About this episode

Elmer Roldan shares his journey from a 9-year-old immigrant to a City Council candidate, focusing on community transformation and education.

This week, we catch up with Elmer Roldan. After surviving a harrowing journey from Guatemala as a child and overcoming the challenges of generational poverty in Los Angeles, Elmer Roldan has dedicated his life to transforming his community. As the Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, he now works to prevent student pushout by connecting high-needs youth with the mentorship and resources they need to thrive. In this episode, Elmer shares how his lived experience fuels his current run for L.A. City Council District 9, where he aims to build a more equitable future for the neighborhood that shaped him.

People in this episode

Guest: Elmer Roldan

Topics covered

• immigration
• community transformation
• education
• politics
• equity

Keywords

• immigrant story
• community leadership
• student mentorship
• L.A. politics
• equitable future

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Communities In Schools of Los Angeles

Places: Guatemala, Los Angeles, L.A. City Council District 9

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