By Alan Alexander, 2026 CLA Intern
The midnight DTLA skyline sparkled as we were all gathered in the cozy hallway of CAUSE’s 8th floor office after a day of toil, sweat, bonding, and community at the 2026 Summer Soiree. It would be one of the last days we would all officially be together as part of the program.
As I walked past the meeting room I first stepped into all those months ago at the start of the program, I could not help but reflect on how profoundly my horizons were expanded on the true meaning of civics, government, and community.
When I first came into CLA, I must admit that I was grappling with a sense of inner emptiness. In all my fervid passions and explorations of government as a means of compassionately uplifting and inspiring others–of instilling hope in times of hopelessness–I was faced with the seemingly brutal reality that government was in actuality just a jumble of empty promises, never ending problems, and shallow statements aimed at appealing to the masses.
Where was the heart in the cacophony of politics? Where was the humanity?
After all my experiences these past few months, I’ve realized that this heart perhaps lies not in the public eye–not in the social media clips we see online or the speeches we hear on the news–but in the interactions behind the scenes. It lies in the care and love I and my teammates held for each other as we campaigned in the torturous 90 degree heat during our mock election. It lies in the wholesome and abjectly genuine conversation I had with an immigrant family while tabling at a festival for Senator Maria Elena Durazo. And it lies in the concerned small talk with Senator Durazo in the car ride back from a community event, knowing that the speech might’ve been delivered but action was still yet to be carried out.
In all these experiences, I’ve found the true meaning of community and the authenticity of all the people around me. From that meeting room filled with 11 other incredibly ambitious people, I’ve found 11 new friends. Through my times with CAUSE doing everything from fundraising to cutting lemons at 10pm, I’ve found a family.
So yes, civic engagement does mean voting and participation in government, but it also is inextricably linked with the amazing people you do it with. Neomu love.
