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.
I often reflect on the “butterfly effect" moments that have occurred in my life; the seemingly small choices or coincidences that have led to profound changes. This internship is a prime example.
As each of the nine weeks of our internship passed, I felt myself developing skills and knowledge through my placement office at LA County First District Supervisor Hilda Solis’ Office and through CAUSE’s cohort sessions.
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.
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.
By Jonathan Silverman, 2025 CLA Intern
The first community event I chose to attend recently was introduced to me and planned through my host office with County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. It was a back to school backpack giveaway on Saturday, July 19 hosted at the San Fernando Valley Community Center in Chatsworth. My main responsibility was to use a cart in the parking lot to deliver toddler beds to various constituents’ cars. Other duties included handing out various school and living supplies geared towards families to prepare for the new school year. Frankly, delivering the beds and fitting them in people’s trunks was more physically demanding than I expected, but it was highly rewarding and brought me closer to my fellow colleagues on the Supervisor’s team.
The previous weekend, on Sunday, July 13, I participated in a beach cleanup organized through an environmental nonprofit organization called Upworthy Ocean Wise at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey. For the first portion of the morning, I cleaned up trash from the shore’s edge to the back sanded area near the parking lot. I volunteered for this beach cleanup along with Natalie and Imani, and while I was by the beach bathrooms, collecting plastic scraps, something dramatic happened. I returned to the main volunteer tent to discover Natalie had been stung by a stingray. A first duo of medics arrived, followed by another pair, and they gathered around Natalie to ask her questions and treat her injury. The tone of the community event certainly shifted, and Imani and I tried to do everything we could to be of help. As Natalie’s foot soaked in the stingray bag filled with warm water, I collected her belongings and Imani brought her car closer to pick her up. As always, despite being in immense pain, Natalie remained calm and composed and handled the situation in stride. Obviously, the stingray injury is primarily Natalie’s story to tell, but in a roundabout way, it brought her, Imani, and I closer as we worked together to address the emergency circumstance.
Both community events differed greatly in substance, from a school supplies giveaway to a beach trash cleanup, as well as in location, personnel, and occurrence of unexpected crises. Nevertheless, I am grateful to have participated in both and had the opportunity to give back to the Los Angeles community.
By Imani Lee, 2025 CLA Intern
As a volleyball player trying to get as many reps as I can, I find myself playing in tournaments in North El Monte, Garden Grove, El Segundo, Long Beach, and more. Although these tournaments provide me with great opportunities to connect with a wide range of community members, I wanted to be intentional about attending community events that focus specifically on civic engagement.
On July 13th, a couple other interns and I attended a Shoreline Cleanup at Dockweiler State Beach. Hosted by Ocean Wise, everyday individuals were invited to grab a trash bag and some gloves to collect trash along the shoreline. Initially, beach cleanup events might seem like a simple act of community service, but when we look closer, we can understand how they act as powerful forms of civic engagement. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the event coordinators, and a common theme that came up was the importance of educating the public on environmental issues. Policy and legislation heavily impact what sustainability, conservation, pollution, and environmental justice look like, and it is crucial that the people are empowered to care for their local environments. Although one of the other interns was stung by a stingray in the process, this event was both memorable and inspiring. We collected one bag of trash and left the beach not only cleaner than we found it, but with a deeper understanding of how civic engagement is directly intertwined with environmental conservation.
The very next day, CAUSE hosted a joint event with Emerge California, a program that equips Democratic women with the tools necessary to succeed in office positions. The event was extremely informative, and I left feeling reassured, knowing that if I ever choose to pursue a role in public service, I’ll have access to a very strong network to guide and support me along the way. It was inspiring to see such a tight-knit community uplifting other strong women leaders. We heard the personal stories of several remarkable individuals, including CAUSE Board members and Assemblymember Jessica Coloza. Not only was this event educational, this event also gave me the opportunity to network with passionate and driven people.
My biggest takeaway from this event was simple and maybe even cliché: be yourself. Throughout the afternoon, I engaged with numerous individuals, and by staying authentic, I was able to bond with someone over our shared love for game shows. If I were to put on a fake persona, I never would have brought this topic up and created a genuine connection with this individual. I am so grateful to CAUSE for making this event possible and for all of the inspiring conversations I had with such incredible community leaders.
“I am constantly reminded that one of the most effective methods of learning is simply to dive into the deep end and learn to swim. In our case, the deep end was our 24-hour trip to Sacramento, and learning to swim looked like trekking from the Assembly floor to a luncheon to back to back meetings with legislative directors, chiefs of staff, and more. “
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