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Meet Your Neighbor: Ismael Cantu

Posted 9/9/20

Ismael Cantu is the administrator of Glendale’s Community Action Program.

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Meet Your Neighbor: Ismael Cantu

Posted

Name: Ismael Cantu

Affiliation/Title: City of Glendale, Community Action Program Administrator

Town/Neighborhood: Glendale, Arrowhead Valley

What I’m excited about & why: I am excited about the future of our Community Action Program. The City of Glendale Community Action Program is dedicated to assisting its residents in need of financial assistance in the most efficient and dignified manner possible.  We are currently making changes to increase our application processing efficiencies and making it possible to apply for services online without leaving home. I look forward to utilizing technology and other efficiencies in order to reach a larger number of Glendale households in need of assistance.  

What I like most about living here: 20 minutes to Lake Pleasant, highly rated schools, two hours or less to snow in winter, relatively low crime rate in Arrowhead.

Changes I’d like to see in this area: Urban fishing lake in North Glendale, expanded bike trails

When & why I moved here: Moved to Glendale in 1993 to start a job at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as a Victim Advocate.

Where I lived before & why I left: Buena Park, California; moved to Glendale to start my employment at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

My family: Married for 26 years, three children (daughter, 23; son, 21; daughter, 15)

What I like most about what I do: Helping families in need.

If I had picked a different occupation, it might have been: Something in the medical field.

My interests and hobbies: Cooking, fishing, camping, hiking, golf and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Dolphins.

The best and/or worst time in my life: Best - birth of my children. Worst – unemployed, living with future in-laws.

My best/worst habits: Best – caring for yard and pool. Worst – not returning calls or texts in a timely fashion

The trait(s) I admire in others: Empathy and generosity

People who inspired me (and how): Jesus of Nazareth – inspiration of faith, love and forgiveness. Mother Teresa – unwavering devotion to serving poor, selfless devotion to helping those in need.

My guiding philosophy: As a leader, “REAL”: Respect, Empowerment, Appreciation and Love

My advice to today’s youth: Be nice to people. You never know what influence they may have on your life later on.

Other Meet Your Neighbors profiles:

Pete Garcia

Bailey MacDonald

Kaitie Miller