Blog 1: Policymakers Are People Too

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.

Blog 1: A Spark, A New Journey

By Kaitlan Sakuma, 2026 CLA Intern

Reflecting over Orientation Week and especially the Capitol Summit, I was reminded of the time we all sat together in the State Assembly Chamber, moved by the diverse weight of everyone gathered in that room. From politicians championing critical bills across the state to waving at the honorable Victor Glover on the assembly floor, being physically present in Sacramento – where change is actively being made – gave me genuine hope. Although it has only been a week at CLA, the knowledge, experience, and bonds I have already gained have been transformative. I am so grateful to be part of an amazing cohort and community of inspiring leaders.

Coming into the Academy, I knew I wanted to deepen my understanding and contribution to an organization that does incredible work to enact change in our communities. Though I thought I understood what CLA was about, actually being part of the program reshaped that understanding into something I couldn’t have fully grasped beforehand. It is to connect with people, to be community-oriented, and to—ultimately—be present. While spending time at the Capitol during our Summit, I saw the importance of not only working for your community but also connecting with your community.

I felt especially inspired by Assemblymember Fong and his way of balancing his work on the Assembly Floor with his drive to continue to connect with his community. Despite the demands of his role at the Capitol, he remains a member of the communities he represents – and he shows up for them. When he stopped by our dinner for a few minutes and answered our questions, it reminded me of how powerful humility is – his physical presence, even briefly, spoke louder than words. I think that this was one of the most significant takeaways from the past week; I strive to be a leader who enacts change within the community and is also one with the community.

Furthermore, in discussing CAUSE and its commitment to Asian Pacific American (APA) empowerment, I was amazed to see how expansive the API and AANHPI networks are in the political atmosphere. In Sacramento, listening and talking to other motivated API leaders in the field was empowering. In particular, having conversations with past CLA Interns and other CAUSE alumni allowed me to visualize myself in this line of work as an individual part of the APA community. Because there still exists a lack of representation in the political space, seeing a growing APA community at the Capitol—a space where change and policy is being made—and how that representation is being celebrated, gives me genuine hope for future AANHPI leaders to continue to emerge and grow in the political field.