On September 21, D''Andre Lampkin spoke with students at Chaffey High School about leadership, service, and showing up for the community long before election season begins.
On September 21, 2026, I had the opportunity to speak with students at Chaffey High School about leadership, service, logistics, emergency management, and what it means to show up for your community long before you ask for its vote.
For me, this was bigger than a campaign moment.
It was a reminder of something I have believed for years: real leadership starts before election season.
Showing Up Before the Signs Go Up
Too often, voters only begin hearing from candidates once signs go up, campaign mailers hit homes, and social media fills with promises about what someone plans to do if elected. But if someone truly cares about youth, families, public safety, preparedness, and the future of Ontario, nothing is stopping them from doing that work now.
That is what made this visit meaningful.
At Chaffey High School, I was able to engage students in a real conversation about opportunity, public service, and the importance of building skills that can serve them for life. Whether the topic is leadership, emergency management, civic engagement, or career development, our young people deserve adults who are willing to invest in them today — not just talk about them during campaign season.
That is also the difference I believe voters should pay attention to in this election.
A Decade of Service Before This Campaign
For more than a decade, I have worked in this community through public service and community engagement, youth engagement, nonprofit leadership, emergency management, public safety, and neighborhood advocacy. I did not suddenly discover the importance of mentoring youth, supporting families, or preparing for Ontario's future because there was an election on the calendar. I have been doing that work already.
And I believe voters should ask a simple question:
"If every candidate says they care about the next generation, what has stopped them from showing up before election season?"
That question matters. Because the answer reveals something important about what kind of leader someone actually is — not just what kind of candidate they want to be.
What Leadership Looks Like in a Classroom
The conversation at Chaffey High School covered topics that go far beyond any single campaign issue. We talked about logistics and supply chain careers, emergency preparedness, the importance of civic engagement, and what it means to build a life of service. These are not abstract concepts — they are practical skills and values that shape how a city functions and how its residents thrive.
Our students are paying attention. They are watching to see which adults show up for them — not just on Election Day, but on an ordinary Tuesday in September when there are no cameras, no mailers, and no votes to collect.
I am proud to be one of those adults.
Leadership Built on Service
Inspiring tomorrow's leaders should never be a seasonal activity. It should be part of a lifelong commitment to service.
I'm grateful to Chaffey High School for the opportunity to spend time with students, share my experiences, and encourage them to think boldly about their futures. These are the kinds of conversations that strengthen a city over time — because leadership is not just about what happens at City Hall. It is also about what happens in classrooms, neighborhoods, and everyday community spaces where trust is built.
That is the kind of leadership I believe Ontario deserves.
Leadership built on service. A vision built for Ontario.
D'Andre Lampkin is a candidate for Ontario City Council, District 3. He has served the Ontario community for more than a decade through public service, nonprofit leadership, emergency management, and youth engagement.
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