| Assemblymember Lisa Calderon was elected in November 2020 to represent the 57th Assembly District in the California State Legislature, which covers portions of Southeast Los Angeles County and the San Gabriel Valley.
Lisa was born and raised in California's Central Valley where her parents and grandmother labored in fields, farms, and factories to create a life in the Golden State. She went on to attend California State University, Sacramento and worked her way through college as a waitress to pay for tuition and expenses. Shortly thereafter, she began her career in the California State Legislature under Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, and became one of the state's first Latina Legislative Aides, which allowed her to assist residents in her community in navigating state and local government.
Around that time, Lisa was a community leader, organizing against Prop 187 and the racism that fueled it. Lisa understood that immigrants, like her family before her, have contributed to the health of the state economy, but have unjustly not had the opportunity to own a home, open a checking account, or have a pension. She put together marches, phone bank operations, and inspired hundreds to speak out, take action, and protect the livelihood of immigrants in California.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Lisa worked for Southern California Edison, an electric utility company. Working for a major provider of electricity in Southern California provided her with a strong background in energy policy, and an understanding of renewable energy sources for its users. As the state battled historic, climate changed-induced, wildfires, which have increased in intensity in the last few years, Lisa gained first-hand experience in disaster management and preparedness.
Within her first year in the Legislature, Lisa supported legislation that established the groundwork for offshore wind infrastructure along California's coasts. She authored legislation to protect the lung health of Californians impacted by the increasing threat of wildfires. Some of her priority legislation has helped to secure resources for working families, foster youth, and students experiencing homelessness, including an extension of funding resources for homeless students. She was also successful in securing millions of dollars of funding in the state budget to support asylees with resources during their transition to life in California.
Assemblymember Lisa Calderon serves as the Chair of the Committee on Human Services and is a member of the Aging and Long-term Care Committee, Appropriations Committee, Emergency Management Committee, Insurance Committee, and the Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
Lisa is also a Commissioner on the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. She stands with the Commission as an integral voice for women and girls in California to demand equity and equality, and strives to achieve economic stability, wellness, and justice on their behalf.
She was appointed to serve on the Council of State Governments (CSG) West Executive Committee by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in 2021. CSG West is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that serves the US' western state legislatures. The organization facilitates regional cooperation, exchange of information and fosters the strengthening of legislative institutions among its member states.
As a lifelong Californian, Lisa has resided at the heart of her district, the City of Whittier, for over 30 years with her husband, Chuck, and has raised three sons in local schools. |