Chicago-transplant Jennifer deNicola is proof that you don’t need a uniform or to be in a powerful position to be an advocate or crusader for your community, you just have to care enough to take a stand.
Whether it’s battling the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) over polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) removal at local campuses, the usage of poisonous rodenticides or making sure that children received an adequate meal in school, deNicola has undertaken daunting tasks since she’s moved to Malibu in 2012. Her community involvement doesn’t end with just schools, however, as she is also involved in the PCH Safety Task Force as well as the Malibu Democratic Board. For deNicola, activism comes naturally to her.
“This is about protecting people who cannot protect themselves and that’s the way I’ve been my whole life,” said deNicola.
Long-time neighbor and fellow Malibu resident Pamela O’Connell wrote of deNicola’s efforts, “In my opinion, and that of many other grateful parents, Jennifer is a true hero. She has worked non-stop, for over two years now, trying to get the Santa Monica-dominated school board to do the right thing and clean up our schools … Malibu is unbelievably lucky to have someone who cares so deeply and profoundly about the community. She’s my hero.”
Kathleen Feig, who knows deNicola because their children are friends, sung her praises.
“She has sacrificed precious time with her family to go up against the 500-pound gorilla that is the SMMUSD and has taken many risks to take them on,” said Feig,
According to Feig, deNicola’s efforts range from constantly grappling with SMMUSD, making contact with the Los Angeles County Health and Safety Board and even corresponding with the offices of US Senator Barbara Boxer and US Representative Ted Lieu for advice on how best to proceed with the PCB cleanup effort.
DeNicola founded nonprofit organization, America Unites for Children, to help clean up PCBs in Malibu-area schools and to make the cleaning up of PCBs a nationwide issue. She is also a supporter of the Advocates for Malibu Public Schools (AMPS) organization that seeks to create a separate and independent school district for the Malibu-area.
“Thanks to her, my son has a real life example of a hero. Someone who has stood up and tried to make a difference,” O’Connell said.
To deNicola, the fight against PCBs was just an extension of her sense of doing the right thing for her community as well as for the children.
“The saddest part of all of this is that the SMMUSD is teaching children to ignore their obligations,” deNicola said. “The example they’re setting is not something we should be setting for our children. Parents, teachers and strangers have stood up for those who can’t. But as a community and as a people we can make change here in America. I’ve watched our children learn that we can ask our city council for change and make a difference.”