2026 CAUSE Summer Soirée

The CAUSE Summer Soirée is our annual celebration of leadership, community, and the future we are building together. For more than 30 years, CAUSE has worked to strengthen civic participation, develop leaders, and ensure Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have a voice in shaping the future of Los Angeles and beyond.

This year, we gather around a simple belief: the future is not something we wait for—it is something we shape together.

Our 2026 theme, Shaping Futures, reflects that journey.
We honor those who have shaped our communities.
We celebrate those shaping change today.
We invest in those who will shape tomorrow.

Throughout the evening, we will recognize leaders whose service has strengthened our communities, celebrate those advancing opportunity and innovation today, and reaffirm our shared commitment to developing the leaders who will shape tomorrow.

hilda l. Solis — Community builder award

In recognition of her commitment to bringing communities together and uplifting Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.

Los Angeles County Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis is a lifelong resident of the San Gabriel Valley and the daughter of immigrant parents from Nicaragua and Mexico. She now serves as Chair for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and represents the First District, which spans communities from East Hollywood to Pomona in the East San Gabriel Valley.

STEPHEN CHEUNG — inclusive futures award

In recognition of his visionary leadership and commitment to shaping a more inclusive future for Los Angeles and its diverse communities.

Stephen Cheung serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and its subsidiary, the World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA). In this dual role, Stephen leads the organization’s vision to build a “Coalition of One – Economy for All,” advancing inclusive economic growth and opportunity across Los Angeles County.

AANHPI Los Angeles County Economic Report

CAUSE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CELEBRATION

This evening will celebrate the graduation of the 2026 CAUSE Leadership Academy, recognizing thirteen emerging leaders who have spent the summer serving in local, state, and federal government offices while gaining firsthand experience in public service.

Guests will also participate in an interactive Measure G experience designed by this year's Leadership Academy cohort. Through this activity, attendees will explore the role of Los Angeles County's first elected County Executive and consider how community participation helps shape the future of local government.

2026 Summer Soirée Photos

Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff (APALS)

This year's Soirée also marks an exciting partnership with the Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff (APALS). Together, CAUSE and APALS are strengthening the public service pipeline by connecting students, legislative professionals, elected officials, and community leaders through mentorship, shared experiences, and a collective commitment to preparing the next generation of civic leaders.