Our internship is highly selective and each intern is selected based on their demonstrated academic and personal excellence, demonstrated leadership capabilities, and a commitment to serving their community.

Kyle Ching

Incoming J.D. Candidate, USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles

Internship Placement: Office of LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado (Council District 14)

Kyle Ching graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and will begin his studies at the USC Gould School of Law this fall as a J.D. candidate. He plans to focus on housing, tax, and real estate law, driven by a passion for addressing the housing affordability crisis affecting both his hometown of Honolulu and the city of Los Angeles.

During his time at USC, Kyle served as Culture Night Director for the Nikkei Student Union, where he partnered with Little Tokyo organizations including Terasaki Budokan, the Go For Broke National Education Center, the Little Tokyo Historical Society, and the Japanese American National Museum to educate students about gentrification and highlight community-driven solutions. He also served as Community Chair for the Asian Pacific American Student Assembly, representing over 20,000 AAPI students. In this role, he supported student organizations and helped organize over thirty service projects to raise money for LA wildfire relief and give back to the neighboring community around USC.

Kyle’s professional experience includes serving as a Development Intern at the Urban Land Institute of Hawaiʻi, where he engaged residents on a proposed development in Kapolei. He also interned for Hawaiʻi State Senator Stanley Chang, conducting policy research on affordable housing and tenant protection legislation for the Senate Housing Committee.

Paolo Estrella

Rising Third-Year, American University

Internship Placement: Office of CA Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (Assembly District 52)

Paolo Estrella (he/him) is a rising third year at American University majoring in Political Science, with a concentration in American Government and a minor in Economics. As a Mexican-Filipino American raised in Claremont, Paolo’s passion for political advocacy in government and on the streets stems from his experiences organizing in and for unique communities and his desire to empower historically underrepresented voices in policymaking.

On campus, Paolo serves as President of the Philippine American Coalition, where he has helped lead advocacy efforts for the Philippine Human Rights Act and build coalitional networks across Filipino advocacy groups in Washington D.C. He is also the Director of External Relations for the Southeast Asian Student Network, and an organizer of events for his University’s Political Theory Institute which promotes discussion by faculty, the national and international political theory community, and policy makers on the problems confronting liberal democracies. In D.C. communities, he volunteers for Horton's Kids Youth Development and Martha’s Table Food Bank Services.

Paolo’s experiences as a campaign and community outreach intern with the office of Congressman Jimmy Gomez, where he worked on constituent services, immigration casework, and outreach has helped to cement his goal of embedding himself within the fabric of California State Politics. He recently led a student polling research project examining the political repercussions of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires on party alignment and climate opinion as well as spoke at a large-scale protest during Donald Trump’s inauguration on the value of widespread education and migrant rights.

Ultimately, Paolo hopes to work in community-based policy, with plans to attend law school and continue building pathways for all people to have their voices heard in government.

Natalie Glezen

Recent Graduate, University of California, San Diego

Internship Placement: Office of U.S. Senator Adam Schiff

Natalie Glezen (she/her) is a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego, earning a B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy. Growing up in Los Angeles in a household with Indian and Caribbean influences, she views her upbringing as a reflection of cross-cultural understanding and community building, principles that she incorporates into her work. At UC San Diego, Natalie served as the Political Action Coordinator for the Asian & Pacific-Islander Student Alliance (APSA), where she led voter registration efforts in partnership with APIAVote during the 2022 general election. Recognizing gaps in AAPI outreach, she organized five civic engagement events—including ballot education workshops and phone banking—registering over 75 voters and helping 20+ students submit absentee ballots.

As a Resident Assistant at Eleanor Roosevelt College, Natalie built inclusive communities for over 160 students. She planned large-scale cultural events such as a Diwali-Halloween fusion celebration and a Lunar New Year festival with over 300 combined attendees. She also co-facilitated a post-election reflection space to support students affected by anti-immigrant rhetoric and organized a Know Your Rights workshop on ICE interactions.

In 2024, Natalie interned for Dr. Darshana Patel’s campaign for California State Assembly (AD-76), canvassing 200+ voters in North County San Diego. She spoke with families about housing, education, and healthcare, using these policy bridges to elect the first Hindu woman to California’s legislature. This summer, she is excited to continue her advocacy in her home county of Los Angeles.

