As we continue our series where we republish the answers given to the Santa Monica Dem. Club candidate questionaires, today we keep it simple. The first question given to candidates for the Santa Monica College Board is simply, “What qualifications do you bring to this office?” Here are the answers from each of the five candidates in an order randomly determined by Chat GPT.
Luis Barrera Castañón (Dem Club Questionnaire)
My lived experience, professional background, and direct governance experience are what I bring to the role of Trustee at Santa Monica College.
My family and I sought refuge in California after the Guatemalan civil war and the targeted disappearances of Indigenous people. I grew up unknowingly undocumented in Culver City and eventually came to Santa Monica College after a friend suggested that my plumbing career might benefit from additional certifications. I enrolled at SMC, did well in my assessments, and quickly realized that I had found much more than a place to take classes. I found community. I found confidence. I found my calling. In two and a half years, I went from being a timid undocumented student carrying shame about my status to serving as Student Body President. SMC changed my life.
After SMC, I transferred to UC Berkeley. That trajectory would not have been possible for me directly out of high school. SMC created the bridge that helped me see a different future for myself, and as a Cal graduate I built a network that supported my dreams, goals, and professional ambitions.
Since then, I have spent nearly 20 years working at the intersection of economic development, workforce development, K-14 education, talent development, and adult learning. I have designed nonprofit workforce programs, educational pathways, and employer-connected talent pipelines. I have helped develop state administrative regulations, state laws, and local government policies focused on creating opportunity for people who have struggled with traditional education systems and need a pathway to self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.
I also bring operational and fiscal experience. Throughout my career, I have managed millions of dollars in grants and revenues, with a focus on keeping organizations solvent, sustainable, and able to continue delivering services to the communities that need them most.
As a current Trustee at SMC, I have pushed our Board to think critically about the college’s mission and future. The purpose of a two-year college is still rooted in the same core responsibilities it had in the 1930s: providing vocational training that meets the needs of local employers, creating a pathway to four-year universities, and offering lifelong learning opportunities to the local community. SMC has excelled in transfer, and that should remain a point of pride. But we must also strengthen our focus on workforce development, dual enrollment, lifelong learning, and the changing needs of students and the regional economy.
The educational landscape and population trends are shifting. As stewards of this public institution we have a responsibility to look beyond the current moment and ensure that many more generations can experience the life-changing power of Santa Monica College, just as I did.
Tom Peters (Dem Club Questionnaire)
Experience: 14 years tenured professor/counselor at SMC (retired 2020), 12 years political director for Faculty Association at SMC (attended most board meetings during these years), Education: Doctorate of Business Administration
Kera Blades-Snell (Dem Club Questionnaire)
I bring a unique combination of lived experience, business leadership, nonprofit management, and community service. As an immigrant from Belize, I understand firsthand the transformative power of education and the challenges many students face while balancing family, work, and academic responsibilities.
I began my higher education journey at a community college in Belize before immigrating to the United States. At age 35, I enrolled at the University of South Florida, where I completed my bachelor’s degree while working and raising a family.
After turning 40, I earned a master’s degree in Hospitality Management, demonstrating my commitment to lifelong learning and educational advancement.
Professionally, I have founded and managed multiple businesses, secured and managed grants, overseen budgets, and led community-based organizations. As Executive Director of SMBEA, I work directly with students, families, entrepreneurs, and underserved populations, giving me valuable insight into the educational and workforce needs of our community.
Oscar de la Torre (Dem Club Questionnaire)
While serving as student body president at Santa Monica High School in 1989-90, I made a decision to commit my life to public service. I bring 22 years of public sector policy making, leadership, budgeting and governance experience serving Santa Monica and Malibu residents.
I served 18 years on the SMMUSD Board of Education from 2002 to 2020, where I advanced equity initiatives that improved graduation and college-going rates for historically marginalized students. I also served four years on the Santa Monica City Council from 2020 to 2024, during the height of the COVID epidemic, where I helped bring stability, vision and progress to our City during very challenging times.
I also served as Executive Director of a youth-serving nonprofit in Santa Monica for 20 years, delivering direct services to youth and young adults and creating academic pathways between PYFC, SMMUSD and SMC. I have the unique experience of being a former student and
employee of SMC. In 1995-96, I was employed as the first program coordinator for SMC’s Pico Partnership Program. While employed at SMC, I helped develop culturally relevant programming and mentored system-impacted youth who were enrolled at SMC.
Lastly, I am a parent of a current student who is thriving at SMC. Beyond bringing an intimate knowledge of the needs of diverse student groups, I also have a Master’s degree in Public Affairs, where I wrote my thesis on Integrating the University of Texas Through Effective Retention Programs.
Sion Roy (Dem Club Questionnaire)
I have served as a Board Member since 2017, being re-elected in 2022, during which time I spearheaded multiple successful healthcare workforce programs at SMC. A longtime Santa Monica and Malibu resident, I have a vested interest in ensuring SMC’s success as part of our
community. I view the community college system as one of the most important and undervalued avenues of social mobility, and I intend to work with our Board and college leadership to see that our students have access to the very best services that SMC can provide.
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