Slide Show "Friends"

Fund Raising Event Held for Candidate Carlos A. Orellana

February 22, 2009
Carlos A. Orellana, a Democratic candidate for City Council, Second District, held a fund raising event Saturday night at the South Presbyterian Church in Yonkers .

Friends and supporters came to show their support to the candidate, including City Council President Chuck Lesnick, Westchester County Legislator Jose Alvarado, and Carlos Moran, a Democratic Party leader.

Referring to the experience Mr. Orellana has as a community and labor organizer, Mr. Lesnick said, “We just elected a community organizer as President of the United States , why not for the Council in Yonkers .”

Jose Alvarado, a long term friend of Mr. Orellana, also addressed the participants and said, “I will give all my support to Carlos if he is nominated by the Democratic Party.”

Lilian Aguirre, a district resident and supporter, said of the candidate, “We will not regret to support Carlos in this race.”

John Kemoh, Jr., a member of the local chapter of NAACP, came to show his support and gave his $25.00 donation to the candidate and said, “I heard about you running and wanted to show tonight and give you my support, here is my contribution.”

Rally for Workers rights in Albany

Community Activities

Somos Salud Project

Carlos A. Orellana Press Release.

Carlos A. Orellana for Yonkers City Council - 2nd District.

Local Community and Labor Organizer, Carlos Orellana, Considering Bid for the 2nd District Yonkers City Council Seat

Carlos A. Orellana, a registered Democrat and a long-term resident of Yonkers, is announcing that he is considering a bid for The Yonkers City Council. The seat is currently held by Sandy Annabi, whose Second District seat will be left vacant after her term expires. Orellana has the experience and dedication to serve and to listen to the concerns of the people of the Second District and more importantly, to fully represent them in the Yonkers City Hall.

Orellana believes that there are many issues that need to be properly addressed in order to better serve the Second District and the Orellana Campaign hopes to highlight these issues during the campaign. Carlos A. Orellana will begin the process of reaching out to the Democratic Party District leaders in the area to win their support and ultimately the designation.

Orellana has been an active member of his community for several years; he has worked for several nonprofit organizations including a youth program with CLUSTER, after school programs with Westhab Inc., The Sharing Community, and Aids Related Community Services (ARCS) to provide essential services to disenfranchised communities.

In the past, he has worked as an organizer for Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and is now organizing workers for United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW) to help them achieve a better quality of life. He has served on the boards of Residents for Equitable and Affordable Permanent Shelter (REAPS) to advocate for affordable housing in Yonkers, and is a member of SUNY Yonkers Committee to advocate for a technical school in the city.

Orellana and his wife Janet are active members of the San Andres Episcopal Church.

The Orellana Campaign will be open and transparent and looks forward to beginning a constructive dialogue with the residents of the 2nd District that he hopes to represent in City Hall.

The Orellana Campaign will be unveiling a campaign blog very shortly.

Carlos A. Orellana for Yonkers City Council - 2nd District - Platform.

Carlos A. Orellana, A Democrat For City Council,

Second District

Carlos A. Orellana has dedicated many years serving our communities in Yonkers and is committed to improving the quality of life of the residents in the Second District.

Carlos will work hard to:

• Create job training programs and employment opportunities for our residents.


• Improve our children's education.


• Obtain more funds for educational and recreational activities for our children and youth.


• Advocate for affordable housing for the working families.


• Work closely with community groups, leaders, city officials, and police department.

Education:

• Universidad Católica Centroamericana, completed a year of Masters Degree in Political Science, El Salvador, 2003


• Concordia College, BA in Judeo-Christian Studies, Bronxville, NY, 1999


• Instituto Pastoral Hispano of the Episcopal Church, Certificate of Pastoral and Theological Studies, NYC, 1993


• Roosevelt High School, Yonkers, 1987

Work Experience:

• Community Organizer - Labor Organizer, CSEA and UFCW International


• HIV-AIDS Educator and Counselor, ARCS / The Sharing Community


• Community and Tenants Organizer, WESTHAB / REAPS


• After School and Youth Programs, WESTHAB / CLUSTER

Community Service and Membership:

• President of Somos La Llave del Futuro, Inc.