Imani Lee

Rising Third-Year, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Internship Placement: Office of US Congressman Jimmy Gomez (Congressional District 34)

Imani Lee (she/her) is a rising third-year student at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo majoring in Psychology with a minor in Political Science and a Pre-Law Certificate. Born and raised in Hacienda Heights, California, she is deeply committed to public service, equity, and advocacy, particularly in the areas of environmental justice and civic engagement. As a proud Filipina and African American woman, Imani has always been passionate about uplifting communities of color through justice-oriented policy and community action.

During her last semester, Imani served as an intern at the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, where she supported legal staff with document management and operational tasks, strengthening her understanding of the legal system and furthering her passion for justice reform. In addition, Imani was selected for the Purple Maiʻa Food+ Policy Internship, where she tracked bills and conducted research on legislation supporting food security to advance policies rooted in Indigenous food sovereignty and sustainability across Hawai’i. She also volunteers with the Hawai’i Food Basket, working firsthand on assembly lines to package and distribute food towards alleviating hunger and food insecurity among underserved communities on the island. Imani is also active on campus as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, while also balancing rigorous time and physical demands as a Division II volleyball player. She is beyond ecstatic to use the CLA program to deepen her understanding of public policy and continue advocating for marginalized communities with clarity and compassion.

Joyce Li

Recent Graduate, University of California, Los Angeles

Internship Placement: Office of LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis (Supervisorial District 1)

Joyce Li (she/her) is a recent graduate from UCLA with a major in Psychology and a minor in Society and Genetics. As a first-generation college student passionate about the intersection of science, health, and equity, she is committed to using research and policy to address health disparities in underserved communities.

On campus, she conducts research through UCLA’s Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab and was selected for the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program to conduct an independent research project on human-AI interaction. She is also active in public health education and policy, having served as a fellow in the Health Disparities Think Tank, where she researched gambling legislation and drafted policy materials shared with lawmakers.

Her professional experience includes regulatory work at L.A. Care Health Plan, where she supported compliance projects and analyzed legislation to help interpret healthcare regulations. She has also worked as a summer camp science instructor for elementary students, emphasizing accessibility in STEM education.

Outside the classroom, she directed the modern performance team for UCLA’s Korean Culture Night and volunteered with VITA to assist low-income taxpayers. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in health law or public policy to advocate for equitable systems and structural change.

Zhe Shan (Esther) Lian

Rising Third-Year, Northwestern University

Internship Placement: Office of CA Assemblymember Mike Fong (Assembly District 49)

Esther Lian (she/her) is a rising third-year at Northwestern University, double majoring in Journalism and Asian American Studies with a minor in Legal Studies. Her immigration from Singapore to Southern California at the age of 10 inculcated in her a commitment to ensuring all immigrants, regardless of race, nationality, or socioeconomic background, are treated with dignity and respect.

Esther is the President and Co-Founder of Journalists in Law, a growing organization that supports Northwestern students exploring the intersection of law and media. She also serves as a section editor for nuAZN, Northwestern’s Asian interest magazine, and as Head of Marketing for Red Dot NU, the Singaporean Student Association. In addition, Esther is a Resident Advisor to over 50 first-year students and choreographs and dances with Northwestern’s Refresh Dance Crew in her free time.

Off campus, Esther is a member of the Immigrant Justice Working Group at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, where she has led Know Your Rights presentations for undocumented immigrants and poll-watched to protect language access for non-English-speaking voters. She also works as a research assistant with the Chicago Covenants Project, leading a team of volunteers to uncover and document racially restrictive covenants in historical land records.

Esther has previously interned at Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles, where she assisted low-income, self-represented litigants with evictions, domestic violence, restraining orders, and other civil matters. The opportunity to offer critical Mandarin language assistance to more than 150 monolingual litigants was transformative. Esther carries the stories of the litigants whom she has worked with as a constant reminder of why she pursues the intersection between law, policy and journalism — to be a voice for those who need it most and to ensure that justice is accessible to all.

Rachel Nguyen

Rising Fourth-Year, University of California, Los Angeles

Internship Placement: CA Governor’s Office of External Affairs

Rachel Nguyễn (she/her) is a rising fourth year at Pomona College, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Analysis with concentrations in Economics and Asian American Studies. Born and raised in Chicago’s Little Vietnam, she takes pride in her community’s culture and people and simultaneously acknowledges the complex history of segregation that gave rise to her ethnic enclave and, consequently, results in their disparate outcomes. As a result, she is passionate about educational access, financial inclusion, and trauma-informed memory and archival work. As a youth organizer, her past and present projects include deconstructing anti-Blackness and facilitating BIPOC solidarity through linguistic translations of political education resources, equalizing educational access and experience across the Chicago Public Schools system, and providing BIPOC artists a social platform and financial means to share their untold stories.

