Why El Camino College is vital to our community

Those of us who received our education at El Camino College know it’s the hidden jewel of the South Bay.

Let me start with a staggering statistic.  Your investment in community college returns an estimated $6.80 benefit for every $1 invested. Community college graduates earn more, commit less crimes, and are physically healthier.

ECC alumni are everywhere. If you didn’t go there, there’s a good chance you know someone who did... El Camino College has produced olympians, actors, producers, Beach Boys, professional athletes, musicians, assemblymen, mayors, city councilmembers, rappers, businesspeople...

El Camino is a great place to start your education before continuing on to higher education and earn a Bachelor's Degree, Masters, Doctorate... However, El Camino College is also a great place to finish your education, too! Many of the nursing students I taught when I taught as a TA at El Camino went on to work at local hospitals like Providence Little Company of Mary, Torrance Memorial, and Harbor UCLA; several of our welding students have gone on to work at companies like SpaceX;  ECC graduates manage local restaurants and retail stores; ECC graduates fix your car; when you see a fire truck drive by, there's a good chance it's filled with graduates from ECC's Fire Academy.  El Camino College is VITAL to our community.

• El Camino College awards over 5000 degrees/certificates a year. 

• Over 34,000 students.

• Certified as a Hispanic Serving Institution - educating historically underserved students.

• Funded by state taxes, property taxes, tuition, and donations.

There are few institutions that provide such a pure and direct public good as community colleges and El Camino College is an exceptional one.

The future will be difficult, though.  State budgets are not looking good and I'm estimating there will be a $15-$30 million dollar gap in ECC's budget in the coming years.  El Camino College needs solid fiscal leadership.  The institution needs to remain solvent AND we need to continue to attract the best educators. My record shows I'm up to the task and ready to lead.

If you agree, please join the many South Bay leaders that have endorsed me and support my campaign, either with a financial contribution, endorsing me, or sharing this post with your friends or on your social media pages!

http://www.david4ecc.com

 <https://www.aacu.org/aacu_news/aacunews14/may14/facts_figures>

<https://www.elcamino.edu/about/docs/ECC-Fast-Facts.pdf>

<https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/ecccd/Board.nsf/files/BSFJ6V4BB414/$file/FY2020-21%20State%20Budget%20Presentation%20-%20August%2017%2C%202020.pdf>