By Sophia Pu, 2026 CLA Intern
I’ve been to California’s capitol three times as a student at UCLA, but my visit with the CAUSE Leadership Academy was unlike any other. I was able to go beyond advocating for bills and resources to see legislators and their staff in action and have detailed conversations about their work.
One of the most meaningful experiences for me was speaking directly with my own representatives – Assemblymember Mike Fong and Senator Sasha Renée Pérez – and asking them about my primary concerns as a constituent, including supporting undocumented students and regulating data centers. When we visited other cohort members’ host offices, I saw how proud each legislator was to represent their constituents, even as they were hundreds of miles away from their home districts. The time and attention legislators and senior staff gave us made me feel that Sacramento as a place where ordinary people can come to make their voices heard.
Attending Assembly and Senate floor sessions – courtesy of Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jessica Caloza’s office – allowed me to see myself in their shoes, speaking for the communities they care about in front of some of the most powerful people in the state. Speaking to members of the CAUSE network who were once in my shoes demystified the legislative process and the path to shaping policy for almost 40 million people.
After a long day of meeting with offices and networking, I almost felt too tired to explore Sacramento with my cohort – but I’m so grateful that I did. Leaving the hotel to get dessert, take silly photos, and walk 30 minutes to see the capitol building at night turned us from coworkers separated by walls of professionalism to friends going through the same journey together. A stranger on the street would have seen a group of raucous young people disturbing the peace. But if I learned anything from my conversations with CLA alumni and political stars, it’s that those loud, laughing college students will one day champion change in California and beyond.
