When I received my bachelor's degree from UCLA in June, the only thing I knew was that I would be joining CAUSE for the next nine weeks. I didn’t know what to expect, however what I gained was a new sense of confidence, a community of amazing individuals, and a greater understanding of our AANHPI community and my place within it.
I often reflect on the “butterfly effect" moments that have occurred in my life; the seemingly small choices or coincidences that have led to profound changes. This internship is a prime example.
As each of the nine weeks of our internship passed, I felt myself developing skills and knowledge through my placement office at LA County First District Supervisor Hilda Solis’ Office and through CAUSE’s cohort sessions.
I often face difficulties coming up with answers for this icebreaker because my facial expressions always reveal my true feelings. So when I released the waterworks in front of the CAUSE board members during graduation, it was clear that I was not ready to say goodbye and close this chapter in my life.
As my time at CAUSE comes to a close, I reflect on the lessons I've learned about family, trust, and the collective power of API communities. CAUSE has not only deepened my understanding of civic engagement but also has reinforced the importance of prioritizing being rooted in community and centering our hearts in the work we do.
For this week’s civic leadership session, we were able to hear from panels of speakers from the healthcare and non-profit fields, both areas that I am greatly interested and passionate about. The healthcare panel revealed to me the intricate difficulties that come with trying to service a community as complex and diverse as the Asian American community.
This week, I felt very privileged to have the opportunity to research the cannabis market this week for State Treasurer John Chiang, who is assisting the establishment of a state bank for the regulated cannabis market. To one of my friends, they would probably say that since its legalization in California, all forms are cannabis are now legal. However, the policy implications are very different and not nearly that simple.
The Office of Assemblymember Santiago is situated very close to Grand Central Market. District 53 represents Boyle Heights, and one of the staffers at the office reminisced that Grand Central Market “was a completely different place fifteen years ago”. Gentrification is a huge issue in Downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
This week, my placement in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti proved to be yet another week of learning and understanding. Between working on asset mapping with fellow interns, organizing a civic education workshop for Asian Pacific Islander community leaders, working at the Mayor’s Help Desk, touring the Dodgers Stadium, and picking up whatever day-to-day tasks needed to be completed, I came across a multitude of individuals throughout the city working to better their lives or others’.
When it came time to accept an internship for this summer, I had the fortunate difficulty of choosing between two amazing opportunities. The first was to continue working within the student veteran community, which I had been dabbling in over the last four years, or to accept an internship with the CAUSE Leadership Academy, which I had zero ties to.
For the third week of the Leadership Academy program, I had the opportunity to visit Sacramento for the first time with my cohort. I had a great time taking obligatory tourist photos in front of the Capitol building and bonding with my cohort through our plane ride and strolls in Capitol park. But most importantly, I felt so inspired after seeing so many Asian Americans in elected positions and legislative staff, giving hope that maybe one day I can also work in politics.
“Do things with intention.” This is a saying that I’ve always assumed that I’ve instinctively lived by in my work. It’s natural to believe that everyone thinks of themselves as intentional actors. Nevertheless, this first week as a CAUSE intern has challenged me to re-examine my actions with a new critical lens.
Without any context, the idea of spending three whole days with a group of strangers that you’ve just met at a giant AirBnB house in Indio might not sound like an ideal getaway. For me, even just the intense 110F+ degree heat is enough of a reason to not to go on such a trip. However, if it’s for the CAUSE Leadership Academy, it all becomes worth it.
