By Jada Sirivisut, 2026 CLA Intern
Behind every milestone, policy, and statewide directive lies a foundational commitment to progress at the intersection of statewide authority and the community it is meant to serve. During my experience at my host office at California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Office of External Affairs so far, I have barely scratched the surface of the extent to which the Attorney General’s influence touches. Spanning the entire state in numerous districts and covering areas such as environmental justice, labor, crime, healthcare, and more, I have been enlightened to the office’s jurisdiction. From my time being learning from my supervisor, Eric Boyd, it has become clear that true pride in this work oftentimes is rooted in small ideas and quiet, intimate conversations that can be amplified into groundmaking change.
In a massive bureaucracy, it is easy to focus solely on standout legislation or high-profile litigation. However, with the past few weeks of mentoring, Eric has shown me that meaningful progress starts with actively listening to the concerns and ideas of passionate individuals and community members. A single, local concern voiced in a spontaneous meeting can expose systemic gaps and pave the way for remarkable reform. By taking these grassroots conversations seriously, I look forward to contributing to the way the Office of External Affairs serves as a vital bridge to translate lived experiences from constituents in Los Angeles and beyond into policy initiatives and statewide priorities.
This profound potential for positive, systemic impact is something I am honored to be part of. Some of my most memorable work currently manifests in preparation for the upcoming annual community-building campaign National Night Out or notetaking during a logistics call with Transformative Good Lab to discuss leveraging Artificial Intelligence for the good of youth in BIPOC communities. I am excitedly anticipating the journey of how these endeavors, along with the many I hope to take on throughout the rest of my summer with Attorney General Bonta’s office, will develop beyond mere projects and into tangible forms of change in both a local and national context.
Beyond my personal work, I have also had the pleasure of interacting with several other staff members and fellow interns within both the Attorney General’s office and beyond. Through shared assignments such as compiling daily press clips in order to supplement the Department of Justice in tracking relevant events within our county, or getting to know the Department Director and Analysts as we explore new spots during the lunch break, every moment has exceeded my expectations.
Engaging in this space has shown me how the Department of Justice, and by extension governments, can proactively shape the future to ensure that these ever-evolving institutions can serve as instruments for equity and peace rather than displacement and marginalization. Each event, interaction, and assignment reveals that truly successful governance is a collective effort driven by a network of individuals dedicated to protection and empowerment—a mission I further develop at CAUSE, my host office, and am committed to henceforth.