【?? ??? ??】Enter to watch online.Kelsey Iino in Fighting Form

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!”

Articles for you

• explore
• hotspot
• relaxation
• knowledge
• focus
• synthesize
• fashion
• recreation

• Children of Korematsu, Hirabayashi, Yasui File Supreme Court Brief Challenging Travel Ban
• Arcadia Unified’s Karalee Nakatsuka Named State's History Teacher of the Year
• Matsubayashi Remembered for His ‘Bravery and Commitment’
• Tokyo 2020 ‘Arigato’ Host Town Initiative Panel Discussion
• UPDATED: Gardena Police Trying to Identify Senior
• Takano Protests Proposal for Facility in Inland Empire to Detain Migrant Children
• OBITUARY: Jim Akioka, 89; Venice JCC Facilities Manager
• Cerritos Library to Present Tuna Canyon Detention Station Exhibition and Program
• Change in Election Cycle Gives Gardena Officeholders Extra Year
• Exec Balances Careers with Vineyard, Uber

• Japan to Impose Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine Crisis
• Lens on Gardena
• Matsui's Statement on Passing of Richard Blum
• Sawtelle Japantown Celebrates Seventh Anniversary
• DOR Planning Committee Announces L.A. Day of Remembrance 2022
• Curling Hometown Rejoices Over Japan's Olympic Silver
• JACCC’s ‘Bamboo and Petals’: An Offering to Those Lost to COVID
• Rising Stars — Making Tomorrow's Leaders Today
• San Francisco Recalls 3 Members of City's School Board
• BCA Virtual Obon Dance on Sunday

• Grateful Crane’s ‘Only the Oaks Remain’ at SFVJACC
• Hiroshima Survivor Recounts Experiences at Memorial Service
• Semifinalists in 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program Announced
• Okinawa Association Honors High School Scholars
• Discussion of Jimmie Omura Memoir at JANM
• Go For Broke Names New Chairman, Board Members
• Cerritos Library to Present Tuna Canyon Detention Station Exhibition and Program
• Juli Yoshinaga Crowned 2019 Nisei Week Queen
• A New Year in San Gabriel Valley
• Izumi, Yoshitani Invested as Civilian Aides to Army Secretary

• Spencer Shin Named Eagle Scout
• Study: Need for Culturally Sensitive Care for Nikkei Growing
• Atomic Bomb Commemoration at Koyasan on Sunday
• Showing Pioneer Spirit
• Senate Passes Hirono Bill to Strengthen Volcano Monitoring Capabilities
• Detroit Consulate Issues Alert Following Dayton Attack
• Higashi Honganji’s Downtown Women’s Center Project
• JACCC Appoints Patricia M. Wyatt as New President and CEO
• Searching for Kimiko (Part 2)
• Travel Trailblazer Peggy Mikuni Passes Away