A New Chapter of Service

The power of collaboration, the importance of coalition building, and the art of listening — these valuable lessons Rep. Pete Aguilar ’01 learned through community service at the University of Redlands prepared him for life on Capitol Hill.

“None of us can do this on our own,” Aguilar said. “You have to work together to accomplish goals.”

Community service has always been part of Aguilar’s life — while attending Yucaipa High School, he volunteered at the Salvation Army Hospitality House in San Bernardino. Then, during orientation week at the University, he met with Community Service Learning Director Tony Mueller, who asked Aguilar if he had a car.

“That opened me up to being able to help off campus,” Aguilar said, and he soon found himself working as a teacher’s aide at Head Start in Redlands. A bigger role was to come, when Mueller mentioned the University’s Habitat for Humanity chapter had been dormant and needed reviving.

Aguilar accepted the challenge. Over the next three years, he built a volunteer base and secured financial support for the chapter, all while educating people on the importance of affordable housing. Together, the Redlands volunteers assisted the San Bernardino Habitat for Humanity affiliate with at least half a dozen house builds in the Inland Empire. 

Aguilar didn’t know at the time that his dedication to service would take him to Redlands City Hall, where he spent two terms as mayor, or the House chamber in Washington, D.C. He was certain, however, that he would remain active and involved in the community, doing his part to lend a hand.

“Fundamentally, what Tony and Community Service Learning teaches people is the importance of taking action and being a good global citizen,” Aguilar said. “If we all do our share, we can make a difference.”