Meet Luz
Luz Rivas was first elected to the California State Assembly in June 2018 and was re-elected in 2020. She currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and as the Chair of the Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector.
Luz has dedicated her professional career fighting to ensure every Californian has the opportunity to learn, prosper and succeed.
With a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT and a Master's degree in Education from Harvard, Luz has focused on encouraging young girls to pursue training and careers in science, engineering, and technology. The founder of DIY Girls, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls become interested in math and science, Luz has helped set thousands of young women on the path towards economic empowerment, independence, and self-confidence.
Luz was raised in the 39th Assembly District (East San Fernando Valley) by a single mother who cleaned bathrooms at a hospital in Lakeview Terrace. Initially the family rented a room in a house, and later lived in a converted garage and back houses in Pacoima, San Fernando and Arleta. Her mother took night classes to learn English and office skills, and ultimately got a new job.
After working as an Electrical Engineer at Motorola, Luz's passion to get kids interested in science and technology led her to earn a Masters of Education from Harvard University. After graduating, she returned to the Valley, and in 2011, Luz founded DIY Girls, a nonprofit based in the Valley that encourages girls to become interested in science and technology. Since 2012, the program has served thousands of girls from grades 4-12, helping them develop skills as engineers and designers. DIY Girls also works with partner schools throughout the Northeast San Fernando Valley to create new science and technology programs.
Most recently, Luz served as a City of Los Angeles Public Works Commissioner where she contributed to delivering projects and programs that enhance quality of life, economic growth, public health and the environment to all Angelenos.
Endorsements
Elected Officials
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
Congressman Tony Cardenas
Congresswoman Norma Torres
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Congressman Pete Aguilar
Congressman Howard Berman (retired)
Congressman Salud Carbajal
CA Secretary of State Alex Padilla
CA State Controller Betty Yee
Attorney General Xavier Becerra
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian
Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg (retired)
LA City Council President Herb Wesson
LA Councilwoman Nury Martinez
LA City Councilman Mitch Englander
LA City Councilman Paul Krekorian
LA Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez
LA City Councilman Joe Buscaino
LA Councilman Bob Blumenfield
LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn
San Fernando City Councilman Joel Fajardo
City of Calabasas Mayor Fred Gaines
Azusa Unified School District Board Member Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez
Organizations
California Democratic Party
Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley
Los Angeles County Young Democrats
Pro-Active Democrats
Stonewall Democratic Club
Stonewall Young Democrats
New Frontier Democratic Club
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County
Women's Political Committee
United Firefighters of Los Angeles City
Los Angeles Police Protective League
Latinas Lead CA
Voices for Progress
Fund Her
Civil Engineers for Infrastructure
Southern California Armenian Democrats
Armenian Council of America
Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
Service Employees International Union
Evolve California
National Women's Political Caucus of California
Peace Officers Research Association of America (PORAC)
Equality CA
California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV)
San Fernando Valley Young Democrats
California School Employees Association (CSEA)
CA National Organization for Women (CA NOW)
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
Association of California State Supervisors (ACSS)
California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP)
CAL FIRE Local 2881
California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS)
Educators *
Alex Reza, Retired LAUSD Teacher and Community Activist
Gricelda Gutierrez, Telfair Elementary - Pacoima
Anita Zepeda, Executive Director, Vaughn Charter School
Ford Roosevelt, CEO, Project Grad
Carmen Gutierrez - San Fernando High School Alumni Association
Cristina Razo, O'Melveny Elementary - San Fernando
Norma Rodriguez, Telfair Elementary - Pacoima
Steve List - Sylmar Charter HS Agriculture Program
Violet Mardirosian - San Fernando HS Math/Science Magnet coordinator and DIY Girls InvenTeam Leader
Jose Razo - Principal, Telfair Elementary School - Pacoima
Vanessa Garza - Principal, Girls Athletic Leadership Charter School - Arleta
Donna Mandosa , Geffen Academy UCLA
Bob Kahn, CS/Robotics Teacher, Brentwood School
* Titles for Identification Purposes Only
For a complete list of endorsements click here.
Priorities
Issues
Education
The low quality of some of our schools has resulted in young people graduating from high school underprepared for college or a career. I will fight for policies that ensure every child has access to a quality education, and for more career training programs integrated into K-12 schools.
Affordable Housing
In our community, the supply of affordable housing is nowhere near the need. While we need new construction to increase housing stock, I am also concerned that gentrification of some neighborhoods is both displacing current residents and destroying the fabric of these communities.
Why I'm Running
As we begin the New Year, it is a time of both hope and concern.
Middle class and low income families have been left behind, and the tax bill just signed into law will make things even worse. And, too many of our children aren’t receiving the education they need and deserve.
And yet, the American Dream remains alive. As Americans, optimism comes naturally to us. If we’re going to preserve the American Dream, we have to preserve opportunity: The opportunity to create a better life for your family... the opportunity to succeed, regardless of gender, ethnicity, birthplace, or sexual orientation…and the opportunity to carve your own path.
I know all this from firsthand experience, and I want to make sure that every person has the same opportunity. That’s why today, I‘m announcing my campaign for State Assembly.
I am an engineer by training, an educator by passion, and a public servant by instinct.
I was raised by my immigrant mother who cleaned bathrooms to pay for food and rent. My fifth-grade teacher encouraged me to learn about computers and my high school math teacher encouraged me to apply to MIT. Four years later, I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT, where fewer than one in four students in the program were female. After working in engineering, my passion to get kids interested in science and technology led me to pursue a Master of Education from Harvard University.
I believe that science and technology offer a vital road to good jobs, and the fact that girls and women are not encouraged to pursue these fields leaves many at a permanent economic disadvantage. As a result, I founded DIY (Do-It- Yourself) Girls, a nonprofit based in Pacoima that offers programs for girls interested in science and technology. Since 2012, DIY Girls has served over 2,000 girls in grades 4-12, helping them to develop 21st century skills and capabilities as engineers and designers.
In the Assembly, I will continue to focus on creating economic opportunity for every Californian by fighting for quality educational opportunities that prepare them for higher paying jobs. And, I will work with local businesses to make sure they have opportunities to compete fairly with giant corporations.
I’m proud that as I start this campaign, I have the support of so many local leaders who have dedicated their careers to creating opportunity, including Congressman Tony Cardenas, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and LA Councilwomen Nury Martinez and Monica Rodriguez. I’m just as proud to have the support of over 50 leaders in the fields of education and engineering, who know firsthand about the importance of creating economic opportunity through science and technology.
In the coming months, I look forward to hearing your concerns and dreams. I will work hard to earn your trust and support.
In the News
Incumbent Luz Rivas captured a wide lead over Ricardo Benitez in the 39th Assembly District and appeared to be headed for victory.
Luz Rivas featured in a four-part series on homelessness in Pacoima
Assemblywoman Luz Rivas has introduced a bill that seeks to give more young people a say in civic affairs.
Luz Rivas' fate as a STEM crusader may have been sealed by the time she was in fifth grade.
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