2021 Fellows

Our program is highly selective and each member of our cohort is selected based on their leadership abilities, public service, and community involvement. Program fellows are identified by leading elected officials, select nonprofit partner organizations, CAUSE Board Members, and CAUSE Alumni.

Aileen FloresGovernment Relations Manager, Southern California Edison

Aileen Flores

Government Relations Manager, Southern California Edison

Ālaoi'a Moni PiliDirector, LE GaFa

Ālaoi'a Moni Pili

Director, LE GaFa

Amaris LeiatauaPrincipal Consultant and Founder, RIDA Consulting

Amaris Leiataua

Principal Consultant and Founder, RIDA Consulting

Andrew SaeternManagement Consultant, Accenture LLP

Andrew Saetern

Management Consultant, Accenture LLP

 
Angela (Angie) ChangChief Strategy Officer, KCAL Insurance Agency | National Chair, ACE NextGen

Angela (Angie) Chang

Chief Strategy Officer, KCAL Insurance Agency | National Chair, ACE NextGen

Angela YipSenior District Representative, Office of Senator Nancy Skinner; Executive Director, AAMPLIFY

Angela Yip

Senior District Representative, Office of Senator Nancy Skinner; Executive Director, AAMPLIFY

Angie ShawChinese-American Constituency Organizer, DCCC

Angie Shaw

Chinese-American Constituency Organizer, DCCC

Annie Yea ChenDirector of Government Relations & Advocacy, California State University, Fullerton

Annie Yea Chen

Director of Government Relations & Advocacy, California State University, Fullerton

 
Ayana GalaceField Representative, Office of Assemblymember Rob Bonta (AD-18)

Ayana Galace

Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Rob Bonta (AD-18)

Catherine VillaverdeExecutive Assistant, Working Partnerships USA

Catherine Villaverde

Executive Assistant, Working Partnerships USA

Cindy LeeVice President, Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP-LA) and Founder, Dreamers Corners

Cindy Lee

Vice President, Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP-LA) and Founder, Dreamers Corners

Connie Kim ChanLegislative Analyst, Office of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma

Connie Kim Chan

Legislative Analyst, Office of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma

 
Douglas YangAssociate, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Douglas Yang

Associate, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Janet McIntyreVP of Programs & Training, Executive Service Corps of Southern CA (ESC)

Janet McIntyre

VP of Programs & Training, Executive Service Corps of Southern CA (ESC)

Jason KhooFounder & CEO, Zupo

Jason Khoo

Founder & CEO, Zupo

Jason SongAssurance Manager, EY

Jason Song

Assurance Manager, EY

 
Jazmin GarciaPrevention Specialist III, Koreatown Youth and Community Center

Jazmin Garcia

Prevention Specialist III, Koreatown Youth and Community Center

Jen Chiou 趙燕妮Founder, CodeSpeak Labs

Jen Chiou 趙燕妮

Founder, CodeSpeak Labs

Jessica ChangTransaction Enablement Manager

Jessica Chang

Transaction Enablement Manager

Kathleen SorianoLegislative Analyst, State Government Relations, University of Southern California

Kathleen Soriano

Legislative Analyst, State Government Relations, University of Southern California

 
Marlena TruongPresident, National Women's Political Caucus of Orange County

Marlena Truong

President, National Women's Political Caucus of Orange County

Moises AglipayDistrict Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson

Moises Aglipay

District Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson

Melissa ApuyaDistrict Director, Office of Assemblymember Marc Levine

Melissa Apuya

District Director, Office of Assemblymember Marc Levine

Nira SinghDirector of Behavioral Health, Asian Americans for Community Involvement

Nira Singh

Director of Behavioral Health, Asian Americans for Community Involvement

 
Michelle KuangAttorney, Covington & Burling and Deputy Director, AAMPLIFY

Michelle Kuang

Attorney, Covington & Burling and Deputy Director, AAMPLIFY

Rajan GillFarmer, Gill Ranches; Professor of History, Yuba College

Rajan Gill

Farmer, Gill Ranches; Professor of History, Yuba College

Sarah LeePrevention Specialist, Koreatown Youth & Community Center

Sarah Lee

Prevention Specialist, Koreatown Youth & Community Center

D. Stephen PhamDirector, Organizational Learning, The Learning Accelerator

D. Stephen Pham

Director, Organizational Learning, The Learning Accelerator

 
 
Van Thi LeEast Side Board Trustee and Business Woman

Van Thi Le

East Side Board Trustee and Business Woman

 

