By Jada Sirivisut, 2026 CLA Intern
From the moment I woke up, my mind was racing with anticipation for the day ahead: the AAPI Lead conference, the Community Reception, and finally, Mock Campaign Election Night. As I went through my morning routine, I repeatedly rehearsed my pitch, practicing how I would invite community members and government leaders to our event while advocating for Team GMK.
To foster an authentic civic engagement experience, we reached out to API elected officials and experienced industry professionals to spread the word of Measure G and our summit. From the conference room to the courtyards of Koreatown, we were hard at work behind the scenes. By the afternoon, we hauled heavy boxes, set up booths, arranged table centerpieces, and folded brochures—the unglamorous side of running a political campaign. Although Team GMK and this election were built as a mock campaign, the effort we poured into it was as real as it gets.
The CAUSE Mock Election was the culmination of all that groundwork. Once the reception began, the heavy lifting was already done, literally and figuratively. Our comprehensive policy platforms were printed, talking points were locked in, and no matter the outcome, the cohort and both respective teams knew we had already made each other proud.
The rest of the night passed in a blur. I moved between tables, introducing myself, explaining the new LA County Executive role, and pitching Team GMK’s vision over and over to more people than I could keep track of. My favorite moments manifested when conversations drifted into personal stories. From connecting with community leaders from across the county, state, or nation, to exchanging experiences with CAUSE alumni, I reflected on my growth since the first few days of CLA as I became increasingly well versed in this ever expanding community.
Throughout the event, one theme repeatedly surfaced: solidarity. Running the day-long show of canvassing, networking, and outreach required us to completely rely on and look out for one another. Between constant conversation, I made a point to check in on my team, pausing to catch our breath together and find some reassurance.
With the evening’s campaign gauntlet finally drawing to a close as the voting period ended, I took a brief moment to handle a quick late-night mission: securing a well-earned dinner using my Chapman dollars for sushi takeout. I hurried back to the courtyard just as the winning result was announced for my team. There, I was breathless yet genuinely ecstatic to be part of that pivotal moment.
Our victory was an incredible feeling, but my greatest fulfillment came from the weeks of collective effort that brought us to that point. When our cohort celebrated on stage, we were cheering for more than just GMK’s win. We were rejoicing for our teamwork, every long afternoon invested into this vision, and the lessons we learned along the way. And as the night wrapped up, celebrating alongside the entire CAUSE family and our personal supporters made one thing clear: regardless of who won the election, the mock campaign was a victorious success for our whole community.