By Sarah Park, 2025 CLA Intern
The first orientation week was filled with excitement, bonding, and knowledge. There was a sense of empowerment in being surrounded by people from my community and being able to see and hear from so many amazing individuals. I was able to learn about our community and what it needs, while also voicing my ideas and concerns about it.
One of the most memorable moments during orientation week was attending the LA City Charter Reform event. I realized the importance of showing up. Standing up alongside my cohort, CAUSE, and CLA alumni was empowering and left a strong impression on the commissioners. Also, seeing Andrea get picked as one of the five members chosen for the commission was amazing! Listening to the constituents voicing their opinions made me realize the importance of being present in one's local government. Although there may be complicated aspects to these meetings, they become much clearer once you familiarize yourself with how it is organized.
The first week at my host office was exciting. I was able to familiarize myself with the issues constituents tend to have in District 28. Having the privilege to listen and communicate with the constituents was the highlight when being at my host office. Many of the constituents had concerns regarding the recent ICE raids, inflation, and more. On the bright side, I also received many calls in support of Congresswoman Judy Chu’s actions to help her constituents. Through this first week, I was able to familiarize myself with the local events along with Congresswoman Chu’s opinions and actions this first week at my host office. The communication I was able to have with the constituents taught me to stay informed about all the current events and politics, because there may be questions regarding them. I also learned the importance of staying connected with your community so that you can make the changes they want and need.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.