Asian American Leaders, Community Advocates Launch CAUSE Leadership Network (Balitang America)

LOS ANGELES — A diverse groups of Asian Americans have kicked off their latest installment of the Center for Asian Americans United for Empowerment, or CAUSE, program.

It’s a 26-year-old collective of Asian Americans finding ways to empower the fastest growing demographic in the US.

Over the years, CAUSE has helped push for civic engagement, while grooming future Asian American leaders.

Last year it held a gubernatorial debate.

Now in its second year, the CAUSE Leadership Network is made up of some 60 mostly Asian American members, representing different sectors from government to corporate, nonprofit, the legal community and media.

“The CAUSE Leadership Network was founded with the intention to increase representation at the executive leadership level, to foster cross-sector collaboration, to address community issues, to change the civic landscape in Southern California, to reflect the AAPI community, and lastly to support a network of members with personal and career development,” said director John Tang.

The members of the CLN met atop Los Angeles City Hall, where they got to hear from the leaders and keynote speaker Bill Wong Political Director for California’s State Assembly Democrats.

“So of the 60 plus members of the CAUSE Leadership Network, I am very surprised delighted and honored to be one of the newest members, so I look forward to seeing what we can do as BA in terms of helping empower the Asian American community. I also looking forward to hearing from the other Asian American community members, meeting with other people from different sectors different industries.”

Data from CAUSE shows in the US, about one out every 17 people is Asian American; however, the country’s most influential positions in both the private and public center lack the Asian American perspective.

“Despite our AAPI community being 6% of the country’s population we are nowhere near 6% of the leadership positions that are out there and in a region as diverse as Southern California, we are definitely more than 6% of the population, yet we are only 4% of the Fortune 500 board seats and 5% of foundation board seats and there aren’t even numbers tracking aapi leadership representation in other sectors,” said Jade Leung.

As CAUSE launches events, and workshops and looks to tackle non-partisan issues to benefit the Asian American community, the 26th annual CAUSE gala will take place next month in downtown Los Angeles, and looks to honor the high ranking Asian Kim Delevett of Southwest Airlines and Dr. Leana Wen Planned Parenthood Foundation of America.

廣結人脈 亞美政聯青年政治領袖交流 (World Journal)

亞美政聯鼓勵青年多參與公共事務，並藉此平台讓不同領域的亞太裔人士彼此認識，建立人脈。（記者林佩錦／攝影）

亞美政聯（CAUSE）於27日晚間在洛杉磯市政廳舉辦華裔青年政治領袖交流會。（記者林佩錦／攝影）

影音來源：記者林佩錦

亞美政聯（CAUSE）27日晚在洛杉磯市政廳舉辦華裔青年政治領袖交流會。鼓勵青年參與公共事務，藉此平台讓不同領域亞太裔人士彼此認識、建立人脈。加州民主黨委員會政治主任黃健安（Bill Wong）與來賓分享自己如何從新移民走到今天的歷程。

菲律賓裔公共事務委員Jessica Caloza表示，青年政治領袖交流會讓首次參加者，瞭解政府機關內部真實樣貌，也能近距離與官員交談，得到不同啟發。目前洛杉磯從事政治相關行業的亞太裔僅占6%，但族裔人口數遠遠大於此，希望更多亞太裔進入政治相關行業。

可口可樂公共關係主任彭國鋒(John Tang)表示，亞美政聯多年來致力培養亞太青年領袖，提升在美政治參與。當晚活動可凝結亞太裔社區力量，還有可能在未來職業生涯獲得更多機會。

黃健安指出，世界上有兩種人，一種人常常問為什麼(Ask why)，另一種人則只會想知道是誰問的(Ask who)。亞太裔成長背景讓我們習慣問為什麼，但我們必須要成為第二種人，因為政治領袖跟人有著特殊的連結。

黃健安說，自己是香港移民第一代，出身不高卻能走到今天職位，他手握2500萬元預算，這些權力能帶給別人很大影響。領導能力不是一種技能，而是當你找到個人魅力及特點，讓別人願意追隨你。「人生最重要的兩個時刻是出生的那天和你找到答案的那天。」

CAUSE to host “Meet the Network” Reception for the CAUSE Leadership Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Haidee Pan
Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone: (213) 269-4639
Email: haidee@causeusa.org

Who:

Kim Yamasaki
Executive Director, CAUSE

Bill Wong
Political Director, California Assembly Democrats

CAUSE Leadership Council

Lisa Thong (Chair)
Policy Consultant, API Forward Movement

Jessica Caloza
Director of Scheduling, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

Jade Leung
Attorney, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP 

Adam Ma
Community Relations, SoCalGas

John Tang
Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling

The Honorable Thomas Wong
Board President, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

