Mimi Soto:  

Life I am recently engaged to my long time boyfriend. We have four cat's and live in North Hollywood. I currently work for the City of Los Angeles as a Youth Development Specialist. I work with teens involved in gangs and drugs living in the housing projects of East Los Angeles. I have also been involved in Los Angeles politics and have ran the field for political candidates. Most recently I worked on the campaign to re-elect former Mayor Jim Hahn. I am also an appointed City Official. In 2002 I was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn to serve as a City Commissioner for the Housing Dept. As commissioner I shape policy in Los Angeles as it relates to rent control areas. I also preside over cases and render decisions concerning rent control/housing issues. In my early to late twenties I made my living as a labor organizer representing and fighting for better working conditions for low to moderate paid workers in the private sector. Other then some courses at a few community colleges in Los Angeles I did not obtain a college degree. I attended the University of life experiences. To date I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to have worked in fields that I have been very passionate about. Workplace After High School I spent time as a switch board operator in a private hospital. It was there that I got my first taste of organized labor. I became a union steward. Representing over 400 healthcare workers in work related grievances. The union eventually hired me as a full time union organizer. I evolved into organizing political campaignes in Los Angeles for a variety...Expand for more