A notable addition to Time magazine cover

Corzo said she first got active in 2015, beginning with Faith in Action, a group that has recently gotten heavily involved in tenants’ rights. She also volunteered for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign and attended her first Latino Democratic Club meeting that year.

“It felt like something I was called to do,” she said.

When it came time to run for one of three open board seats, she said she waited until about two weeks before the filing deadline to decide, but then jumped in with both feet.

Suggesting that renters need protections and working toward that effort through progressive organizations can turn some people off since it has been a lightning rod issue in San Mateo and other communities contending with the rising cost of living. Yet she said people are multi-faceted and that one issue doesn’t necessarily define how one thinks about other issues.

As far as the photo, Corzo said she believes she was asked for it since she has been involved with an organization featured in the story, “Run for Something,” which is essentially self-explanatory but aimed at liberal millennials. She was endorsed by both it and “Our Revolution,” which is tied to the Sanders movement, but only after she decided to run.

As far as being on the cover of a world-famous magazine as an example of a young woman of color running for office and achieving her goal, Corzo said she is, “really really honored.” She said that it shows you can work hard to, “step up and step up into roles that make a difference in our communities.”

Now that she is on the board, there has been no shortage of real-life situations that need her attention. There is a matter of the district’s budget, the need to address overenrollment in Foster City through the construction of a fourth elementary school, and now, filling an empty seat that board president Nancy Kohn Hsieh decided to resign to spend more time with her family. One thing Corzo and her fellow board trustees will not have to deal with is a teacher contract that was boiling over in recent months as the prior board agreed to a raise just before the new board was seated. Still, it’s a lot of work and Corzo said she is in listening and learning mode. As a mom, she does what moms do and adapt to the situation. She is now creating new habits like putting her son to bed on Friday nights and reading the board packet — which has definitely affected her social life.

But she has more important things to worry about now. One thing she takes away from her experience with being on the cover of Time magazine is that this is a new time for our nation in which people are breaking barriers. She wants to be an example to others.

“I’m super grateful,” she said. “As a young woman of color, I want to show others that if I can do it, they can do it too.”

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The San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its winners for this year’s Business Awards. Small Business: Banner Printing and Business Forms; Medium Business: Sofa Outlet; Large Business: Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria; Good Neighbor: John and Melinda Adams; Community Award: Luke Bottari; Mayor’s Award: Evelyn Stivers, Housing Leadership Council; Green Award: Bay Meadows; Frances Bohannon Nelson Legacy Award: Police Chief Susan Manheimer; Ambassadors of the Year: Regina Worthy and Shahida Subedar; Spirit Award: Chris Eckert; Newcomer Award: Qube Bar & Grill; Family Business: Raiser Construction; Pioneer Award: Assistance League of San Mateo; and the President’s Award will be announced at the event to be held Feb. 22 at the San Mateo Marriott. Go to sanmateochamber.org for more information.

Jon Mays is the editor in chief of the San Mateo Daily Journal.