About Carolyn
I am an El Cerrito High School graduate who taught English full time in West Contra Costa high schools, and I still substitute teach in the district today.
Early in my career I understood public service as advocacy: using my voice to elevate issues and to represent communities that deserved to be heard.
Serving in elective office, particularly as Mayor in 2025, has expanded my view of service. It also means managing public money responsibly, taking decisive action, and making sure we are preparing the next generation of El Cerritans.
What I bring.
I earned a BA in English from Cal State Long Beach and an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles.
I am an author and a nationally recognized speaker on racial justice and inclusion.
I am on-air talent at ABC7 and have served on the Contra Costa County Library Commission and on the San Francisco Economic Recovery Task Force. I also served three years as President of San Francisco Pride, steering the organization through the COVID pandemic while managing a multi-million dollar budget.
I serve on the board of the Philonise and Keeta Floyd Institute for Social Change, and I am a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
In August 2025, Congressman John Garamendi named me Woman of the Year, and in April of this year, Curve Magazine and the Curve Foundation named me to the Curve Power List.
How I lead.
I bring people together to solve problems and I try to create spaces where people feel heard, respected, and able to contribute.
I lead with transparency, integrity, and collaboration, because the best solutions come out of strong relationships.
Leadership should be measured not only by the decisions we make, but by the lasting impact those decisions have on the people we serve.