Paulita Peña (Paula), she has been a public employee for 15 years. Growing up in a migrant camp while living mostly in the Willamette Valley. Both of her parents found stable employment at ArgiPac, where they became union members and stewards for Teamsters, inspiring Paula’s commitment to unions. One of Paula’s earliest memories of union involvement was when she was 3 years old and going to the union hall for meetings with her parents, along with watching her dad play softball with his sub-local. Paula became a Teamster Union member when she was 15 years old when she started working at NorPac Foods Inc. In Brooks, OR, then a United Food Grocers member while going to college before being an SEIU503 member. Paula is a proud Mexican American with indigious blood. She is the Co-Chair on the Women of Color Caucus, Co-Chair of the Indigenous People’s Caucus, a member of the Civil and Human Rights Committee, and a GC Delegate for her sub-local as well. Paula is currently the CAT leader for her sub-local, along with the elected treasurer for ODE 581. She is an active volunteer within her community and within her children’s schools. Paula was one of the proponents of Oregon SB 608, that provides rent control. She is also active in lobby days along with being a vocal advocate for SEIU members and anyone who needs help with advocacy. Paula is a mom of 5 boys, she has been married for 22 years to her husband Francisco. Her education includes an AA from The Boyd School of Travel & Career and an AA from Chemeketa Community College and WOU. She also has an education background in Psychology and Biblical theology from Corban University. Paula would like to see 503 expand leadership opportunities for people of color. She would like to build more inclusive and diverse political membership. Strengthen contract language that protects workers on the worksite from intimidation and bias. One of the biggest issues the Union will face in the next two years will be budget impacts due to the Covid-19 crisis, PERS attacks; all of this during a bargaining year. We will need strength determination to see us through these difficult times. Vote for Paula Pena for 503 Director. Thank you.