• SUNY Yonkers Committee


• The Workers Rights Law Center, Board of Directors


• Residents For Equitable and Affordable Permanent Shelter (REAPS), Board of Directors


• Iglesia Episcopal San Andres

A BETTER COMMUNITY IS POSSIBLE!

COMMUNITY, LEADERSHIP AND HONESTY!

Carlos A. Orellana

Un Demócrata Para Concejal, Segundo Distrito

Carlos A. Orellana ha dedicado muchos años sirviendo nuestras comunidades en Yonkers y es un candidato comprometido a mejorar la calidad de vida de los residentes del Segundo Distrito.

Carlos se compromete a:

• Creación de programas de entrenamiento laboral y oportunidades de empleo


• Mejorar la educación de nuestros hijos e hijas


• Obtener mas recursos para actividades educativas, recreativas y culturales para nuestros niños y jóvenes


• Abogar por vivienda accesible para familias trabajadoras y de bajos recursos


• Trabajar en colaboración con grupos comunitarios, lideres comunitarios, oficiales públicos, y el departamento de policía

Educación:

• Universidad Católica Centroamericana, estudios de Ciencias Políticas en Programa de Maestría, El Salvador, 2003


• Concordia College, Licenciatura en Estudios Judeo-Cristianos, Bronxville, NY, 1999


• Instituto Pastoral Hispano de la Iglesia Episcopal, Certificado de Estudios Pastorales y Teológicos, NYC, 1993


• Roosevelt High School, Yonkers, 1987

Experiencia Laboral:

• Organizador y Activista Comunitario - Organizador Sindical con CSEA y UFCW Internacional


• Educador y Consejero del SIDA, ARCS / The Sharing Community


• Organizador Comunitario y de Inquilinos, WESTHAB / REAPS


• Programas Escolares y de Jóvenes, WESTHAB / CLUSTER

Servicio Comunitario y Membresía:

• Presidente de Somos La Llave del Futuro, Inc.


• SUNY Yonkers Committee


• The Workers Rights Law Center, Board of Directors


• Residents For Equitable and Affordable Permanent Shelter (REAPS), Board of Directors


• Iglesia Episcopal de San Andres

UNA COMUNIDAD MEJOR ES POSIBLE! COMUNIDAD, LIDERAZGO Y HONESTIDAD!

Carlos Orellana Background.

Background:

Carlos came to Yonkers in 1985 from his native El Salvador during the peak of the civil war that lasted twelve years. He attended Yonkers High School (1985-1986) and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1987. He attended the Instituto Pastoral Hispano, an Episcopalian seminary in New York City, and received his Certificate in Pastoral and Theological Studies in 1993. He continued his education and attended Concordia College in Bronxville, and received his BA in Judeo Christian Studies in 1999.

In 2003 Carlos attended the Masters Degree Program in Political Science at the Catholic University in San Salvador, El Salvador, where he took courses in Public Administration, Comparative Government, Economics, and Political Philosophy.

Carlos works as a labor organizer with United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW). He has been organizing workers in the meat packing and poultry industries in Nebraska, Iowa, North Carolina, and New York. He was part of the organizing team that worked very hard to win the election at the Smithfield plant in North Carolina last December.

Carlos has been a long term board member of Residents for Affordable and Equitable Permanent Shelter (REAPS) in southwest Yonkers, an organization that provides and advocates for affordable housing for low income families.

Carlos has been the president of Somos la Llave del Futuro or We Are the Key to the Future, www.somoslallave.org/, a not-for profit organization in the Hudson Valley and Catskill Region. The mission of the organization is to train leaders in the immigrant communities throughout the region. Carlos is also a committee member of the SUNY Yonkers Committee in Yonkers, a group of residents advocating for a technical college in our city.

Carlos helped implement two after school programs in southwest Yonkers during his years working for Westhab, one in Elliott Avenue and the other in Bruce Avenue. He also ran a youth program for CLUSTER. Working with children and youth gave him the opportunity to understand better the needs and the problems that low income families face raising their children.

Carlos and his wife Janet attend San Andres Episcopal Church in Yonkers.