Our trip to the Capitol Summit was a journey of many realizations, many firsts, and many new thoughts. As we delved into the various avenues of change-making and policy-making–whether that be on the local grassroots, state, or even federal level–I felt like I was uncovering a whole new world of novel possibilities.
To begin, getting involved in state-level policy work has always been something that I never imagined myself doing. I grew up with this notion that politics was a distant realm that probably wasn't for someone who looked like me. It was an area of work that I feared would not welcome me; so for a long time, I chose to shy away from it. However, meeting the fantastic CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) Alums who are now making waves and advocating for our community within the Capitol was genuinely uplifting. I enjoy listening to each of their unique stories on how they found themselves in this line of work, particularly in the legislative sector.
Learning about State Capitol Fellowship programs, such as the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (APICA) Fellowship, gave me hope that there is an existing pipeline for Asian American Pacific Islanders in politics. I felt more optimistic that this is a career I can pursue if I really wanted it. Furthermore, hearing from folks like Bill Wong (award-winning political strategist) and Sophia Kwong Kim (Chief of Staff for State Assemblymember Mike Fong), who are real powerhouses in API politics, crystalized my understanding that (1) our community deserves a spot a the table, and (2) we’ve got what it takes to not just be there, but to thrive, flourish, and excel within it.
Our cohort had the opportunity to tour the State Capitol in Sacramento. Here we got a glimpse of what it is like to have a seat at the table.
That said, this trip has made my passion for advocacy and civic engagement feel so much more real and tangible. What once felt like a reach, now feels like something I can actually achieve. And although I am still unsure if legislation is for me, my outlook on working in Sacramento on the state level has shifted from a "never on my radar" to a "maybe, just maybe."
So Post-Capitol Summit trip, my playing field feels so much more extensive and open. I am excited to explore all the different ways I can instill change in our society and better advocate for the communities that matter to me. As Bill Wong said in our API Pipeline to Politics Session,
"No mistake is too fatal. You either win or you learn."
Bill Wong is an award-winning political consultant with over 30 years of experience working for state legislators, candidates, political action committees, labor organizations, non-profit organizations, and large-scale employers.
With seven weeks under my belt, I can confidently say that CLA has provided me with a wealth of amazing opportunities. Through CLA, I got to peek into the world of nonprofits with AJSOCAL and get a taste of what it's like to organize and advocate on the local and statewide levels. I also got to see the inner workings of both legislative and electoral offices within the public sector.
But most importantly, through this academy, I have won myself a fantastic cohort of friends that I am consistently inspired by and look forward to staying in touch with post-academy. On top of that, I have won an endless network of amazing mentors, including Steve Lin and Shanahan Europa, who have wholeheartedly and seamlessly run our academy. As well as my host office supervisor, Benjamin Tran, who has shown me what it means to internally and externally advocate for the greater API community in California and beyond.
So similar to Bill’s words, life is a mix of winning and learning. But with CLA, I got the best of both worlds. I learned and I won; and regardless of what my future holds, I am ready to pay it forward.
CLA 2023 Cohort standing in front of the State Capitol Building, ready to set forth and embark on our journeys in civic engagement and advocacy work.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Andrea Mac, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.