As president of the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, Dyana Delf铆n Polk is currently working with her colleagues, Berkeley area leaders and state officials to advocate for a much-needed, affordable student housing project for Alameda County.
The 吃瓜头条 alumna deeply understands why having an affordable, safe place to live can make or break the academic potential for so many community college students.
And there is nothing Delf铆n Polk, 37, is more passionate about than the academic potential of community college students.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see these affordable housing opportunities extend to more community college districts, including rural districts, since the housing crisis affects everyone,鈥� she said.
Peralta is seeking $52 million from the state to help pay for a facility of below-market room rentals, in an area known for high rents, for PCCD students.
UC Merced and 吃瓜头条 are partnering to do something similar in Merced County, the place where Delf铆n Polk was raised and began her own community college experience in 2002 as a 16-year old high school student taking independent studies.
Delf铆n Polk salutes her old 吃瓜头条 guidance counselor Greg Soto, now a dean, for helping her chart a course to her dream school.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know exactly what I wanted to do at that age, but I knew UC Berkeley was my destination,鈥� she said.
She is also grateful for her mentor, former 吃瓜头条 history Professor Amerjit Johal. When a course in modern European history was set to get cut due to low enrollment鈥攁 course Delf铆n Polk needed in order to transfer鈥擩ohal encouraged her to fight for it.
鈥淪he taught me how to be an advocate,鈥� Delf铆n Polk said.
Delf铆n Polk appealed to the administration and saved the course. Count that as her first success in community organizing.
Delf铆n Polk was a typical community college student in other ways. She lived at home and worked part-time. She received financial aid. She was also highly engaged, giving campus tours as a student ambassador and serving with ASMC.
Already interested in public service, she interned with former U.S. Congressman Dennis Cardoza and found her political advocate鈥檚 voice while working with constituents.
But when she successfully transferred to UC Berkeley in 2006, living her dream wasn鈥檛 that easy.
鈥淚 had such high ambitions, but I felt a little out of place,鈥� Delf铆n Polk said. 鈥淭here weren鈥檛 many students from the Central Valley there. I felt so isolated. So, as an adult, showing how proud I am of where I come from is really important for me.鈥�
Delf铆n Polk is the whole political package. Bilingual. Bicultural. Educated in state schools like 吃瓜头条 and UC Berkeley (B.A. Chicano Studies and American History) and a private school in Mills College (M.A. Public Policy). A leader among younger progressives and Democrats. Experienced in organizing at the community level with nonprofits like Unity Council in Fruitvale and Oakland. Politically savvy, having advised Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arregu铆n and Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins.
Her first campaign victory was for her current office as the Area 6 Representative with PCCD. She has also consulted on city council and school board campaigns, while working extensively with BIPOC, women and LGBTQ+ candidates throughout the Bay Area.
鈥淚t is a unique skill set I鈥檝e developed over the last 15 years,鈥� Delf铆n Polk said.
Her biggest professional successes so far came during her tenure as the Associate Executive Director of Homies Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth (HOMEY), a violence prevention and social justice nonprofit serving disadvantaged Latinx and African-American youth in San Francisco鈥檚 Mission District.
鈥淲e guided system-impacted youth on using education to better their lives,鈥� Delf铆n Polk said. 鈥淚 deeply believe in that power. The years I spent in service to HOMEY taught me that. It also convinced me that I have to use all that I have and all the opportunities I have gained as a result of my education to help others achieve the same.鈥�
Berkeley will always have her heart. She first connected to the area through her grandparents, who moved there in 1971. Her grandmother, Martha Acevedo, served as a trustee for the Berkeley Unified School District from 1988-92. Delf铆n Polk moved there when she started at UC Berkeley and never left.
Delf铆n Polk plans to seek reelection with the PCCD in 2024. In the meantime, she has the housing project to work on, and the district is also searching for a new chancellor.
Delf铆n Polk is well positioned to do this important work because, 20 years ago, people at 吃瓜头条 saw her energy, and nurtured her ambitions.
鈥淭here is no way I鈥檇 be here without the support of administration, faculty and staff,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was so young. I was so curious. I just started asking questions and never stopped.
鈥淲hen I ran for office the first time, 鈥槼怨贤诽踱�� was all over my campaign materials because it鈥檚 important that people understand where I come from. 吃瓜头条 did everything for me.鈥