CAUSE Leadership Network

Steve Angeles, Multimedia Journalist at ABS-CBN Global
Joseph Bernardo, Intercultural Affairs Associate at Loyola Marymount University
Shikha Bhatnagar, Executive Director of South Asian Network
Scott Chan, Director of API Forward Movement
Justin Ching, Producer at j-school
Ricky Choi, Public Affairs Project Manager at Lee Andrews Group
Anna Marie Cruz, Founder of Entrepinayship
Mike Fong, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations at the City of Los Angeles, Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Yoomee Ha
Jen Harris, Prevention Coordinator at Behavioral Health Services, Inc (CLI Alumni)
Tony Hoang, Managing Director at Equality California
Kelly Honda Takasu, Public Policy Manager at Alzheimer's Los Angeles
Lindsey Horowitz, Corps Member at Teach for America
Emi Kamemoto, Human Resources Executive at Creative Artists Agency
Steve Kang, Director of External Affairs at KYCC
Tae Kang, Special Projects at Harbor Freights Tools for Schools (CLI Alumni)
Stacia Kato, Vendor Management Consultant at Toyota Financial Services
Travis Kaya, Real Estate Associate at Venable LLP
Saurabh Kikani, Stand-Up Comedian
Sylvia Kim, Chief Innovation Officer at Asian Pacific Community Fund
Claire Kitayama, Director, Operations and Business Intelligence at United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Kavi Lal, Program Associate at the Annenberg Foundation
Connie Lee, Vice President at Citi Community Capital
Edward Lee, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at USC Keck School of Medicine
Olivia Lee, Public Policy Manager at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Jessica Lee, Co-Founder + Executive Director of The Spectrum Works
Kevin Lian, Executive Director of Pet Partners, California Chapter
Milton Liu, Director of Programs & Artist Services at Visual Communications
Samuel Liu, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of California State Senator Ben Allen
Henry Lo, Boardmember of Garvey School District
Jeff Maloney, Chief Staff Counsel at the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Andrew Murphy, Policy Deputy at the Office of LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia
Farzana Nayani, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Manazil Management, LLC
Stephanie Nitahara, Executive Director of Kizuna
Devin Osiri, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party
Gerrard Panahon, Senior Financial Analyst, FP&A NASA at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dora Quach, Development Manager at East West Players
Max Reyes, Senior Management Analyst at the City of Los Angeles
Emmanor Rigonan, Tax Attorney at US Tax Shield
James Roh, Chief Operating Officer of Transparent Arts
Miguel Sangalang, Deputy Mayor at the City of Los Angeles, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
Paul Seo, Deputy District Attorney at the LA County District Attorney's Office
Lawrence Shih, Board of Supervisor's Deputy at the LA County Dept of Public Social Services (Former Deputy District Director)
Justin Tandingan, Managing Director of Recruitment at Teach for America
Kenney Tran, Store Manager at Walmart
Elnie Vannatim, Director, Government & Public Affairs at 21st Century Fox
Michael Vuong, Legislative Analyst at California Contract Cities Association
Alton Wang
Melanie Yamamoto, Grants Associate at The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Bryant Yang, Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office
Nancy Yap, Director of Development at LEAP
Clayton Yeung, Director, Community Alliances, Events, & Engagement at Nielsen
John Yi, Executive Director of Los Angeles Walks

What: Meet the emerging impact makers who drive our collective APA community forward! The CAUSE Leadership Network is an invitation-only, membership program for next generation leaders to channel skills, expertise, and passion for cross-sector advancement and the empowerment of APA communities. Members are committed to creating space for and driving our collective APA community forward. 

When: Wednesday, March 27, 2019
6:00-8:00PM

Where: Los Angeles City Hall, Tom Bradley Tower
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

On-site parking is available via RSVP only. If you need a parking space, please add a "Parking RSVP" ticket through our Eventbrite registration (clnreception.eventbrite.com) and fill out the required information. Surrounding lots are also available at varying rates.

Why: The Reception will be an introduction of the CAUSE Leadership Network to the broader community. It will provide a platform of visibility for Network members for corporate executive officers, nonprofit executive directors, head-hunters, press, etc.

Interview Opportunities: 

Interviews may be conducted at the discretion of attending Leadership Council & Network members. For press-related inquiries, please email Haidee Pan, Director of Marketing & Communications, at haidee@causeusa.org.

Photo Opportunities:

1. Leadership Council members

2. Leadership Network members

3. Bill Wong (Keynote Speaker)

Dress code:

Business attire is appropriate.

About CAUSE

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based organization with a mission to advance the  political empowerment of the Asian Pacific American community through nonpartisan voter outreach, training, and education as well as leadership development.

For any further inquiries, please contact CAUSE via phone at (213) 269-4639 or email at info@causeusa.org. General information can be obtained from our website at www.causeusa.org. Our office is located at 1605 W. Olympic Boulevard, Suite #1027, Los Angeles, CA 90015.

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