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malibusurfsidenews.com Sound Off
Malibu surfside news | January 25, 2018 | 15
Social snapshot
Top Web Stories
from MalibuSurfsideNews.com as of
Monday, Jan. 22:
1. In Memoriam: Daniel Atticus Anderson
2. CWC unveils new marine mammal facility
backed by Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
3. Breaking News: Police investigating sexual
battery allegation against Seal
4. Hair adds fresh style to Trancas Country
Market
5. Pair of Malibu artists on display at
Topanga Canyon Gallery
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Boys & Girls Club of Malibu posted Jan.
15: “This summer, four of our teens, Josue
Garcia, Travis Springer, Kelly Alvarez, and
Amy Jimenez, have the opportunity to
travel to the Boys & Girls Clubs of South
Africa to complete a service project. Each
of these four youth is a leader in their
school, home and Club communities. Support
their journey by making a donation
today! Click HERE to donate: https://www.
gofundme.com/bgcmSA2k18”
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Malibu Country Mart (@MalibuCntryMart)
posted this photo Jan. 16, saying “Come
swing by!”
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From the Editor
When silence isn’t golden
Lauren Coughlin
lauren@malibusurfsidenews.com
Many in Malibu
seem to have a
somewhat contentious
view of the Santa
Monica-Malibu Unified
School District Board of
Manny
From Page 11
the human condition for
love, and when I was a
little kid I felt connected to
people,” Sanoja said.
From there, Sanoja developed
an interest in selfhelp
and personal development
books, citing Don
Miguel Ruiz (“The Four
Agreements: A Practical
Guide to Freedom”) and
Marianne Williamson (“A
Return to Love: Reflections
on the Principles of a
Course in Miracles”) as his
inspirations.
“Being a teacher of these
subjects that we don’t
learn in school brought
more meaning and purpose
to my life,” Sanoja said.
“I hope people can relate
to these books and know
that they are not alone with
what they have endured on
their trail.”
Education, hence the desire
for two separate districts.
And, with conflict of interest
allegations coming to
light recently, the public’s
opinion of some members
of the board doesn’t exactly
appear to be headed
in the right direction.
This past week, the
board took one step in
bringing the public into
the fold, but there’s still
plenty that hasn’t been
said, particularly when
it comes to Maria Leon-
Vazquez, who remained
silent on the matter at the
Jan. 18 meeting (read the
story on Page 3).
Aside from being a
writer and author, Sanoja
works as an operations
manager for Prudential
Financial and is the director
of operations and on
the board of directors for
the Young Investors Society.
He graduated from
the University of Southern
California in 2014 with a
bachelor’s degree in music,
with an emphasis in
vocal arts and opera. He
participated in opera tours
throughout France and in
New York City before returning
to Southern California
to pursue his business
aspirations.
Sanoja is currently enrolled
in the Master of
Business Administration
program at Pepperdine
University. He is to
graduate on his birthday
in 2019. From there, he
plans to grow the Enlightened
Awakening brand and
continue to be an inspiring
father to his son, Leo, and
daughter, Marin.
“I am very passionate
about my brand and I will
see where the path takes
me,” Sanoja said.
Sanoja said his father
would be proud of his writing
accomplishments.
“My dad was a man of
While the public’s
comments at this past
meeting were sparse and
fairly tame, I think there
are a lot of eyes on this
matter and how it’s being
handled. Plus, Malibu’s
lone board member spoke
about the public’s notso-positive
views of the
board, and noted that it
may be a good time for
Leon-Vazquez to retire.
Other board members
were quick to point out
there was no proof of
wrongdoing.
Proof or not, the facts
that have been presented
don’t look entirely favorable,
and silence only
leaves room for someone
else to draw conclusions
and create the noise.
Being able to trust in
and have open conversations
with our public officials
is pivotal. And when
that trust is in question is
when an open dialogue
becomes most necessary.
And while the board is
striving to do better in the
future, the past will not be
ignored, particularly if the
public remains in the dark.
There’s still quite a bit
of explaining to do. Hopefully,
that explanation will
come soon.
very few words, but very
emotional,” Sanoja said.
“He would be happy and
would have been able to
relate to a lot of things that
I wrote about.”
For more on Enlightened
Awakening, visit www.en
lightened-awakening.com.
Malibu Surfside News
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