Araceli Martinez for San Diego City Council District 9

ts. She is an exceptional advocate for children and families. As a Family Law and Education Rights Attorney she often represents Spanish-speaking and low income clients, as she believes strongly in justice and access to justice for all. Araceli is the mother of two daughters, Dorian and Adrienne, whom she guides, encourages and involves in civic life and volunteerism. Dorian has high-functioning autism and is a gifted and talented education (GATE) student. She is well on her way to attend college thanks to her own hard work and perseverance and her mother's advocacy. Adrienne attends a neighborhood pre-school and enjoys everyday. Araceli volunteers her time by helping with neighborhood clean-up efforts, presenting on various topics to high school students, union members, and community members at large, motivating and educating voters during elections, serving as a legal observer, and serving on various boards and organizations. Araceli served as a Board Member of the San Diego County Bar Association New Lawyer Division Board, where she Co-Chaired the Continuing Legal Education Committee and the Communications Committee. Araceli was President of the Middle Class Taxpayers Association. She served on the San Diego Unified School District Community Advisory Committee for Special Education. In law school, Araceli was President of the La Raza Law Students Association and was the Treasurer of the same organization a year earlier. As an undergraduate student, she Chaired the San Diego State University Children's Centers Board at the time the new consolidated center on the east side of campus was being planned. Araceli is a member of Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, a professional association that promotes a fair and effective legal system; Consumer Attorneys of California, a professional organization that represents attorneys who seek accountability from those who do wrong; San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, whose purpose is to advance the cause of equality, empowerment and justice for Latino attorneys and the Latino community in San Diego County through service and advocacy; and the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, whose goal is to create and promote opportunities for Hispanic businesses and the greater community. Araceli has also held membership with the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, whose mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families; the Autism Society of San Diego, which shares in the goal of improving the lives of all affected by autism and promoting meaningful participation and self-determination for individuals with ASD and their families; and other groups. Araceli has also served as a translator for the Autism Society San Diego Spanish Support Group, and volunteered 5 years on various campaigns, including the No on G Campaign in Chula Vista and Howard Wayne for San Diego City Council Campaign in 2010, with the San Diego Imperial Counties Labor Council. Currently, Araceli is also a member of the Sierra Club and the California Coalition for Health Choice.