To my Culver City community: 

I appreciate your being part of this important effort! I’m Sameen Ahmadnia, an immigrant advocate and a proud parent of two young kids.

I am an Iranian American who was born and raised in an immigrant household in Orange County, California. In high school, I served as the high school liaison to the City Council. For college, I attended the University of California, Berkeley where I majored in Political Science, like most future attorneys, and minored in Middle Eastern Studies. After college, I went to the George Washington University Law School. In law school, I was awarded the Manuel and Ana Maria Benitez Award for Clinical Excellence in Immigration Law and was the recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. 

After graduation, I became an immigration attorney. As an immigration attorney, I work every day to make things fair and just. Following the 2016 election, I hosted the Refugee Ball as an alternative inaugural ball in Washington, DC, focused on uplifting the voices of our immigrant community who had been under attack by xenophobic rhetoric during the presidential election. I have completely dedicated my work to making space for our immigrant neighbors and was most recently awarded the Pro Bono Champion award. My work allows me to see systemic barriers that exist for all people and advocate for greater equity. 

If elected, I’m committed to improving access, wellness, and achievement for all our students.

My priorities include: 

  • Modernizing and improving our schools
  • Addressing climate change with bold action
  • Creating and enhancing mental health programs
  • Expanding opportunities for Spanish-speaking and multilingual students
  • Focusing on student inclusion, including for students with disabilities

My focus is on putting our students first and giving them the resources they need, especially as we recover from the pandemic.

My experiences with our multilingual learner community at La Ballona highlighted the systemic barriers that exist across our district and motivated me to advocate on a broader scale. I want to tackle these issues, stress community engagement, and make sure every student, teacher, and staff member in CCUSD has what they need to thrive.

I appreciate your consideration and support as I work towards making a positive impact in our schools.

Warmly,

Sameen Ahmadnia