Hoboken School Board Member Carmelo Garcia

"Why I became an elected official"
By Carmelo Garcia

Growing up, I witnessed many injustices to minorities and to those of the underprivileged class. I vowed that someday, I would be a voice for the voiceless and promised to make a difference in how our government works for its people. I always felt there was be a better way, so I was compelled to join the decision makers and public servants to see my vision realized.

Always seeing myself as a servant leader and community activist, I knew early on what my purpose in life would be. I strive to clearly communicate people's worth and potential by representing their interest through governance, policies, and giving them equal access to the resources and opportunities afforded to others.

In the 1980s my family lost our home due to arson. We were forced to leap from a third-story window to escape the flames. This was during a time in Hoboken, N.J. when Hispanic families were being burned out to make room for the gentrification of the condo development. By age 9, I was in a single parent household in public housing.

I saw it all growing up – drugs and drug overdose, shooting, stabbing, fighting, hustling, territorial wars, gang activity and vandalism, and landlord neglect. I would say to myself, “There must be a better way of living, a healthier lifestyle outside of the four walls we felt constrained by.”

I was a good student in high school, played sports, and was popular with the in-crowd, which got me trouble. However, I maintained my grades. I knew what I needed to get done, and my mom stressed the importance of doing well in school so that I didn’t end up in the factory like she had. I made a promise to my mom that I would become a professional and reach my dream of being a lawyer, since I was passionate about advocacy and enjoyed law.

On the other hand, reality set in my senior year. I was going to be a father, and when I applied to college, I realized my high school had not fully prepared me for higher education.

Fortunately, God was with me the day I went to Seton Hall University to take my oral and written exams through the Equal Opportunity Program or EOP.  The director and counselor said I did excellent on my oral, but failed my essay. The content was good , they said, but lacked structure. I did not know how to construct an essay. Simple fundamentals were not instilled in me or re-enforced in high school.

Still, I excelled in college, even while being a full-time dad to my precious daughter. Additionally, I worked three jobs to get through college. The first to finish college in my family, I graduated dean's list with a major in criminal justice and minor in sociology, along with a certification in Information Technology. Now, I am making sure I instill the importance of education to my children, nieces, and nephews.

I stayed involved with my community and always gave back as a servant leader. I am a role model to other kids, always letting them know that they too can do it. I lectured, volunteered and consulted. I became a successful mortgage banker (1997-2001) out of college, while remaining active in my community. I linked up with local elected officials and immediately learned Politics 101. In 2001, I was appointed as the city's first minority Director of Health and Human Services.

I decided in 2001 that it was my mission to make sure that no student experience what I went through to get an education. In April of 2002, I ran for the school board at the age of 26.

I have served now for six years, as both President and Vice President, and currently chair of the curriculum committee. I have championed many initiatives that have improved student achievement; I received special recognition from the New Jersey School Board Association for my outstanding work on the legislative committee. I have advocated for better ways to help minority families deal with their children’s education and founded scholarships for students.

We are creating focus centers that will offer a gateway to college or a pathway to vocations early on. I strongly feel I'm achieving what I set out to do, and a majority of my goals have been accomplished. Most importantly, my colleagues, administrators, teachers, parents, and students have been inspired by my tenacious coaching attitude that every child can learn and deserves equal access to the resources available to educate him/her to their fullest potential.