Going into my first week with CLA, I had several concerns and questions, some motivated by curiosity and a drive to improve myself, and others rooted in uncertainty about my skills and future. Throughout the week, I gained clarity on how to pursue my career aspirations, understood more about my leadership behaviors, and refined my communication style through a blend of reflective workshops, enlightening guest speakers, and engaging interactions with a diverse cohort.
Executive Director Nancy Yap talks with guest speaker and owner of Cafe Dulce, James Choi
In my career, I seek to work in public policy to enact widespread and long-lasting change, and through CAUSE, I have the incredible opportunity to work in the public sector at a state level with my host office placement with California Attorney General Rob Bonta. However, I recognize how AAPI and other marginalized communities have often been let down by slow, restrictive political processes. My experience with grassroots movements and non-profit organizations has emphasized the importance of addressing immediate community needs through direct service and mutual aid efforts. The framework Nancy Yap shared with us on our first day helped me reconcile these two approaches more concretely. It expanded what I had thought civic engagement meant, which included 1. Policy and Governance, 2. Community Organizing and Activism, 3. Direct Service, 4. Philanthropy, 5. Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility, 6. Civic Engagement Training and Programs. This framework illustrates how to maintain social responsibility across diverse fields and through multiple avenues. Guest speaker James Choi’s approach at Cafe Dulce further demonstrated this integration, blending business ideas of competitiveness with community service during the COVID-19 pandemic to support struggling businesses in Little Tokyo. Through this framework, I better understand how I can balance and integrate policy and governance with direct service to thoroughly advocate for marginalized communities.
CAUSE Director of Strategic Operations, Heather Sit, giving a workshop on Branding
In the branding workshop led by Heather Sit, we explored our values, strengths, passions, and goals to craft our narratives. Sit emphasized embracing diverse interests that may not always align with our perceived images, encouraging us to apply these insights to future pursuits. Personally, my passion for expression and art, previously a hobby used to advocate for the queer and trans API community, was further enriched during our visit to the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum. Now, as Communications Director in our mock campaign, I apply this creative vision to storytelling and outreach, open to taking this skill into the professional world.
CLA interns and CAUSE staff commemorate the last day of their orientation week retreat at CSULB
In the remaining three days of orientation, I continued to learn more about myself and my peers both within professional and personal settings. The communication workshops and leadership style DISC assessment helped me understand what kind of teammate I will be, while bonding with my cohort, who bring a diverse array of histories, skills, and professional experiences, makes me look forward to getting closer and working on our mock campaigns. While not every question or concern has been fully answered in this one week, I am confident that the remaining weeks of this internship will bring further revelations, continuing to build the skills and future I envisioned at the beginning of this journey.
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 Anais Sornkatetin, Leadership Academy 2024 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.