Friend,

Growing up, my primary means of transportation was a public bus. Like many others, I traveled to a district with greater funding and resources to help aid my academic and career trajectory. From an early age, I saw the economic, racial and social disparities between communities. The school in my home district did not have the funding for equitable resources to equitably support students.

This opportunity helped pave the path for my college degree. My parents and I worked multiple jobs to get me through college, and I graduated as a first-generation student at San Diego State University.

I became a community organizer. Then, I eventually became City Council President. Now, I'm running for Congress.

But my experience should not be the norm. In the richest country on earth, there is no excuse. Our schools are underfunded, our teachers are underpaid, and so many of our students don't easily have access to resources needed to achieve their best self. Communities bear the brunt of these inequities.

It's why I am running for Congress. But I can't get there without your help, especially because I am going toe-to-toe with a wealthy self-funder. Can you chip in $5 right now?

On this day 46 years ago, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 became federally recognized in the United States, prohibiting discrimination of students, faculty, and staff on all fronts. It was a step forward in making schools more equitable for every student. However, we have so much more to do!

On this year's EEOA anniversary, we celebrate all students, and we promise to create equitable opportunities for all.

In Congress, I will continue to be a champion for schools and for our students -- so that every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. If that's a mission you can get behind, chip in $5 to my campaign today.

Everyone's voice is valued and deserves to be uplifted and that must start early. The educational environment and resources given to children have impacted their childhood and economic mobility. We must ensure all students have equitable resources, no matter what their socioeconomic status is and no matter whether kids are learning in classrooms or online.

These beliefs I hold make the endorsements of this campaign by the California Federation of Teachers and National Education Association more meaningful. Having the backing of the biggest teachers' unions means they believe in what we stand for: Better pay and facilities for our educators and better education for our children. The support of Congress to let the teachers get their jobs done.

If you want to see our students succeed, help elect a leader who navigated a system stacked against kids like me to see success. Chip in $5 to this campaign today.

In solidarity,

Georgette Gómez

P.S. This Saturday, tune into our virtual event "Educators for Georgette," where we'll talk about school and funding, education in the age of COVID-19, and so much more.

RSVP to the Zoom conversation here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErfuyrpz0rGtVNACZY1FiyifyiLgbSRIN5