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MEET CHARA

 

I am Chara Swodeck; a wife and mother, business owner, community collaborator, problem solver and dreamer; bringing ideas to life with goals, milestones, and conditions of satisfaction.

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I am honored to share my passion of effective collaboration within our beautiful city and community.  I am grateful to call the City of Pomona my home.  My husband and I moved to Pomona shortly after our first anniversary in 2003 and chose to invest our time, energy and talents in our neighborhood.  We have two children in Pomona schools and remain actively involved in ensuring equity and opportunity for every family in Pomona.  Connecting-the-dots, designing events, and creating impactful experiences has been part of ‘who I am’ since I was a child.  I found a connection volunteering in our local school prioritizing equity in education and instilling a sense of pride and ownership within our students.  

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My community efforts have been focused towards forward movement, safety, and successful development of our neighborhoods, businesses, and culture; something we create collectively, working together.

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The phrase “Imagine the Possibilities” has been my mantra for many years, and has led me to imagine and manage community events like the Pomona Children’s Festival, Kwanzaa Joy Celebration at the Farm at Fairplex, Pomona PTAs Summer Training, 500BlockPomona Art Walk, Shop Downtown Pomona, G.I.R.L. Takeover at LA County Fair (Girl Scouts), and support others’ ideas like the Pomona Placemaking workshops, 2020 Juneteenth POWER Parade, Pomona 5K/10K , and serving as Volunteer Coordinator the last 11 Pomona Christmas Parades. I currently serve as a board member for the Child Development Center at Fairplex, Service Unit Manager for Pomona Girl Scouts, and Historic Preservation Commissioner for the City of Pomona.

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I was born and raised in Los Angeles, in the Crenshaw and Inglewood areas and spent my junior high and high school years in Pasadena, graduating from Blair High School - Health Careers Academy and awarded my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Marketing from Azusa Pacific University in 2001. My husband and I were married in 2002 and moved to Pomona in 2003. We have two children (18 years & 9 years), both born and raised in Pomona  and have attended Pomona schools.

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Our family has been committed to not only give back, but also engage and fully immerse in advocating for equitable policy for our neighborhoods in art, business, education, housing, and public safety.  This moment in history is bigger than any one of us individually.  I would be honored to represent my community in this capacity.  Together, we have the opportunity and responsibility to build an impartial and just future for our entire district.  I believe in Pomona, the community I love and proudly call home. 

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The City will have primary elections in March of 2024, and due to new Charter amendments, a general election in November of 2024 if necessary. In the 2020 election, we were able to receive 43.51% of the vote. While I did not get the seat, I've relentlessly continued to be productive in my work with the community. 

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Since the last election, I became Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission and have worked to ensure clearer design guidelines were created for the community, as well as fought to be more inclusive in the history we protect and share.

 

  • I continue to work with the Mayor and other community leaders to continue the COVID Action Committee's vision and mission, stay on track and continue to support our many needs within the community. I am currently the Chair of the Vision & Planning subcommittee.

 

  • I worked with the City to build Pomona Connect as a way to ensure even our "hard to reach" residents and businesses had access to resources and support, especially during the pandemic. We helped connect residents to food relief, mental health, and housing relief (over $2M in funding to help tenants pay rent, helping both tenants and property owners)

 

  • I continue working with Anti Human Trafficking organizations and Pomona Police at Montvue and engaging with residents along Indian Hill to find real solutions to this challenging issue. Most meetings include time to walk and talk with neighbors to listen and find solutions. 

 

  • After collaborating with the Mayor and about 20 local black community leaders, the need for a space to build community came up. This led to a small group of us starting the African American Advisory Alliance (Pomona4As) and opened the Alliance Cultural Community Center in Downtown Pomona to provide a space for programs and collaborations from the Black community for the entire community.

 

I have worked on numerous projects since 2020, helping connect-the-dots, and have built solid relationships with Mayor Tim Sandoval, Councilmembers John Nolte, Victor Preciado, Nora Garcia, Steve Lustro, Sen. Susan Rubio, as well as many City and County staff members. I have also served in numerous other capacities over the past 20 years.

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SERVICE TO POMONA COMMUNITY

  • Historic Preservation Commission, City of Pomona - Commissioner, Chair (2021-Present)

  • Pomona Connect - Director (2021-2023)

  • African American Advisory Alliance, Pomona4As - Founding President (2020-Present)

  • NWPC National Women's Political Caucus (Pomona/IE)  - VP of Communications (2021-Present)

  • Fairplex Child Development Center - Board of Directors (2019-Present)

  • Pomona Girl Scouts of GSGLA (19 Troops) - Service Unit Manager (2020-Present)

  • Pomona Inland Valley MLK Project - Board Member (2023-Present)

  • Mayor's COVID Action Committee - Chair (2021-Present)

  • Pomona Council of PTAs (23 Schools)  - President, Vice President, Treasurer (2011-2019)

  • Lincoln PTA (Unit) - President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary (2009-2013)

  • Girl Scouts Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA) - Troop 2974 Co-Leader (2013-Present)

  • G.I.R.L. Takeover at LA County Fair, "Girl Scouts" - Founder, Coordinator (2019-Present)

  • Kwanzaa Joy Celebration at the Farm at Fairplex - Founder, Coordinator (2019-Present)

  • Pomona Library Foundation Inaugural Mayor's Gala - Event Designer (2018)

  • Pomona 5K/10K - Committee Member, Organizer (2018-Present)

  • Pomona Children's Festival - Founder, Organizer (2018-Present)

  • Pomona Christmas Parade - Volunteer Coordinator (2013-Present)

  • 500BlockPomona Art Walk - Co-Founder, Coordinator (2015 - 2018)

  • Shop Downtown Pomona - Coordinator (2016 - 2018)

  • African American Parent Advisory Committee (AAPAC) - Member (2016 - Present)

  • Pomona Arts Colony Association (PACA) - Board Member (2015 - 2017)

  • Pomona Beautification Day - Committee (2019 - Present)

  • Pomona Placemaking (2017 - Present)

  • Pomona Historical Society - Lifetime Member

  • Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (CEEM-IE) - Member

  • NAACP Pomona Valley - Member 

  • NCNW Pomona Valley - Member

WORK HISTORY

  • Open Box Designs, LLC - Owner / Event Designer (2006 - Present)

  • LOFTon2nd Gallery - Co-Owner (2012 - 2018)

  • Cal Poly Pomona - Certified Instructor (2009 - 2016)

  • Balanced Living TV - Production Manager (2002 - 2008)

  • Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center at USC - Project Assistant (1998 - 1999)

  • Huntington Memorial Hospital - Certified Nursing Assistant intern rotations (1996-1997)

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