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.
Join CAUSE in welcoming fifteen (15) exceptional interns to the 2025 CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA)!
Continuing CAUSE’s longest-running program, the CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) is a nine-week, paid internship that equips college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community on their campuses and beyond.
Interns gain valuable in-person office experience through placements at government offices while deepening their understanding of the unique challenges facing California’s API community and exploring ways to become civically engaged across multiple sectors.
This year's cohort features 15 exceptional students from 14 different universities. Introducing the 2025 CLA cohort and their assigned host internship offices:
Stephanie Ahorro
Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles
Office of CA Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (Assembly District 57)
Kyle Ching
USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles
Office of LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado (Council District 14)
Jordan (JJ) Halili Dove
University of California, Riverside
Office of CA State Senator Ben Allen (Senate District 24)
Paolo Estrella
American University
Office of CA Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (Assembly District 52)
Natalie Glezen
University of California, San Diego
Office of U.S. Senator Adam Schiff
Imani Lee
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Office of US Congressman Jimmy Gomez (Congressional District 34)
Joyce Li
University of California, Los Angeles
Office of LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis (Supervisorial District 1)
Zhe Shan (Esther) Lian
Northwestern University
Office of CA Assemblymember Mike Fong (Assembly District 49)
Rachel Nguyen
University of California, Los Angeles
CA Governor’s Office of External Affairs
Sarah Park
University of California, Berkeley
Office of US Congresswoman Judy Chu (Congressional District 28)
Jonathan Silverman
Princeton University
Office of LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath (Supervisorial District 3)
Ellie Ta
Georgetown University
Office of US Congressman Derek Tran (Congressional District 45)
Dulasi Tennakoon
Willamette University
Office of US Congressman Ted Lieu (Congressional District 36)
Joanna Yeh
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, External Affairs
Zackary Yen
Emory University
Office of CA State Senator Sasha Renee Perez (Senate District 25)
We’re excited to share their journeys and experiences with you. Follow along for upcoming blog updates and recap posts!
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 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.
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