This third week at CAUSE was cut short due to the Independence Day holiday. Despite it falling on Tuesday when we would be with our host offices, we also got Monday off from CLA which made for a restful and enjoyable four day weekend. The Friday with CAUSE definitely made up for lost time on Monday as it was filled with activities. Aside from our CLA project and blog work time, we had an extensive tour of Little Tokyo as well as some time with Dan Schnur, a professor and political analyst.
I missed out on Dan Schnur’s lesson/workshop in the morning as I had to present my lifeline and family member migration story at my host office staff meeting over Zoom. I enjoyed sitting in on the all-hands meeting because I got the chance to meet everyone formally, give an in-depth introduction and bio, and witness how the organization functions as a whole. Each staff and team interacted and came together to effectively and efficiently communicate and work.
I rejoined the CLA group to network with Dan over lunch. I highly enjoyed this session because of Dan’s down-to-earth, lighthearted, and transparent nature. I walked away from lunch feeling very reassured, inspired, and hopeful. He had the interns go around the table and share our goals and dreams for the future. Conversations about careers and the future are more often than not daunting or annoying for people our age. “What are your plans?” is a question that, up until now, I dreaded. However, Dan really broke this down in a way that gave us confidence and reassurance. He confided in us that he had many career changes and that no one really knows what they’re doing. He introduced the concept of informational interviews to us which is essentially networking and having conversations about individuals’ experience in particular fields that you would like to hear more about. During this lunch, he offered to connect us with different people from our respective fields of prospect that he knew. He even invited our cohort to connect with him further after the session outside of CAUSE. His commitment and dedication was really inspiring and gave me the sense that he truly wants to see us succeed. My favorite point he made was that “it’s not a decision between what career path to take but which to try out first.”
After lunch, we took a tour of Little Tokyo with Kristin Fukushima from Little Tokyo Community Council. Like Dan, she also kept it very real which I appreciated. She was upfront about the development and slumlords in the neighborhood and the struggles that she and her organization have encountered in trying to maintain this cultural space. One fact I learned was that Little Tokyo is the second oldest cultural district in LA. The Japanese community has an abundant and rich history in this city, and they have endured so much. The community mural, Japanese garden, and the anecdotes of accomplishments within the community were all really sweet and fulfilling to experience. The familiarity and community bond was evident as we walked around the neighborhood and Kristin was recognized by so many people and she greeted many people passing by. The pride that she took in things like an alleyway that she helped to get reconstructed and renovated was really wholesome and admirable. It really put in perspective how much work goes into every small element and detail that everyone else takes for granted and simply passes by or walks on daily.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Olivia Diaz Anderson, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.