Rachel finds joy in her various capacities on campus: scholar, artist, and student leader. Through her linoleum prints, she traces the stories outside of the U.S. empire’s dominant narrative and develops healing, reclamatory, and liberatory Asian-American counter-narratives. This is informed by her involvement with the Asian-American Mentorship Program and the Vietnamese Student Association, both of which foster radical love, empathy, and solidarity. Additionally, she is the incoming President of the First-Generation Low-Income Scholars—the largest affinity group at Pomona College—where she aims to expand institutional advocacy and student-led mutual aid.

Grounded in her lived experience and guided by her communities, Rachel intends to pursue a career in public service to imagine sustainable, liberated futures across the issue areas of education, economic development, and immigrant justice. In the meantime, you can find Rachel painting her friends’ nails in her dorm-turned-nail-salon, curating Spotify playlists to accompany her daily crossword, or finding the perfect pairing to a roasted sweet potato.

Sarah Park

Rising Fourth-Year, University of California, Berkeley

Internship Placement: Office of US Congresswoman Judy Chu (Congressional District 28)

Sarah Park (she/her) is a rising fourth-year at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Music. Born and raised in Orange County, California, Sarah has been surrounded by a strong AAPI community and has learned the importance of amplifying the community’s voices on important issues and advocating for meaningful change. Through her experience, she wants to create substantive change for her community.

On campus, Sarah is a Director in the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) Office of Communication. She oversees social media and design initiatives, where the main goal is to amplify student voices. She has worked to bring awareness about voting, campus resources, and diversity issues to make student government more engaging and accessible to the UC Berkeley community. In addition, Sarah has involved herself in student activism, showing her passion for social advocacy. Recently, she participated in the Rally to Defend Our University to support students and faculty and speak out against federal research funding cuts.

Previously, Sarah interned at The Long Beach Superior Courthouse Self-Help Center, where she assisted litigants seeking legal advice on issues such as housing, domestic violence, paternity orders, and family law services. This opportunity allowed her to serve a diverse community, listen to their stories, and gain first-hand experience of systemic issues and the reforms needed in order to better serve these communities.

Through the CAUSE Leadership Academy, Sarah hopes to expand her knowledge and experience on different types of public service while working alongside other passionate individuals. She looks forward to giving back to her community and deepening her passion for change, advocacy, and public service.

Jonathan Silverman

Rising Fourth-Year, Princeton University

Internship Placement: Office of LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath (Supervisorial District 3)

Jonathan Silverman (he/they) is from Potomac, Maryland. Jonathan is currently a rising senior at Princeton University studying Politics with a concentration in American racial and bureaucratic policy and minoring in Gender & Sexuality Studies. On campus, he is the president of Princeton in Hollywood, the vice president of the Pride Alliance, an intern at the Gender + Sexuality Resource Center, and a Front of House Manager at the Lewis Center for the Arts. In addition, Jonathan is the Deputy Communications Director for the College Democrats of New Jersey. In his free time, he enjoy practicing MMA, playing the violin, and visiting art museums.

Ellie Ta

Rising Second-Year, Georgetown University

Internship Placement: Office of US Congressman Derek Tran (Congressional District 45)

Ellie Ta is a rising second-year at Georgetown University majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Economics. From Cerritos, CA, Ellie grew up with a strong sense of cultural community, shared responsibility, and civic awareness—values that continue to shape her approach to public service and systems-level change.

At Georgetown, she competes on the university’s Moot Court team, where she explores constitutional law through oral argument. Moot court has fueled her passion for policy work rooted in argumentation, clarity, and persuasion; she hopes to further develop these skills during her time with CAUSE. She also served as a leader for FOCI (First-Year Orientation to Community Involvement), facilitating conversations with incoming students around identity, justice, and community engagement. Participating in FOCI as a first-year herself also pushed her to reflect more deeply on her own identity and connection to service—something she hadn’t fully considered growing up in a predominantly Asian American community—sparking a desire to explore the role of AAPI advocacy and local power structures in the future.

