The Communications Team: Olivia Diaz Anderson and Erika Au
As embarrassing as it sounds as a UC Davis student, I have never been to the Capitol building. Despite hyping up the trip to my fellow interns and exclaiming about how I was ‘going home’, I realized that I knew very little about:
1) Sacramento
2) State Government
3) Good Asian restaurants to eat at
This week was a week of growth, new understanding, and optimism. The disconnect between living in Davis and being familiar with Sacramento is emblematic of my disconnect between my understanding of American politics and Governance. Growing up in Singapore and Malaysia, I was never involved in politics because the government systems are very isolating for younger populations, not to mention girls. Moving to the U.S changed my perspective on civic engagement, advocacy, and making political change. My revelations, however, were constricted to national-level politics. With my American political knowledge expanding exclusively in the federal context, I never considered the local or state level as I progressed through high school. In a way, this is primarily because I never pictured myself or saw AAPI representation in my state and local government.
CLA Interns on the Assembly floor.
Being at CAUSE, however, has changed my perspective on everything. Before the Capitol Summit, we focused a lot on City Council and local government. As we met with Mayors, Councilmembers, and public servants, I had a better grasp of the local impact on communities and how intimate leadership significantly influenced civic engagement and service. Going to the Capitol, however, has introduced me to a whole different layer of government- the state. Even as I read through my fellow intern’s host office placements before CLA, I was unsure of what an Assemblymember or State Senator was and what they accomplished. After meeting with various levels of staffers in the Capitol, I learned that work at the Capitol is just as on-the-ground and impactful as city government. Compared to federal, things move quickly and your team is smaller and has more autonomy in how it functions. I appreciated meeting with CAUSE Alumni, APICA board members, legislative aids, legislative directors, Chiefs of Staff, and more people who offered invaluable support and advice to my cohort and me. It brought a whole new perspective to me, as I never thought I would be interested in the public sphere in America. While I still have a lot to learn and consider, I am extremely thankful that CAUSE broadened my perception of not just systems, but also how I conceptualize my own capacity and change-making abilities.
Just like the sobering realization that Sacramento is clearly not ‘my city’ (despite claiming it every chance I got simply to annoy other interns), the recognition that I had a lot to learn before making career choices also made me grateful for the opportunities that CAUSE and CLA have given me. Before I claim anything as mine, I have to reflect on what's missing and overlooked. Just like in intersectional studies, I should not leave out contexts and chances to relearn. It was a great discovery to realize that there is always leeway to take matters into my own hands and educate myself in areas I feel insecure in.
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 Erika Au, 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.