Alum Johanna Silva Waki Is a Bay Area Power Broker in National Politics

SAN FRANCISCO MAGAZINE -- The Governor Pete Wilson era in California was difficult for San Francisco State student Johanna Silva Waki. She felt personally attacked, as initiatives that targeted women, immigrants and education spoke to her directly. It was then that she decided to be part of creating change.

“I got involved mostly because I knew that the sleeping giant — Latinos in California — were going to be eligible to become U.S. citizens. I was one of them because of the amnesty law in 1986. I started work in San Francisco, organizing the Latino community to become citizens. As a result, I then had the opportunity to work for the superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District, then did campaigning.”