Today we’d like to introduce you to Mae Case.
Mae, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
What has led me to where I am today is my love of my community and the resolution to live my life as authentically as possible.
Like so many others, the last two years of the pandemic has caused me to reevaluate my priorities. I began to embrace interests and hobbies that I had previously suppressed. In the last two years, I made a career pivot, began a local plant club during the pandemic, and decided to run for public office.
My professional background is in marketing and communications, with 19 years of experience in various sectors, including dental equipment manufacturing, audio/visual engineering, business development, and higher education. For nine years, I was the Director of Communications of Design Institute of San Diego. I made a career pivot in early 2020 to the nonprofit sector to work for PATH, the largest homelessness services provider in California, where we do what we can to uplift those experiencing homelessness by providing resources and pathways to housing and stability with dignity. I currently serve as Chair of the organization’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Steering Committee.
I made this career pivot as I became more involved in community organizing. I’m an active community organizer for Asian Solidarity Collective, a local grassroots movement organization dedicated to building solidarity intersectionally and activating Asian American social justice consciousness towards collective action. I wanted to bridge the gap between what I do professionally and what I’m most passionate about, and that’s serving the community and empowering those most vulnerable among us.
I just got done serving as a task force member for the city of Chula Vista’s Technology and Privacy Advisory Task Force. The task force was tasked with providing the City Manager with policy recommendations that embrace innovation while making sure there are guardrails in place to protect the residents’ civil liberties and to protect our vulnerable populations.
It is my organizing efforts in the last several years that has led me to running as a candidate for the Southwestern Community College District Board of Trustees, Area 4. I’ve had the honor of working alongside the incumbent, Trustee Kirin Macapugay, on several community advocacy efforts, and she recently asked me if I would consider running for her seat. After some thought, I decided to go for it. This is my first time running for public office.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve definitely had my fair share of challenges, but I think what would be more appropriate for me to share is the lessons that I’ve learned after working through these obstacles.
I think the lesson I’m most grateful for in my journey is understanding that as a society, we tend to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to figure things out by an arbitrary age. I’m in my early 40’s, and I feel like I’m just now hitting my stride. I finally feel like I’ve found my purpose in life, and I can only say that definitively now because I allowed myself to pursue other things that caught my interest, to do so unapologetically, and to see how far it goes. As a society, we also tend to equate success with forever. Anything that doesn’t last is automatically deemed a failure. We don’t honor or consider that some things are meant to be experienced for a period of time. Coming to this realization has really changed my outlook on life and helped me learn to trust my gut when I’m being asked or called to participate in another community effort or professional opportunity.
Life is about experiences and making an impact on society in our own unique ways. If you can overcome the challenge of figuring out how you can best make that impact based on your own unique skill set, everything you do from that point on just falls into place.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The work I’m most proud of is the work I do voluntarily, and that’s working as a community advocate/organizer. I’m most in my element when I’m working with the community and actively participating in addressing some of our most pressing social issues.
I believe in the power of coalition building and solidarity work. When communities collaborate for change, those most impacted thrive. I have been a part of coalition efforts that helped empower BIPOC communities to advocate for their needs in the recent state, county, and city redistricting process, and the districting process for National City. Helping communities remember that they have the power to make an impact is a wonderful feeling, and I do believe that is something I am great at doing. Helping others realize their full potential and power, and encouraging them to pursue what makes their hearts sing is where I excel.
What matters most to you?
Family, friends, and communities are the central pillars that hold me up. To strengthen these pillars, I have to be committed to nurturing relationships so that trust flows freely both ways.
I think this part of myself is what makes me a great leader and one that is fit to serve as an elected official. Being of service to my community and working to empower our most vulnerable and underserved populations is ultimately what led me to run as a candidate for Southwestern Community College District Board of Trustees, Area 4.
In a time of economic uncertainty, students need leaders to advocate for access, advancement opportunities, and career sustainability. Workers need leaders to champion quality, high-paying jobs and housing affordability. In understanding this, I have 4 pillars of priorities for my campaign: ACCESS, CAREER SUSTAINABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, and AFFORDABLE HOUSING. You could learn more about each of these campaign priorities on my website: www.maecase.com.
As a DEI practitioner, I would be remiss if I didn’t speak about representation. Area 4 has the largest concentration of AAPI residents (21% to be exact); the SWCCD governing board deserves to reflect the population of the students we serve and of the employees we work with. It would be an honor to keep that representation on the board and bring that perspective to that table while serving everyone in my district as trustee.
I have been endorsed by the incumbent of the seat, Trustee Kirin Macapugay, the California School Employees Association (CSEA), the Southwestern College Education Association (SCEA), The San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, The Southwest Carpenters Union, Council President Pro Tem Monica Montgomery-Steppe, The San Diego Labor Democratic Club, The Asian American Pacific I Democratic Club, The Eastlake Bonita Democratic Club, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Vice Mayor of National City Marcus Bush, and The Chula Vista Democratic Club.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maecase.com
- Instagram: mae4swccd
- Other: https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/MaeCase
