APAICS | Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

Marissa Castro-Salvati

Share This »

---

Public Affairs Region Manager
Southern California Edison

---

Biography

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 late 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 currently is a Local Public Affairs Region Manager for Southern California Edison. She was formerly the Director of the Office of Asian & Pacific Affairs for then Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. Her 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. Marissa serves as an appointee of the Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to the Board of Civil Service. 

She has been actively involved in a number of community organizations and to name a few. Current Organizations: Board member - Asian Youth Center, Koreatown Youth & Community Center, Rio Hondo Community Development Corp. Advisory Board Member of Asian Rehabilitation Services; Advisory Council Member of the Asian Pacific Women’s Center; Advisory Board Member of Asian Pacific Family Center; Current Chambers of Commerce: Board President of Alhambra, Board Member of East L.A., Montebello and Rosemead; Co-Chair of Chamber Government/Legislative Affairs Committee – Alhambra and Rosemead; Former Organizations: Founding Member & President of Asian Pacific Community Fund; Chair & President of Asian Business League of Southern California, President of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans; Chair & President of the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles; President of Friends of the Los Angeles City Commission on Status of Women; President of the Asian Pacific Women's Network; Founding Member & President of Philippine American Los Angeles Democrats; Board Member of Chinatown Service Center; Community Advisory Board Member of Pediatric Therapy Network; Vice President & Chair of Public Affairs Committee of Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles; Vocational Service Chair of Lakewood Rotary; Advisory Board member of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Education Fund; 1990 overall Committee Chair for the Los Angeles Mayor's Asian Pacific American Heritage Week; Former Chambers of Commerce: Board Member of Artesia, Bellflower; Vice President & Past President-Elect of Cerritos President of Lakewood; Co-Chair of Monterey Park Chamber Government Affairs Committee. 

With the kind of job Marissa has, she constantly meets different people to whom she often offers her assistance. Although her work keeps her fairly busy, she still has time to devote herself in as much time as she can in making sure women and most especially the Asian Pacific and Pilipino communities are recognized accordingly in respective segments of the society. Marissa co-chaired the Asian Pacific American Gala Reception at the 2004 Democratic National Committee Convention in Boston, MA. 

Marissa continues to be instrumental in a number of feats in the community. While President of Asian Pacific Women’s Network (APWN), Marissa successfully established the first pro-choice group in Los Angeles. She is a proud founding member of Asian Pacific Women’s Center, the first domestic violence transitional housing in the Asian Pacific community for women and their families. In the summer of 1993, Marissa and a close colleague founded and launched the first internship program of its kind in the Pilipino American community (statewide and nationwide) - Summer Program for Empowerment and Leadership (SPEL). The program proved to be an inspirational medium and premiere model for the Pilipino community. 

Marissa has been awarded numerous achievements for what she has accomplished and to name a few: 2009 49th AD Woman of the Year; 2007 Inaugural Honoree as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S.; 2005 Community Service Awardee for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans; 2005 Public Advocate Awardee for Filipino American Chamber of Commerce – Orange County; 1999 The American Council of Young Political Leaders Delegate; 1992 "Women For:" Achievement Awardee along with other prominent women such as Linda Bloodworth-Thomason; Honoree for the 1994 Asian Pacific Family Center, 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. 

Marissa is a people-oriented kind of person. That's why meeting and helping individuals or groups make her job worthwhile. She has actively participated and spoken in numerous conferences, rallies and seminars. With her range of connections, she has remarkably developed relationships among all the different sectors of our society and known to be someone who can deliver. In addition, Marissa lends her voice to Channel 18 for public service announcements, commercials and commentaries. She has hosted special shows produced by KSCI-TV and International Channel Network (i.e. Mt. Pinatubo Telethon, Special Philippine Elections, etc.), and has been a guest on radio and television talk shows. In 2009, Marissa was successfully selected from a pool of 800+ Edison employees as one of the 35 television commercial talents, at which her commercials continue to air in major networks. 

During her spare time, she enjoys karate, river rafting, skydiving, mountain biking, hiking, playing pool, going to the movies & restaurants, shopping, traveling and especially spending some quality time with husband (Gary), family and friends.

---