The Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment, or CAUSE, hopes to develop the next generation of Asian American political leaders, reports KPCC
It’s summer leadership academy is working with a young group of nine Asian Americans who have expressed an interest in running for office.
“Basically our goal is to develop future leaders,” CAUSE chair Charlie Woo told KPCC. “We want leaders that can cross cultural barriers and reach out to the community at large.”
Currently 10 percent of the elected officials in the California legislature are Asian American and Pacific Islanders. AAPIs currently make up just under 15 percent of the California population.
“Based on my skin color and the way that I look, people assume that I’m fresh off the boat,” said Tanya Edmilao, a participant in the leadership academy. “I’ve always had to explain ‘yes, I know I’m Asian, but I am American too.”
She is currently interning in the office of Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez and says she definitely has aspirations for running for political office.
Danny Chee Kwan is a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and another participant in the program. While he’s not certain he’ll someday run for office, its something he’s definitely considering.
“I believe that I have the will and the strength to be able to continue holding on to what I want, and to be able to carry out the vision that I have for a better America,” he said.
You can read more about what inspired CAUSE to launch its leadership academy more than two decades ago on KPCC.
