By Zackary Yen, 2025 CLA Intern
At the end of this year’s CLA graduation ceremony, Jason Pereira, the visual artist for this year’s CAUSE Summer Soiree, closed the event by showcasing a piece of art that my cohort and I created together. Using motifs from Pacific Islander style art, each cohort member personalized a tile that symbolizes elements of the Los Angeles River– rocks, plants, water, and animals. When pieced together, the work formed into a vibrant river ecosystem. As I watched JP reveal this collective creation, I realized it embodied one of the most important lessons from my internship: the power of collective action.
To put it short, the last nine weeks at the CAUSE Leadership Academy have been remarkable. From beach trips with the cohort, to attending Gavin Newsom’s recent press conference with my host office, and to better understanding the challenges residents in AD-49 face with my campaign team, I have been surrounded by exceptional mentors, peers, and lifelong friends. When facing difficult challenges with such a network, I have realized that meaningful change is never achieved alone—it is built together, piece by piece, just like our river ecosystem.
As I close off the program with a final reflection, I want to express my gratitude to my host office, the CAUSE Staff, and my cohort.
To the Office of State Senator Perez, thank you for introducing me to the importance of local level politics. Every field trip, team bonding, and constituent meeting has shown me that leadership starts with listening to the needs of the community.
To CAUSE Staff– Nancy, Heather, Coby, Andrea, and Denise–thank you for creating a space where my vision for advocacy can be realized. Their guidance has pushed me to think critically about issues, add value to every space I am in, and lead with empathy.
Finally, I would like to thank my cohort for making this summer so memorable. Your commitment to public service, empathy, enthusiasm, and intelligence continue to inspire me. Our collective strength gives me hope that we can make a difference in our communities.
As I move forward, I hope to take the valuable lessons I have learned from this program to Atlanta, Georgia.
See you later!
