Candidate for
Member, Governing Board; South San Francisco Unified School District

Maurice Goodman worked as a Legal Professional with the California Superior Court. After completing degrees in Administration of Justice and Paralegal Studies at Skyline College he went on to California State University, Hayward where he received a BS in Criminal Justice. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Candlelight Child Development Center, a non-profit learning center in San Francisco.

As a native of the Bay Area, Maurice Goodman has been a consistent figure in the community with years of leadership experience. He has provided legal expertise, free of charge, through document preparation and moral support to community individuals. He has assisted individuals and families in areas such as name change, adoption, family law, probate, compassionate release from prison of loved ones dying behind bars and more recently, working to seek the release of poet Maya Angelou's nephew.

Maurice Goodman drafted a Community Empowerment and Crime Prevention Action Plan, which he then presented to San Francisco community leaders and politicians as a suggested avenue to combat crime and poverty in the inner city. He continues to work with local and State officials to promote a better quality of life for individuals in the urban community.

As a founding member of Bayview MAGIC, a non-profit organization created by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Mr. Goodman assisted in the planning and implementation of a 3,500 backpack give-a-way program. In addition, they have developed a mentoring program that is having a positive impact on the lives of youth throughout the Bay Area.

Serving on the Buri Buri School Site Council, Maurice Goodman proposed and helped pass funding that led to year round diversity training for teachers and assemblies for fourth and fifth graders.

As a former student of Skyline College, Mr. Goodman continually visits and mentors college student leaders encouraging them to get involved in their community. As President of the Skyline College Student Body, he led a sickle cell anemia fundraising and awareness drive. Under his leadership, the college was made to pay attention to the needs of the small but needy African American student population. In addition, he proposed and implemented a plan that continues to generate over $100,000 annually for the student body. Mr. Goodman was also an initial driving force in making the Student Center currently under construction a priority to College & District Administrators.

Maurice Goodman's commitment to our youth is self-evident. As a community member and activist he has volunteered to take children to wrestling events and other sporting events. In addition, he continues to dress as Santa Claus annually for the Skyline College Child Care Center, and volunteer at numerous events geared toward children and diversity.

Maurice Goodman is a National Certified Student Leader. He continues to mentor and speak to youth as well as young adults. Previous speaking engagements include the following: Students in the San Mateo County Welfare To Work Program, Families On Track, The South San Francisco June-Teenth Celebration, College of Alameda Black History Celebration and the Skyline College BSU. In conjunction with a Corporate / School District partnership, he also taught a class of Oakland Elementary students.

Below are a few of Mr. Goodman's formal titles:

Former Class President & Graduate of Jefferson High School

Former Student Body President of Skyline College

Former African Student Alliance President of Skyline College

Former California Student Association of Community Colleges Chair of Black Caucus

Former California Student Association of Community Colleges Regional Chair

Founding Member of Community Non-Profit "Bayview Magic"

Volunteer Coach, Daly City Titans Youth Football Association

Former Spruce Elementary PTA Member

Buri Buri School Site Council Member

Member of Martin Luther King / Marcus Garvey Crime Prevention & Community Empowerment Committee Former CEO of Small Clothing Company

And Red Cross Volunteer

A personal statement from Mr. Goodman:

Taken from legal and social struggle of overcoming racial and ethnic discrimination, the term diversity; is a term covering a broad range of issues and activities. As a survivor of poverty and a parent of bi-racial children I see everyday the need for and the importance of sensitivity to individuals with varying abilities and from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds as well as sexual orientation in our society. I have lived through discrimination, and working in the corporate world I have seen others suffer due to lack of respect and sensitivity to their diverse needs. As a community advocate, I have stood up for those who can not stand on their own and spoken out for those who had no voice and it is these experiences that lead me to believe that for there to be true diversity and sensitivity to matters of diversity there must first be true representation of all involved and they must be given every opportunity to succeed and thrive in society. I can and will, if given the chance, exercise sensitivity, respect and empowerment of all individuals of the community, students, faculty and staff of The South San Francisco Unified School District.

I believe that my youth and energy will bring fresh/new ideas to a system that admittedly is working well but could use an influx of knowledge from someone such as myself.

As your Board Member I will adhere to the District's Mission & Purpose, support District Staff and review performance, ensure effective organizational planning, ensure that teachers have adequate resources, promote shared governance, enhance District's public image and promote a safe environment of tolerance and acceptance for students, parents, staff and faculty alike.

Thank you for your time and consideration to my candidacy for this position.

Sincerely, Maurice D. Goodman