood

For more information, click here for the full newsletter!