Suely Saro is running for Long Beach City Council District 6 in the November 3rd 2020 election. She won the primary contest for Long Beach City Council. This is historic in several ways. She finished first with a staggering 16% lead over a 12-year incumbent. And she is the first Cambodian American to win a primary in Long Beach. Suely is a collaborative leader that brings people together to make positive changes happen in our community and will serve as a strong advocate inside City Hall. She understands the importance of listening, working in partnerships, and building consensus to ensure all voices are represented in decision making.
Biography
Suely Saro currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at California State University, Los Angeles and a Consultant for the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC). Suely was born in a refugee camp to parents who survived the genocide in Cambodia. She has been dedicated to fighting for equity for working families, youth, immigrants, and women. She began her career as a labor organizer working alongside janitors and healthcare workers in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions. Suely went on to serve as the Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action developing the leadership of youth to improve their school and community. Subsequently, she joined the Health Access Project at Asians Americans Advancing Justice LA to provide education, build coalitions, and conduct advocacy on the Affordable Care Act. Futhermore, Suely is the founder and Board Chair of Women for Women Foundation (WfWF) based in Cambodia, which is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). Meanwhile, she serves as the Board Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Professional Network based in Long Beach.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology from the UC Santa Cruz. She received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from CSU Long Beach and a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne.
