“Bouncing from fear of isolation to the joy of finding like minded people dedicated to protecting our shared community was heartwarming and has reinvigorated my desire to help others.”
Introducing the 2025 CAUSE Leadership Academy Interns
Join CAUSE in welcoming fifteen (15) exceptional interns to the 2025 CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA)!
Continuing CAUSE’s longest-running program, the CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) is a nine-week, paid internship that equips college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community on their campuses and beyond.
Interns gain valuable in-person office experience through placements at government offices while deepening their understanding of the unique challenges facing California’s API community and exploring ways to become civically engaged across multiple sectors.
This year's cohort features 15 exceptional students from 14 different universities. Introducing the 2025 CLA cohort and their assigned host internship offices:
Stephanie Ahorro
Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles
Office of CA Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (Assembly District 57)
Kyle Ching
USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles
Office of LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado (Council District 14)
Jordan (JJ) Halili Dove
University of California, Riverside
Office of CA State Senator Ben Allen (Senate District 24)
Paolo Estrella
American University
Office of CA Assemblymember Jessica Caloza (Assembly District 52)
Natalie Glezen
University of California, San Diego
Office of U.S. Senator Adam Schiff
Imani Lee
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
Office of US Congressman Jimmy Gomez (Congressional District 34)
Joyce Li
University of California, Los Angeles
Office of LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis (Supervisorial District 1)
Zhe Shan (Esther) Lian
Northwestern University
Office of CA Assemblymember Mike Fong (Assembly District 49)
Rachel Nguyen
University of California, Los Angeles
CA Governor’s Office of External Affairs
Sarah Park
University of California, Berkeley
Office of US Congresswoman Judy Chu (Congressional District 28)
Jonathan Silverman
Princeton University
Office of LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath (Supervisorial District 3)
Ellie Ta
Georgetown University
Office of US Congressman Derek Tran (Congressional District 45)
Dulasi Tennakoon
Willamette University
Office of US Congressman Ted Lieu (Congressional District 36)
Joanna Yeh
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, External Affairs
Zackary Yen
Emory University
Office of CA State Senator Sasha Renee Perez (Senate District 25)
We’re excited to share their journeys and experiences with you. Follow along for upcoming blog updates and recap posts!
THE 2025 CAUSE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IS SUPPORTED BY
Asian Women Leadership in Philanthropy Fund
CAUSE Executive Director Nancy Yap Nominated to Serve on LA County Government Reform Task Force
Did You Know? Neighborhood Council Edition (2025)
DID YOU KNOW: LA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EDITION
BLOG 5: Saying, Yes!
When I received my bachelor's degree from UCLA in June, the only thing I knew was that I would be joining CAUSE for the next nine weeks. I didn’t know what to expect, however what I gained was a new sense of confidence, a community of amazing individuals, and a greater understanding of our AANHPI community and my place within it.
BLOG 5: Thank Goodness I Checked My E-mail!
BLOG 5: Nine Weeks Just 60 Days
BLOG 5: C (you all) LA (ter)
I often face difficulties coming up with answers for this icebreaker because my facial expressions always reveal my true feelings. So when I released the waterworks in front of the CAUSE board members during graduation, it was clear that I was not ready to say goodbye and close this chapter in my life.
Blog 5: FTP (Family, Trust, Power)
As my time at CAUSE comes to a close, I reflect on the lessons I've learned about family, trust, and the collective power of API communities. CAUSE has not only deepened my understanding of civic engagement but also has reinforced the importance of prioritizing being rooted in community and centering our hearts in the work we do.
Blog 5: Where Endings Meeting Beginnings
BLOG 5: Polaroid Love
BLOG 5: At Ease
My first commute to the CAUSE office in Little Tokyo was filled with nervousness. During the 20-minute ride, I was straightening my jacket and tucking in my blouse continuously, feeling so uneasy. It did not help that I was not from the area; I was nervous to meet new people in a city that I was a stranger to, and more importantly about making the most of this unique opportunity that initially felt out of reach.
BLOG 5: Albert Einstein was truly onto something
In May 2024, I graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, feeling unsure about how to navigate post-grad life. My first day at CLA was nerve-wracking; I was intimidated by those around me, not realizing they would soon become some of my closest friends. Alongside this, imposter syndrome began to creep in, and I thought to myself, "These next nine weeks are going to feel like an eternity." I was completely wrong, this summer flew by and I enjoyed every minute of it.
BLOG 5: ‘CAUSE We’re In This Together
BLOG 5: Two Philosophies of Cartography
All politics is local and I’ve been fortunate enough to have the resources and privilege to approach Arcadia through the lenses of a son, a child, a student, an activist, an advocate, a filmmaker, a preservationist, a political scientist, a historian, a geographer, an Asian Americanist, and an intern.
