3 days, 4 dogs, multiple visitors, 12 donuts, one new intern, a movie, a trip to Governor Newsom’s office, and one letter. My fifth week at the office was nothing short of hectic, busy, engaging, and lively.
Tuesday
I learned that collaboration truly makes everyone better, as the spirit of togetherness became fuel for creating good work. My supervisor, Farrah, and I were joined by her college best friend, Van, who is visiting from Taiwan and also designing the visuals for the CAUSE Summer Soirée. Van’s artwork is just as fun and jovial as she is, adjectives that describe Farrah sufficiently too. Farrah and Van’s banter was infectious as we ate our lunch together and discussed nuances in the international curriculum with levity. We ended our day with our new friend Mikey, an office dog whose attention we are consistently vying for. Mikey was gracious enough to let us pamper him for a while and we took advantage of the unofficial emotional support animal on our floor. I ended the day feeling satisfied with making new friends and being productive with finishing work until Nancy asked me “Do you like writing policy papers?” I was smiling and nodding on the exterior despite the panic alarms sounding off in my head. Nancy let me know that there was a new task I could work on, and after a day of high spirits, I was ready to take on the challenge– despite anxieties– because of the support system around me (mainly Mikey).
Wednesday
The policy paper Nancy was referring to was not the classic political science class essay I was imagining. Rather, it was a letter to the LA County Board of Supervisors expressing CAUSE’s support for a Motion put forth by Supervisor Hilda Solis which Supervisor Holly Mitchell later joined. The motion was referencing the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiatives and Strategic Plans and how the communities it serves should be explicitly expanded to AAPIs and other communities of color and marginalized communities. I was also tasked to include CAUSE’s most recent Statewide Multi-ethnic poll to supplement our stance. Despite knowing that my letter will go through multiple edits and drafts, I was petrified to even begin. The process of using data to address a local government body was so foreign to me, but Nancy and Farrah affirmed me that my attempts are valued. In addition to drafting the letter for CAUSE, I was informed that Nancy, Farrah, and I were going in person to the Board of Supervisors Agenda Meeting to make a public comment. As the nerves settled in and the stakes were raised, I thought to myself, no risk, no reward. We also met the new CAUSE intern, Vira, and I assured her that our hectic week is normally not the norm.
Thursday
We started the day at the National Center for the Prevention of Democracy watching Removed By Force: The Eviction of Hawai‘i’s Japanese Americans During WWII directed by Ryan Kawamoto with the support from the Honolulu Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). The film was screened as part of the JACL’s Convention in Los Angeles, and Nancy’s friend Bill Kaneko (former President of the JACL Honolulu Chapter) also produced and help write the film. Then, we went to the Governor's office for a meeting and I got to tour Governor Newsom’s California office. As the day went on, I grew even more appreciative of my host office and the time I get to share with Nancy and Farrah. We indulged in a hearty meal at Grand Central Market and returned to the office and start actually working. The fun did not stop there, however, as we were visited by friends of CAUSE who came bearing gifts. These gifts were in the form of assorted donuts from Cafe Dulce and were consumed immediately. Overall, the week came with unexpected turns and spontaneous adventures, but I witnessed everything with a close-knit group. It reassured me that it is not always about the end result, but that the journey with the right people is the most fruitful.
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 Erika Au, 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.