BARSTOW UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
AUGUST 2025
Page 3
SCHOOL BOARD
Meet the School Board of Trustees
Leonard Williams, Trustee, Area 5
B orn and raised in the great city of San Francisco, California, Mr. Williams is a father of two boys. He spent 21 years in the United States Army and retired in 2004. He moved to Barstow in 2009 for a job at Fort Irwin. Since living in Barstow, he has always worked with the children of the community, striving to give them a better life. He is the past president and current board member of Barstow Kiwanis Crossroads and the current Lieutenant Governor Elect of District 36 of Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha (California, Nevada, Hawaii). He serves as the Vice President of the Board at Desert Sanctuary/Haley House, the domestic violence shelter in Barstow. Additionally, he sits on the board of the Barstow Community Coalition and is the Executive Director of the Barstow Youth Sports Coalition, whose motto is "No child should be denied playing a sport because of the social economics of the family." He runs the Barstow Youth Boxing Program, where he sponsors 15 kids every two months. He continually seeks out opportunities for the youth in this community by being an EXP Industry Coach. Elizabeth Givens, Trustee, Area 1 Elizabeth Carmen Givens was born and raised in South Los Angeles, an area deeply impacted by crime and violence. After losing both of her parents in her early twenties, Elizabeth found herself homeless with two young children. Despite the many challenges she faced—including teen motherhood, gang and domestic violence, and generational poverty—she worked tirelessly to overcome these barriers and build a stable life. In 2015, Elizabeth relocated to Barstow, where she served as an executive assistant and campus monitor for the Barstow Unified School District (BUSD). In 2017, she founded Growing Outreach Growing Opportunities (G.O.G.O.), a nonprofit organization committed to ending generational poverty and homelessness. In 2022, G.O.G.O. secured its tax-exempt status. The organization provides housing, case management, outreach, life skills, and job readiness support across Barstow and Los Angeles County. Elizabeth is a certified Community Health Worker and is currently pursuing certification as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor. Her work is rooted in public health, harm reduction, and community empowerment. Elizabeth is a proud mother of four. Two of her children are graduates of Barstow High School (Classes of 2019 and 2023), and her younger two are currently enrolled in BUSD, attending junior high and elementary school. A passionate community advocate, Elizabeth serves on multiple boards and committees, including the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee, San Bernardino County Office of Homelessness Desert Region Steering Committee, Barstow NAACP, Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce – Barstow Chapter, High Desert Black Worker Center, and The United States Veteran Support Group. Through her lived experience and unwavering commitment to a brighter future, Elizabeth continues to be a powerful advocate and role model for individuals and families overcoming adversity.
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