Arlene Inouye was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Los Angeles Unified Schools along with three generations of family members. Her grandparents emigrated from Japan to Boyle Heights, and her family was incarcerated during World War II. She has a BA and MA in communicative disorders from Long Beach State University. She has been a Spanish bilingual speech and language specialist for more than 18 years. Arlene has been a UTLA Officer for the past 11 years, the first officer who is an itinerant Health and Human Service Professional. As Treasurer, Arlene led UTLA through the “Build the Future Fund the Fight” that addressed UTLA’s structural deficit to provide greater support for members and organizational sustainability. And as UTLA Secretary, she has led the UTLA Bargaining Team through a historic strike and contract fight. As co-chair of the UTLA Bargaining Team, she has led the bargaining team to expand, evolve, and include 85 rank and file members connected to school sites. She has also streamlined organizational procedures and practices. Through the years, she has also been a community organizer, human rights activist, parent educator, multicultural and human relations specialist, and leader in progressive educational reform. Her experience as a union and community activist includes UTLA Negotiations Team Co-Chair, CFT Vice President, APALA (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance) Executive Board, AFT Asian American Pacific Islander Taskforce, CTA Negotiations Committee, CTA State Council delegate, NEA Representative Assembly delegate, AFT and CFT Convention delegate, NEA Asian Pacific Islander Caucus California Director, Founder and Director of CAMS (Coalition for Alternatives to Militarism in our Schools), Family School Partnership Director, LAUSD Parent Educator, National Network Opposing the Militarism of Youth, National Steering Committee, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Third World Coalition board member, and National Coalition of Education Activists (NCEA) Board member.
