By Alan Alexander, 2026 CLA Intern
It’s been 14 days…
…14 days since I stepped into that fateful Little Tokyo office building–14 days that have felt like an eternity of transformative experiences, and yet all no longer than the blink of an eye.
On the morning of that first Monday, I was greeted by a sea of unfamiliar faces as I entered the 7th floor conference room where the rest of my cohort was already situated. Though the faces were new, I was eased by a sense of familiarity in our collective ambition, unvoiced but strongly apparent, and our silent hunger for impactful action.
After an ice breaker activity, we split off into groups to discern the true definition of “civic engagement.” Though we all wrote down rather lofty and inspiring interpretations, Nancy made the thought-provoking observation that none contained the words “government” or “voting.” This observation prompted the following questions: why were we reluctant to associate our ideals of societal participation with voting and other methods of democratic involvement? Did we view voting as an unmeaningful method of civic engagement?
On the third and fourth days, we travelled to Sacramento to immerse ourselves in the heart of California governance. It was surprisingly humanizing and grounding to observe actual people—our state senators and assembly members—fighting passionately about issues they and their constituents were passionate about. While talking with electeds such as Senator Sasha Renee Perez, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and Assemblymember Jessica Caloza, I was inspired and empowered by their perspectives and dedication to take action and truly make a difference.
These experiences, among many others, have undoubtedly shaped me into a more holistic individual. They have also shown me the magnitude of the work that has yet to be done. From conversations with Nancy [CAUSE Executive Director] and Andrea [CAUSE Programs Manager], I’ve realized that, factoring in outreach efforts, a significant portion of the Asian and youth population still doesn’t vote, even though their ballot could mean the difference between a political landscape where our communities are represented or blatantly ignored. I’ve also contemplated deeper the true implications of LA County Measure G, and the crucial importance of shaping the County Executive and Board of Supervisor roles to be equitable for all ethnic populations.
As I go forth with an invariably determined spirit, I’m excited to explore different solutions, whether through technological or logistical means, to drive increases in voter participation. Furthermore, I look forward to working with the rest of my cohort to ascertain how measure G should truly take shape and how we can most optimally educate the general public about the Board of Supervisors expansion to create an LA county that works for all.
