By Sarah Park, 2025 CLA Intern
Throughout this week, I participated in community events that allowed me to understand and involve myself with stories and information from the field. Through these events, I was able to understand how important it is to bring one's concerns to representatives because each voice is heard, often resulting in bills being introduced by their representatives.
During my first community event, my cohort members and I attended the El Monte City Council meeting. The topic focused on immigration, so there was a fairly large group of constituents who attended this meeting. During the meeting, many constituents expressed their dissatisfaction with the council members and how they were handling the situation, especially given that this city houses approximately 72% of the Hispanic community. I was able to see firsthand how speaking up and giving one's opinion can really make a difference. Through this experience, I listened to stories of pain, struggles, and fear that have been surrounding this community and witnessed their efforts to make changes.
For my second community event, I attended with my host office and Rep. Chu. This event was hosted by the wonderful My Tribe Rise organization. The event provided resources such as food, basic necessities, and community support. Through this event, I was able to see the work that comes from community building and the success that occurs when everyone relies on one another. I listened to constituents converse with Rep. Chu and gained an understanding of the importance of coalition building from a representative's perspective. Through this event, I was amazed by the strength of community and how Rep. Chu was so attentive to her constituents' comments. She took action right away, which showed me how much our representatives care and want to enact change for the betterment of their constituents.