Ollie Cantos, West Covina City Councilman, District 4
Ollie Cantos, West Covina City Councilman, District 4
Ollie Cantos
Ollie has served in a number of capacities over the majority of his life. These have been both within the governmental and non-profit sectors as well as in collaboration with business. His local community activism propelled him to the national stage in Washington, DC. Now working remotely and having received approval to keep this arrangement permanently, he is poised to leverage his national experience to benefit us right here in our own hometown. He is here to stay, and he is ready to work with and for fellow West Covina residents, partnering with us to help improve livability for all.
Ollie’s first elected leadership post was right here at Hollencrest Junior High, followed by roles at Bishop Amat Memorial High School, Loyola Marymount University, and more. The rest, as they say, is history.
Below are some of the posts Ollie has held, listed in reverse chronological order. These are in addition to his career as an attorney, working in the non-profit and Federal Government sectors since 1999.
2023
Chairman Emeritus, Board of Directors, RespectAbility
2021-2023
Chairman, Board of Directors, RespectAbility
2018-2020
Volunteer, Hoffman Boston Elementary School, Arlington, VA
2018-2021
Member (elected Board Co-Chair in 2020)
National Board of Advisors, RespectAbility
2017-2021
Member, Board of Directors (and Vice President)
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
2004-Present
Attorney Mentor, President’s Commission on Disability Rights (formerly the “President’s Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law”), American Bar Association
2018-2019
Member, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
2018-2019
Chairman, Board of Advisors, Scholarships for Eagles
2005-2012
Member, Academic Advisory Board, Envision (formerly “Lead America”)
2010
District Legal Officer (with the rank equivalent of Lieutenant Commander), 5th District, Southern Region (covering North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
2010
Member, Board of Directors, Community Lodgings
2008-2010
Vice Chairman, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
2007-2009
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 1780, National Capitol Area Council, Scouts BSA (formerly “Boy Scouts of America”)
2001-2008
Big Brother, Catholic Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Los Angeles
2005-2007
Vice Chairman, Committee for Scouts with Disabilities, National Capital Area Council, Scouts BSA (formerly “Boy Scouts of America”)
2004-2007 Member, Federal Asian Pacific American Council
2004-2006
Member, President’s Commission on Disability Rights (formerly the “Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law”), American Bar Association
2004-2005
Member, Board of Directors, ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia
1995-2005
Member, Board of Directors, Blind Children’s Center, Los Angeles
2004
Member, National Advisory Committee for the Improvement of Teacher Quality, Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education
2003-2004
Member, National Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee on Personal Assistance Services, Info Use
2000-2004
Member, Board of Directors, Disability Community Resource Center (formerly the “Westside Center for Independent Living”)
2001-2002
Volunteer Adoption Attorney, Los Angeles Youth Opportunity Collaborative (formerly, the “Alliance for Children’s Rights”), Los Angeles
2000-2002
Member, Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, State Bar of California
2000-2002
Member, Board of Directors, Loyola Marymount University National Alumni Association
1999-2002
Member, Board of Governors, Loyola Law School Alumni Association
1999-2002
Member, Philippine American Bar Association, Los Angeles
1990-1998
Member, Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind of California
1990-1998
Member, Board of Directors (Vice President, 1997-1998; Secretary, 1996-1997; Treasurer, 1995-1996; Client Board Member Chair, 1994-1995), Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
1991-1992
Student Body Executive Vice President and Chairperson of the Student Senate, Loyola Marymount University
1991-1992
President, Today Not Tomorrow Service Organization, Loyola Marymount University
1991-1993
Mentor, Loyola Marymount University Chapter, Best Buddies International
1990-1992
University Appointee, Westchester/LAX Chamber of Commerce
1990-1992
Chairperson, Academic Affairs Committee, University Board of Trustees
1990
Intern, United States Senator Alan Cranston, Washington, DC
1989-1990
Speaker of the Student Senate, Loyola Marymount University
1988
Student Senator, Loyola Marymount University
1987-1988
Student Body President, Bishop Amat Memorial High School
1986-1988
Member, Speech and Debate Team, Bishop Amat Memorial High School
1986-1987
Junior Class President, Bishop Amat Memorial High School
1986-1987
Chapter President, Junior Statesmen of America
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