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This information is provided by the candidate
Irene 'Charlie' LaChance was born December 31, 1950 in Fontana California.
She was raised by her Italian immigrant mother who taught her good work ethics, civic responsibility , compassion and honesty.
She attended public schools, where she was inspired and encouranged by her teachers to follow her dreams.
Charlie began working in the retail food markets in 1971,where she joined the retail clerks union (later known as the United Food an Commercial Workers Union, the UFCW) . This led her down the path to the labor movement.
As a member of the UFCW, she became active in the community as well as the labor movement.
She retired from the UFCW after 22 years serving her union, representing members in the workplace , being their voice against descrimination, harrassment and desparity. She helped lead the UFCW in their fight for health benefits against corporate greed.
As a community organizer she is a leader against poverty, homelessness , discrmination and hate. She serves as the Board Chair for the Community Action Partnership in Orange County who's mission is helping people, changing lives. She is also a board member of Orange County Community Housing Corporation ,where the mission is to provide low and very low income housing to working famlies. As a member of Los Amigos she strives to bring equality and understanding among the diversity of those living in both Orange and Riverside Counties. She has been a board member of the Eli Home for Abused Women and Children, working to insure the safety of the family.She has also been a delegate on the Central Labor Council, working to protect the rights of working men and women in California.
Currenty Charlie is working for the California School Employees Association. Once again serving working families.
Charlie has three children, eight grand children and has helped raise and influence many more children throughout her life.
Charlie lives in Corona and continues to fight for working families, children , women and equality for every human being.
One of Charlie's favorite quotes is ' The greatest success isn't what you have acquired in life, but the difference you have made in the life of a child!
Her tenacity and courage can be summed up with the famous quote, ' I would rather die on my feet fighting, then live on my knees begging!
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