By Kyle Ching, 2025 CLA Intern
I attended a Summer Night Lights kickoff at Evergreen Recreational Center and Park in Boyle Heights, hosted by the City’s Park and Recreation department, the Mayor’s office, and my councilmember Ysabel Jurado. At this event, there was live music, face painting, free hot dogs, and games and activities for kids. Councilmember Jurado kicked off the event with a speech about her favorite memories in Evergreen Park, including playing soccer and swimming at the pool as a child. She told everyone that especially in dark times, it is necessary to find joy with our family and community, as it is that joy that fuels us to inspire positive change.
Afterwards, Councilmember Jurado talked to community members and families. It brought me the most joy to see her spending time with her father, whom she had brought with her to the event. Councilmember Jurado got hot dogs with him, introduced him to some of the other public servants at the event, and sat with him for a good thirty minutes on a park bench as the live music surrounded them. All I could think was that I hope to have such a close relationship with my parents in the future, no matter how busy or demanding the career path I choose is.
I also attended the Orange County Buddhist Church Obon Festival, a Japanese festival of food, dancing, and honoring one’s ancestors. Growing up at Buddhist churches in Hawaii, I had gone to countless obons, and it was nice that I could find a community in Southern California to celebrate this cherished tradition with.
My friend and I started by getting a whole spread of food—beef teriyaki, grilled ika or squid, andagi or Okinawan donuts, and corn on the cob. We wiped every last crumb off the plate. To burn off those calories, we proceeded to join our fellow friends from USC Nikkei Student Union in the obon dances, which consist of dancing in a circle with a series of repeated motions. It was nice to hear both familiar songs that I had danced to in Hawaii as well as learn new ones, including the “Shiawase Samba”, “Pokemon Ondo”, and “The Lantern Song.” After the dancing finished at 8:30pm, we proceeded to play games run by the young Japanese kids from the Buddhist church. The one I will note is a ping pong toss into goldfish bowls, where my friends and I won 5 goldfish!
These two fun events may seem trivial, especially compared to the far more serious legislative work that is going on right now. Nonetheless, I think these two events were pivotal in reminding me of why I want to pursue a career in public service. Like Councilmember Jurado said, it is the joy we derive from our community and events like these that pushes us to continue making the world a better place. I will end with a quote from fictional city councilmember Leslie Knope from the show Parks and Recreation: “We have to remember what is important in life: friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third.”