It was 5 a.m. The very crack of dawn, and I was preparing to board a plane to the famed city of Sacramento. We were groggy and exhausted, each running on 5-6 hours of sleep, but there was an underlying excitement. Once we landed, we were ushered into Sacramento, empty due to the summer recess which meant the usual hubbub of the city had slowed to a crawl. It was a great time exploring the city together and learning about the Capitol’s history. It’s certainly a worry, and as I’ve developed and grown as a person, I’ve grown to like the bustle of cities and the fast-paced life. For my career, I want to continually work in communities and focus on community engagement, and staying in contact with constituents that I’m serving. For me, effective policy relies on listening to people, and during the workshops at Sacramento, there feels like a lack of connection between the districts they are serving. Overall, working at a district office has given me more insight into issues of homelessness, and lack of affordable housing, which I know would be helpful in creating legislation.
CLA Intern William Chao introducing himself during a session.
Luckily for us, Steve and Shanahan had arranged meetings with staffers and others who were well-versed in the world of Sacramento politics. These people were all connected to CAUSE, previous CLA alumni, Shanahan’s fellow cohort members, and other prominent leaders working to expand AAPI representation in these spaces, which are often dominated by older white men. The interns were super helpful in explaining their transition, and how their internships and fellowships got them into the capitol building. Their advice was also useful too, and they explained how important it was to do outside research and just continually ask questions. You’ll be surprised how few people read the bills they're talking about!
Erika Ngo and Charmaine Mills are legislative directors, who help dictate policy and listen to lobbyists, organizations, and consultants about how they should best fight for change. One thing that drew me to their work was how their day-to-day lives were never the same. Their days were chock full of problem-solving, adhering to their respective members, research, and coordinating legislative aids. Seeing them talk about their journey was inspiring, and how they successfully paved the way for other AAPI members. Allison Lim was Chief of Staff for Alex Lee, who represents the 25th Assembly district which comprises Fremont, my hometown. Sophia Kwong Kim was also a Chief of Staff, and I learned that their role was much more about management, and keeping the team on track, and less related to the legislative side, which I prefer. Another thing that was insightful was how being a chief of staff or someone in a leadership role means that you often don’t have weekends and have to stay late nights.
Another important experience was going around old town Sacramento, and CLA Intern Erika showing off her hometown of Davis. We sat by the river, enjoying freshly baked beignets caked with powdered sugar enjoying each other’s company. It was nice, I could get used to that. Overall the experience was a great peak behind the doors of the Capitol, and it made me motivated to work in this field because it feels like there’s a good amount of Asian American representation. Even so, there’s still work to be done, and I think contributing to the cause is important in passing effective legislation that fixes many of the issues that our community faces. Most importantly, the trip was a good bonding experience. I felt closer to my cohort, more understanding of their work styles, their idiosyncrasies, and their passions.
The Policy Team: Kenny Lê, Liam Chia, and William Chao
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 William Chao, 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.