Omar is a community organizer and has been an advocate for education as a pathway out of poverty since working as a tutor and teacher’s assistant for Washington Elementary, a school within the San Jose Unified School District. Growing up in Downtown San Jose, he has seen firsthand how barriers to higher education have prevented marginalized families from accessing opportunity within a system that is rigged for the wealthy and privileged few.

In 2014, voters elected Omar to the Franklin-McKinley School Board, where he advocated for the closing of the achievement gap, better pay for teachers, and created a Vietnamese Dual Immersion program. Omar was also elected as the Region 7 Director for the California Democratic Party. As Director, he works to establish relationships with Democratic Party activists from Santa Clara County to Salinas Valley. Omar also helps elect Democratic candidates to public office, especially women of color.

Omar currently serves as the Community Relations Director for East San José Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco. In this role, he continues to empower residents to address the issues within their neighborhoods. Over the past several years he has organized around immigration, poverty alleviation, and public education.

Omar fundamentally believes in equal opportunity education for all.

It's not enough to continue what's been done in the past. This is our opportunity to build a system that works for all.

Omar believes in highlighting our Associate's degree programs to facilitate a pipeline of work to local businesses. 

Although community colleges are a great pathway to our universities - ADT and other transfer programs - the opportunities do not stop there. It is important we show our community the opportunities an Associates Degree Program can offer one when entering the workforce. Many local career paths do not require a Bachelor's degree. It is extremely important that our community college district promotes transferring without taking away from the services an Associate's degree or certification can offer our students.

He would also like to increase transfer rates.

Students need one clear pathway for transfer to both the CSU and UC systems with guaranteed admission and guaranteed junior standing. When elected, it will be a main priority to expand ADT programs.

Next, Omar would like to foster workplace development.

I am eager to build on successful partnerships to ensure students leave our schools with the skills and training they need to gain meaningful careers. Our colleges should transform the way they approach workforce development, career technical education, and skills development on campus to ensure students who are pursuing a career pathway do eventually achieve a living wage.

Lastly, his goal is to build an inclusive campus for all.

As a trustee, Omar will advocate for resources to be allocated to student or faculty-led groups that champion and empower the LGBTQ community. As further statistics and research emerge about the damaging effects of LGBTQ discrimination on school campuses, we must take an active stance against prejudiced behavior. Whether enacting policies and disciplinary protocol for those who engage in this behavior or educating all students about the importance of equal rights for all students. Our district must lead the charge in shifting from thought into action by establishing LGBTQ offices that encourage student advocacy, alumni relations, media awareness, and faculty support.

Community college is an often-underutilized educational path to success. The next trustee for San José Evergreen Community College District must fight to make that path more desirable and accessible to all.

            I have the knowledge, skills, and leadership experience to win that fight and provide our students with the tools and opportunity they need to achieve their goals and improve their future security.

            Community college is not just a pathway to a university; it is a destination. Receiving an AA or Vocational Certification can be as impactful as achieving a BA, and demonstrating this to our students is critically important.

            As a Senior Housing Analyst and Chair of the County Planning Commission, I see first-hand every day the value of education and how it impacts the quality of life for working families in this valley.

            I believe that a high-quality education should be obtainable for anyone, no matter your zip code, and that the top priority for any school system is to protect the health and safety of its community.

            In the wake of a pandemic, we need leaders who know how to bring people together to create systemic and equitable change. With your vote, we can make that change together.

My name is Ali Sapirman and I’m running for San José-Evergreen Community College Board Trustee because our students, educators and community deserve passionate and connected leadership for our community colleges. I am running for Trustee Area 7 which represents the heart of San José - Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Within Area 7 reside many of the students that are attending our community colleges and families that have advanced their careers with education from our schools.

Our community colleges are the most accessible form of higher education - and many of the best schools are here in San José. With the pandemic, calls for systemic change and the additional struggles of equity and housing affordability, the accessibility for our schools is at risk. We must expand the mission of our community colleges to address these concerns, tear down barriers to student success and play an active role in supporting our community, especially the young adults just starting their careers and lives.

The residents of Area 7 will select their next Trustee on the San José-Evergreen Board as the current Trustee is not seeking re-election. A lot of great work has been done by our Board, but now more than ever we need young voices at the table and making the decisions that impact our community, especially higher education.

I hope to earn your vote because as a community advocate, I am on the frontlines working to support our neighborhoods, but as a community college student I know the struggles we are actively facing and know the solutions that will make a direct and real impact to lift up our students and educators.

Community colleges are a precious resource for everyone in the community. We all have a stake in their success. Check out my website - you can read more about my story, see who is supporting our campaign, and more. Please contact me any time; our conversations are the first steps to making a positive difference. Cheers!