The Experience

Saturday Sessions
Graduation: Both the End of a Chapter and the Beginning of Another
Graduation: Both the End of a Chapter and the Beginning of Another
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Creating a Community Impact Plan: Empowering Change and Personal Growth (CLI 2023 Week 10)
"Arc of a Campaign" (CLI 2023 Week 8 Recap)
"Arc of a Campaign" (CLI 2023 Week 8 Recap)
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"Women in Power" (CLI 2023 Week 6 Recap)
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"Anti-Asian Hate" (CLI 2023 Week 4 Recap)
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"Hero's Journey" (CLI 2023 Week 3 Recap)
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"API Civic Engagement" (CLI 2023 Week 2 Recap)
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"What It Means to be Asian American" (CLI 2023 Week 1 Recap)
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“Orientation” (CLI 2023 Kick-Off Recap)

Read Leadership Institute Fellow Peter Kim’s experiences at the CLI 2023 Kick-Off.

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“The One Where People Won’t Quiet the F Down” aka Reconnection: A 2022 Summer Soirée
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Soirée Reflections from CLI Alumni, Ada Tsui
SESSION #7: LA MAYOR

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, April 13, CAUSE held the seventh session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

POD #6: POD TRACK INTRODUCTIONS

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, April 6, CAUSE held the sixth pod meeting of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom. Pod meetings are a newly developed component of the program that focuses on building community among the cohort and deepening conversations.

SESSION #6: DATA DISAGGREGATION

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, March 30, CAUSE held the sixth session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

POD #5: CLOSEOUT PART 1

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, March 23, CAUSE held the fifth pod meeting of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom. Pod meetings are a newly developed component of the program that focuses on building community among the cohort and deepening conversation

SESSION #5: Redistricting Process

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, March 16, CAUSE held the fifth session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

POD #4: Networking with CAUSE

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, March 9, CAUSE held the fourth pod meeting of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom. Pod meetings are a newly developed component of the program that focuses on building community among the cohort and deepening conversations.

SESSION #4: Anti-Asian Hate

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, March 2, CAUSE held the fourth session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

POD #3: 1-Minute Story

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, February 23, CAUSE held the third session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom. Pod meetings are a newly developed component of the program that focuses on building community among the cohort and deepening conversations.

SESSION #3: Civic Engagement and the APA Community in LA

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, February 16, CAUSE held the third session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

POD #2: Storytelling

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, February 9th, CAUSE held the second pod meeting of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually. Pod meetings are a newly developed component of the program that focuses on building community among the cohort and deepening conversations.

SESSION #2: Tri-sector Civic Impact

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, February 2nd, CAUSE held the second session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

POD #1: Life Maps

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, January 26th, CAUSE hosted the first virtual pod meeting of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute. Pod meetings are a newly developed component of the program that focuses on building group connections and deepening conversation.

SESSION #1: Introduction

Los Angeles, CA -- On Wednesday, January 19th, CAUSE virtually hosted the kick-off session of the 2022 CAUSE Leadership Institute.

SESSION #11: Creating Our Paths: Women In Power
SESSION #11: Creating Our Paths: Women In Power

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, August 11th, CAUSE held the eleventh session of the 2021 Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom.

SESSION #10: Risk Taking
SESSION #10: Risk Taking

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, July 28th, CAUSE held the tenth session of the 2021 Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom. Led by Nancy Yap, CAUSE Executive Director, and Alison De La Cruz, an Executive Arts Leader, a Cultural Organizer, a Multi-Disciplinary Theater Artist, and the Co-Artistic Director of Outside in Theatre, this session focused on exploring risk-taking with the CLI Fellows.

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SESSION #9: Storytelling

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, July 14th, CAUSE held the ninth session of the 2021 Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom, featuring Alison De La Cruz.

SESSION #8: Listening
SESSION #8: Listening

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, June 30th, CAUSE hosted the eighth session of the 2021 CAUSE Leadership Institute (CLI) virtually on Zoom, with a focus on developing Reflective Listening skills. This session was led by CAUSE’s Program Director, Steve Lin.

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SESSION #7: Creating Our Paths: Up Close and Personal with Elected Leaders

Creating Our Paths explored the paths created by trailblazing California political leaders Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Controller Betty Yee through individual interviews with CAUSE leaders. This event was also a part of the CAUSE Leadership Institute, allowing the CLI fellows to interact directly with the elected leaders.

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SESSION #6: Campaign Mechanics

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, June 2nd, CAUSE held the sixth session of the 2021 Leadership Institute virtually on Zoom, featuring Senior Political Advisor and Consultant Bill Wong.


The 2021 Leadership Institute is Supported by