A Cycle of Equal Opportunity
Mark Takano is the U.S. Congressman to the 41st district of California that includes Riverside, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley, and Perris. He serves on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. In 2012, he became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to U.S. Congress.
Takano’s family roots in Riverside go back to his grandparents who, along with his parents, were removed from their respective homes and sent to Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. After the war, his family settled in Riverside County to rebuild their lives.
Born and raised in Riverside, Takano attended Harvard College. After graduation, he returned to Riverside and began teaching in the Rialto Unified School District. As a classroom teacher, Takano confronted the challenges in the public education system on a daily basis. This experience drives his commitments as a U.S. Congressman.
Takano believes that the most serious challenge to the American dream is the cycle of poverty afflicting households across the country. Even as the economy emerged from the global financial crisis of 2008, many families were left behind. Takano will detail his plan to replace the cycle of poverty with one of equal opportunity so as to address income and wealth inequality and provide young people a legitimate chance at financial stability and prosperity.