Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Board of Civil Service Commissioner

Southern California Edison’s Public Affairs Region Manager

Formerly Director of the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs

under Assembly Speaker Willie Brown

APPOINTED by Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2007, Filipino-American Marissa Castro-Salvati is a Commissioner with the Board of Civil Service. She is also Southern California Edison’s Public Affairs Region Manager for several cities in the South Bay. She was formerly the Director of the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs for then Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Los Angeles, Marissa B. Castro-Salvati comes from a small family with only one sister. Her parents were both working professionals-her mother, Lulu, a retired LAUSD teacher and her father, Enrique, a retired State Employee. She is a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UCLA. She has resided in the City of Los Angeles for over 30 years.

Castro-Salvati’s interest in politics began early while she was in junior high school continuing on to UCLA. She had her share of working for various elected officials Former Assembly Members Curtis Tucker, Jr. and Mike Roos; former City Council Members Joy Picus, and late Gilbert Lindsay; major political campaigns of Presidential candidates-U.S. Senator Paul Simon and Governor Michael Dukakis and gubernatorial candidate Mayor Dianne Feinstein and many others.

Castro-Salvati has been actively involved in a number of community organizations, serving as chairperson, president or board member. Some of these organizations are: Asian Business League of Southern California, Past President and current Board Member of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA); current Board Member of Chinatown Service Center; Advisory Board Member of Asian Pacific Family Center; Founding Member and Past President of the Asian Pacific Community Fund; Board member of Asian Youth Center; Advisory Board Member of Asian Rehabilitation Services;

Former Chair and Past President of the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles; Past President of the Friends of the Los Angeles City Commission on Status of Women; Past President of the Asian Pacific Women’s Network; Past President and Founding Member of Philippine American Los Angeles Democrats; 1987 Dinner Chair, 1988 and 1989 Dinner Co-Chair, and 1990 overall Committee Chair for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Week; Founding member, Past Vice President, Past Board of Trustees Member and current Advisory Council Member of the Asian Pacific Women’s Center; Past Vice President and former Chair of Public Affairs Committee of Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles; Past Board Member of Bellflower and Artesia Chambers of Commerce; Past Vice President & Past Presidential-Elect of Cerritos Chamber of Commerce; Past President of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce; Co-Chair of Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee; Board Member of Alhambra Chamber of Commerce; Past Vocational Service Chair of Lakewood Rotary; and Past Advisory Board member of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Education Fund.

Marissa has been awarded numerous achievements for what she has accomplished and to name a few: the 2005 Community Service Award for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), 2005 Public Advocate Award for Filipino American Chamber of Commerce–Orange County; 1992 Women for Achievement Award; Honoree for the 1994 Asian Pacific Family Center; 1999 American Council of Youth Political Leaders, etc. She is also included in different publications: the premiere edition of the "Who’s Who Among Asian Americans," 7th Edition of the 2,000 Notable Women in America, 1995 Edition of "Most Admired Men and Women," and International Biographical Center.

Castro-Salvati was also awarded by The Pilipino Alumni Association of the University of California, Los Angeles with the Outstanding Community Achievements Award for her accomplishments and considerable contributions to the community and to the University. She was also honored as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the US by the Filipina Women’s Network. (AJPress)

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published December 11, 2009 in Asian Journal Northern California p. B1 )