Alhambra, CA – On Saturday, June 16th, CAUSE held the Leadership Institute Graduation at Almansor Court to celebrate the fellows’ completion of the program
Kim Yamasaki, Executive Director of CAUSE, started off the event by welcoming attending guests and giving a brief overview of the Leadership Institute program.
As the Master of Ceremonies, The Honorable Henry Lo shared his feelings about the Leadership Institute program. As a 2016 Political Institute (now Leadership Institute) graduate and Boardmember of the Garvey School District, he reflected on how the program helped him get to where he is today.
Adam Ma, Community Relations Manager at SoCalGas, spoke on the Leadership Institute’s impact on developing a leadership pipeline for APAs.
Next, Tammy Tran, Senior Manager for Community Engagement, Local Public Affairs at Southern California Edison, highlighted the importance of leadership development programs like the Leadership Institute.
Afterwards, Adam Hsu, Director of Programs at CAUSE, then introduced the cohort and their group fundraising project.
Representing the 2018 Leadership Institute cohort, AndyMike Emata delivered the keynote fellow testimonial. He expressed his appreciation for the program and the opportunities it gave him and his cohort to engage with community leaders, and shared his vision for himself and the fellows, stating “The CLI Class of 2018 represent all swaths of the professional landscape – non-profit and private foundations, elected office, private business, and institutions of higher learning and research. We live and work throughout Southern California, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and even internationally.”
He emphasized the cohort’s learning experience with the final project, sharing “Coming together to work on the fundraiser was not just a one-time project, but also the foundation of teamwork and trust amongst the cohort members that will continue to develop as we move up in our professional careers and achieve personal milestones. We learned the importance of stewarding our relationships and professional connections, and giving back to our community.”
Lastly, AndyMike concluded his speech by highlighting the various transformations his fellow cohort members have gone through during the duration of the program, ranging from earning job promotions to becoming a parent. As he thanked the CAUSE staff, board members, and attending program speakers, he stated, “Our cohort are the emerging giants who will support future leaders.”
After the speech, AndyMike, along with the rest of the 2018 Leadership Institute cohort, presented the funds they collectively raised to Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California.
Patricia Kinaga, Chair and Co-Founder of APIDC, graciously accepted the check and remarked on the continuous need to support APAs with disabilities.
Afterwards, CAUSE Board Chair Charlie Woo shared his insightful thoughts on the nature of power and how the APA community must continue to empower each other.
Lastly, each fellow was invited to the stage for a photo as they were awarded a certificate for completing the Leadership Institute program. We look forward to what our 2018 Leadership Institute fellows will go on to accomplish in the future!