Ann-Marie Bjorkman, the board president of the Santa Clarita Boys & Girls Club (SCVBGC) announced Friday that she will be running for the College of the Canyons Board of Trustees, Trustee Area No. 5.

As both a Santa Clarita mother, whose children have graduated from both local school districts as well as COC, as well as a nonprofit leader for a number of local organizations, Bjorkman has been advocating for the welfare of Santa Clarita’s children for the last two decades, according to a statement released from her campaign on Friday.

Since 2000 — when she first volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club located across the street from her alma mater, Hart High School — Bjorkman has worked to bring in “tens of thousands of dollars” for the local BBC chapter, which “has helped thousands of young adults in the SCV,” Bjorkman said.

“I’ve always thought of volunteering as my way of giving back and moving the community forward at the same time,” Bjorkman said in the statement. “Whether I’m raising my boys or chairing an auction, I’m always thinking about how we can strengthen our community, and I think the best way to doing that is by starting with our kids.”

Hoping to channel decades of experience of working in youth education nonprofits, Bjorkman says her time as a COC Board Trustee member would focus on bridging the gap between underprivileged kids and an affordable college education.

Related: SCV Woman of the Year Nominee: Ann-Marie Bjorkman – March 28, 2018

“I want to restore a former relationship between College of the Canyons and the Boys & Girls Club, starting with introducing students as young as 7th and 8th grade to the resources available to them at COC,” Bjorkman told KHTS in an exclusive interview. “Bridging that gap between kids and college at an early age not only lets them know that college is an important next step after high school, but also makes them aware of what possibilities higher education can offer them.”

A resident of Santa Clarita since 1973, Bjorkman stated that a lifetime spent working with local students has shown her that higher education is a critical factor to a young person’s success — a factor whose importance is not oftentimes stressed or made clear to those residents who are less privileged.

“A lot of these kids, unless they have that backing and push toward college at home, they’re kind of done once they leave (high school),” Bjorkman said. “I really want to create a strong connection between kids and colleges early on so that we show how important it is for them to grow as a person by continuing their education.”

In addition to reestablishing the relationship between afterschool programs, such as the Boys & Girls Club and College of the Canyons, Bjorkman said she also plans to expand the Santa Clarita community college’s online educational resources program, which provides free textbooks to offset the significant expense of traditional print versions.

“Textbooks can often cost a lot of money for students, especially those students who are attending school on a low income,” Bjorkman said. “This may be a primary reason they do not think college is a possibility for them, and by expanding the COC’s cheaper online access to class materials, we can work to remove this obstacle.”

Outside the classroom, Bjorkman plans to draw on her strong advocacy skills as she works with Sacramento legislators to make a difference for her district, according to her official campaign news release.

“Ann-Marie is a hard worker and a great organizer, and she’s worked with countless nonprofits. She brings original ideas to the board, and everyone really appreciates what’s she’s doing,” said Wayne Crawford, Vice President of Board Development for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley. “I think she’ll bring a new energy and relevance to the COC board because she’s better connected to the students coming into COC. She’s definitely running for the right reasons.”

Related: Michael Berger Seeking Re-Election To COC Board Of Trustees

Currently, Bjorkman is the president of the Governing Board of Directors for the Santa Clarita Valley Boys & Girls Club and serves on multiple nonprofit committees from a charity that supports women and girls to a local Christian school.

“Ann-Marie cares deeply about the kids and is very passionate about making a difference,” said Matthew Nelson, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley. “She gives endless hours and is committed to making sure the club is a success for the community and our kids.”

During her time at the club, she’s helped keep valuable programs alive, such as “Project Learn,” which builds academic achievement through hands-on learning, or “Leaders in Training,” which empowers kids to lead with character, according to the statement from her campaign.

“I work hard for what I believe in,” Bjorkman said. “And I’ve always seen it as my duty to advocate for our kids so all Santa Clarita’s children can have access to the future they deserve.”

The Santa Clarita Community College District Governing Board is divided into five areas, with each zone being represented by a single elected representative from each specific area.

Bjorkman’s name will be listed on the Nov. 6 ballot alongside Santa Clarita resident and educator, D.J. Hamburger, as both hope to challenge College of Canyons Board of Trustees, Trustee Area No. 5. incumbent Joan Whaling MacGregor in her bid for reelection.

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