Over the past nine weeks, the 2025 CLA participants immersed themselves in meaningful work — strengthening leadership skills, deepening their understanding of civic issues affecting Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities, and showing how much more we can accomplish when we work together toward a shared purpose.
Their program culminated on Friday, 8/15, with an opportunity to share what they learned with their host offices and the CAUSE network. It included reflections about CAUSE leadership workshops, host office placements, a Capitol Summit trip to Sacramento, and their Mock Campaign for Assembly District 49, featured at the CAUSE Summer Soiree.
Now, they’re joining over 300 of CAUSE’s alumni, a network full of bold thinkers, caring advocates, and everyday change-makers. Can’t wait to see what they build together next!
The graduation program included:
Words of welcome from Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado (CD-14) and CAUSE Board Chair Charlie Woo
Keynote remarks from Alhambra Vice Mayor Jeff Maloney
Closing remarks from Jason Pereira
The 2025 CAUSE Leadership Academy cohort includes these fifteen talented and dedicated students, each matched with a host office for their summer internship:
Stephanie Ahorro
Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles
Office of CA Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (Assembly District 57)
Kyle Ching
USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles
Office of LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado (Council District 14)
Jordan (JJ) Halili Dove
University of California, Riverside
Office of CA State Senator Ben Allen (Senate District 24)
Paolo Estrella
American University
Office of CA Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (Assembly District 52)
Natalie Glezen
University of California, San Diego
Office of U.S. Senator Adam Schiff
Imani Lee
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Office of US Congressman Jimmy Gomez (Congressional District 34)
Joyce Li
University of California, Los Angeles
Office of LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis (Supervisorial District 1)
Zhe Shan (Esther) Lian
Northwestern University
Office of CA Assemblymember Mike Fong (Assembly District 49)
Rachel Nguyen
University of California, Los Angeles
CA Governor’s Office of External Affairs
Sarah Park
University of California, Berkeley
Office of US Congresswoman Judy Chu (Congressional District 28)
Jonathan Silverman
Princeton University
Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment
Ellie Ta
Georgetown University
Office of US Congressman Derek Tran (Congressional District 45)
Dulasi Tennakoon
Willamette University
Office of US Congressman Ted Lieu (Congressional District 36)
Joanna Yeh
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, External Affairs
Zackary Yen
Emory University
Office of CA State Senator Sasha Renee Perez (Senate District 25)
Thank You for Being Part of This Year’s Program!
The success of the CAUSE Leadership Academy is only possible through the dedication of our mentors, host offices, speakers, alumni, and supporters like you.
