By Joanna Yeh, 2025 CLA Intern
When CAUSE told us we need to attend community events, I found this assignment to be a no-brainer. In a new city for the first time, I was and still am, eager to meet everyone and try out different experiences.
The first event that I attended is at Midnight Books LA, a community center to connect with folks through conversation, creation, and food. The event’s theme was Community Care and Decompression. Following the unrest in Downtown LA, the event presented an opportunity to check in with each other, especially since it can be difficult to bring up a topic so fresh and politically charged.
I was drawn to the decompression event because of my interest in mutual aid and advocacy. Back in North Carolina, I am familiar with a handful of organizations that do similar community activities, so I wanted to see what work is going on in this place to which I am still adjusting. I believe events such as those Midnight Books LA hosts are key to civic engagement because these are spaces which prioritize meeting folks where they are at. The space was just as much about speaking about personal experiences as it was about listening to others to learn about what the communities need to survive and thrive.
Another event I attended was Mark Pulido’s fundraiser kickoff in Cerritos for his campaign to be Assembly member. Switching gears a bit from community organizing to political organizing, the fundraising event was a stark contrast in terms of expectations but quite similar in terms of the opportunity to connect with so many individuals. From conversations with prominent local politicians to speeches to introduce Pulido as a candidate for the California State Assembly, I learned both who may be involved with campaign development, as well as what it can take to demonstrate political strength. It was curious, too, to consider the audience for a fundraiser and how they might compare to the rest of the district in terms of age, wealth, political position, and more.
Overall, I was grateful to attend the campaign event not just because I wanted to meet the folks who are leading our communities, but also because I wanted insight on how campaigns run for our mock campaigns or any other campaigns I may run in the future. Fundraising and networking as aspects of civic engagement often make me uncomfortable but the event demonstrated that there is fun and community in both activities.
I think a big takeaway is follow-through. For example, Natalie’s superpower is that she gets plans out of the group chat. Then Nancy and James Choi talked about the biggest obstacle for plans which is simply acting on ideas. Connecting follow-through to my community events, both events required initiative not just to coordinate but even just to recognize need in the community. As I carve out my values, I hope initiative will show at the center of my character, actions, and impact.