CLOSE-KNIT SIBLINGS LEAD BY EXAMPLE FAMILY FINDS HONOR IN DUTY.Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer SYLMAR - The Martinez siblings - Alma, Baltazar and Jose - have established a political dynasty of sorts at Mission College. Each has been elected student body president, infusing the Sylmar campus with a unique brand of community altruism altruism (ăl`tr  ĭz`əm), concept in philosophy and psychology that holds that the interests of others, rather than of the self, can motivate an individual. and political activism. All three have worked on various local political campaigns. Jose and Baltazar have raised money for scholarships and summer camp for underprivileged youths like themselves. And all three plan careers in public service. ``It's a glimpse of hope,'' Alma said. ``Instead of giving up, you make it happen. What it is, is a lot of personal satisfaction.'' The eldest at 26, Alma was elected student body president with a record number of votes during the 1997-98 school year. She became the first Mission College student to serve on the Los Angeles Community College District The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is the community college district serving Los Angeles, California and some of its neighboring cities. In addition to typical college aged students, the LACCD also serves adults of all ages. board. Baltazar, 23, was student body president last year, when he helped mobilize Mission College students to protest student fee hikes. Now it's Jose's turn. The 20-year-old is looking forward to his one-year term in office, even as Mission and the rest of the community college district face lean budget years, soaring enrollment and the tremendous building growth fueled by the $2.2 billion in voter-approved bonds. ``I just want to be a leader for the students and the community, and be the bridge,'' he said. Mission College officials credit the trio with re-energizing a formerly apathetic ap·a·thet·ic adj. Lacking interest or concern; indifferent. ap  a·thet student body. ``A lot of it is the energy they bring to the other students and their ability to get the other students involved,'' said Jose Luis Ramirez
Luis Ramirez , vice president for student services. ``Alma and Baltazar have gone out to the community, and it's a mutual involvement. The community is involved in what's happening at the college, and the students have volunteered in the community. Rallying the community will continue to be important this coming year, as well as rallying the internal (college) community.'' The siblings' strong family bond is evident as they talk. Alma and Jose josh Baltazar because he didn't wear a tie for a photograph, and when Alma - nicknamed ``La Capitana'' by her brothers - tells a reporter that she expects her brothers to learn from her mistakes, her two siblings simultaneously roll their eyes. ``They're really an inspirational family,'' said Mission political science professor Chuck Dirks, who has taught all three. ``The whole family has been empowered, and they're reaching out and empowering other people. They all share this incredible, positive, can-do attitude.'' It hasn't always been easy for the Martinez family. They grew up in Tecalitlan, Mexico, but moved to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. when Alma was only 14, Baltazar, 11 and Jose, 7. They went from having their own home, complete with housekeepers and baby sitters, to living in a one-car garage in Sylmar and having to clean other people's homes, Alma said. When Jose got involved with drugs in high school, Alma and Baltazar shipped him back to Mexico for four months and then enrolled him in a different Los Angeles high school Los Angeles High School, founded in 1873, is the oldest public high school in the Southern California Region and in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Its colors are blue and white and the teams are called the Romans. to help him start a new life. During that time, Jose also became a Christian. The older siblings now tease him about his hair and new, conservative outlook on life, calling him ``padrecito,'' or ``little priest.'' ``He used to be completely bald and wear pants all three of us could fit in,'' Alma said. Now Jose dreams of starting not-for-profit groups that will aid the community. Alma is finishing up graduate work in urban planning urban planning: see city planning. urban planning Programs pursued as a means of improving the urban environment and achieving certain social and economic objectives. at the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. , and hopes to attend law school next, specializing in civil rights litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . She's also serving her second term on the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Library Commission. Baltazar is finishing his last semester at Mission and plans to transfer to Loyola Marymount College "Marymount College" may refer to:
What drives him, he said, is ``the injustice that I see all the time, day by day. The inequalities for our community - the poor, the immigrants, the working class, working families. We're not being equally represented, and it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for a change.'' Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) The Martinez siblings - Jose, 20, left; Baltazar, 23; and Alma, 26 - have all served, at one time or another, as student body president at Mission College, forming a family dynasty. Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News |
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