Through working with CAUSE and Congressman Derek Tran’s Office, Ellie is excited to deepen her understanding of civic leadership, learn from changemakers in her community, and contribute to CLA’s cohort of advocates and leaders

Dulasi Tennakoon

Recent Graduate, WIllamette University

Internship Placement: Office of US Congressman Ted Lieu (Congressional District 36)

Dulasi Tennakoon is a recent graduate of Willamette University in Oregon, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Policy, Law, and Ethics with highest honors, along with a minor in Sociology. She also holds a second Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tokyo International University in Japan. Having been born and raised in Sri Lanka and pursued higher education in both Japan and the United States, Dulasi brings a rich and diverse global perspective to her work, particularly in community development and advocacy for the API community.

She has held a variety of impactful roles, including working closely with the former mayor of Salem, Oregon, on research related to economic development and youth engagement. Her work included a comprehensive project analyzing state-level Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs across all 50 states and creating a proposal to establish a Youth Liaison position in Salem’s city government. In the Oregon State Capitol, she served as a legislative intern for House Representative Paul Evans, conducting policy research and drafting one-pagers on priority bills related to public safety, education, emergency management, and veterans' affairs, earning recognition for her clarity and thoroughness.

As a Resident Advisor and an active member of the South Asian Student Union, Dulasi has consistently promoted cultural diversity and inclusion through community programming and advocacy. She also served as a research assistant in the International Relations department at Tokyo International University, focusing on U.S. foreign policy in South Asia. Back in Sri Lanka, she founded a youth-led initiative called 'The Youngsters', which focuses on empowering underserved children by providing access to youth development and educational opportunities.

Her diplomatic experience includes internships with both the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan and the Embassy of Russia in Sri Lanka, where she supported cultural and foreign affairs initiatives. Inspired by her experiences across multiple countries and cultures, Dulasi is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities, particularly those from the AAPI community. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career in diplomacy and global advocacy.

Joanna Yeh

Recent Graduate, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Internship Placement: CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, External Affairs

An aspiring organizer, scholar, and artist, Joanna Yeh (she/her) is a recent graduate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), where she earned her undergraduate degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and Political Science.

Joanna developed a passion for advocacy through the grassroots organizing communities at UNC where she focused on Asian American activism and establishing an Asian American Studies program at the flagship university. Most recently, Joanna’s work with the UNC Students for Asian American Studies includes directing the Triangle-Area Asian American Conference (TAASCON), teaching a university course on queer Asian American coming-of-age and kinship ties, and engaging with community organizing on UNC’s campus. Joanna’s work in academia and in her communities aims to make critical conversations accessible and applicable to all members of society, empowering intersectional narratives, resisting institutional apathy, and embodying the memories of the Asian American feminists before her.

Looking ahead, Joanna will be studying for a doctorate in Asian American Studies. She also wants to explore different forms of advocacy in non-profit and grassroots spaces where so that she can connect education to matters including politics, race, climate, imperialism, and interpersonal connections

Zackary Yen

Rising Second-Year, Emory University

Internship Placement: Office of CA State Senator Sasha Renee Perez (Senate District 25)

Zackary Yen (he/him) is a rising second-year student at Emory University, double majoring in Political Science and East Asian Studies. Throughout his life, he has lived in five different states: New York, Colorado, Washington, Georgia, and California (where he currently lives), contributing to his open-mindedness and resilience. Growing up, he was a student in a dual-language program, where he learned Mandarin Chinese and experienced Chinese culture, all without sacrificing a traditional curriculum in an English-only environment. His upbringing has broadened his understanding of his Chinese American identity and has inspired his love for Asian American Activism.

During the 2024 Election Cycle, Zackary worked as a political canvasser, fundraising thousands of dollars for grassroots outreach and voter protection to benefit the swing state of Georgia. On campus, he is Vice President of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Activists (APIDAA), Emory's student-led Pan-Asian activism club. Through APIDAA, he has partnered with Atlanta-based non-profits by organizing in-person canvassing and phone booths centered on empowering APIDA communities in Georgia. Additionally, he is a debater in Barkley Forum, Emory's competitive debate team, a member of Kappa Alpha Phi, Emory's Pre-Law Society, and a member of Emory's Model United Nations Travel Team.

Zackary looks forward to his time at CAUSE, where he can grow as a leader, gain firsthand experience in political and civic institutions, and contribute to meaningful change for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American communities.