“It feels surreal to have reached this point: the end. It’s been nine weeks of listening, speaking, learning, and acting, and I feel very privileged to be here. “

“Over the last nine weeks, I have gained invaluable experience in local government, nonprofit work, and API political empowerment as a member of the CAUSE Leadership Academy.”

“ I am grounded not just by the world around me, but especially by the people I met here at CAUSE and through the CLA program.”

“From taking selfies at the State Capitol’s Assembly floor to celebrating achievements at Soirée, this internship has absolutely prepared me for whatever lies next on my career path towards civic advocacy, and I am beyond grateful for the program coordinators, mentors, community members, peers, and interns who made this summer an unforgettable one. “

“ It seems like only yesterday we were shyly introducing ourselves, laughing over marshmallow towers that swayed on brittle spaghetti sticks, and imagining the kind of leaders we might become.”

The connotations of community and coalition will forever be changed in my mental schema because of CLA.

“Growing up in Sri Lanka, I saw firsthand how less-developed countries are often silenced on the global stage. Living in America, I’ve also witnessed how marginalized communities are overlooked in decision-making. These parallels fuel my dream: to stand in those spaces and speak for the voices that too often go unheard. “

“With this year’s Summer Soiree theme was “Together We Build,” I realized the importance of working together to build a vision.”

“ Standing in that space, surrounded by my diverse team that respected and celebrated each other’s heritage, reminded me why representation matters. I left feeling proud to be Filipina-American, part of a mock campaign rooted not only in policy but also in the lived experiences and histories that shape who we are.”

“For the past 9 weeks, all fifteen of us prepared for endorsement and Soirée during and after hours to show the fruits of our efforts throughout those weeks.”

“Like light, land, and water—the earliest forms of community and the core elements of the Soirée venue and theme—I remembered that we cannot win, grow, and thrive in isolation. “

“Each act of the evening gave me something valuable to take away, but together they created a night I know I’ll remember vividly as a source of my passion and drive.”

“How many interns does it take to write the opening joke for a two-minute mock campaign speech? More than you might think! “

“In having a strong rationale for why we were completing this project, Esther gave our team a North Star to follow through a long, and at-times exhausting, eight week campaign. “

“All of the hours we spent working during and outside of CAUSE hours on our mock campaigns built up to this moment. “

“I feel more empowered to go into advocacy spaces having had this experience, and I am walking away with a greater understanding of how policy can meet the people.”

“From the endorsement panel and soirée to the abundance of coalitions and the get out the vote process, I found the Soirée was a culmination of many experiences and an excellent space to connect with some of the most prominent folks in the local AANHPI community. “

“This simulation was hands down one of the most challenging positions I have ever been in, and I am very, very proud of the product of our campaign and believe that everything happened according to a bigger plan.”

“This mock campaign and soiree taught me more than I could have imagined — not just about what it takes to serve politically, but about the power of true teamwork.”

“What made the night unforgettable was how present community felt. People from all parts of my life were there: folks I knew through other friends, alumni I got to chat with and learn from, and even some who knew my family. It was humbling and inspiring to see how many connections crossed paths in event space. “