MISSION STATEMENT
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based organization with a mission to advance the political and civic empowerment of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through nonpartisan voter outreach, education, and training as well as leadership development.
Founded in 1993, CAUSE is comprised of committed professional, business, community and political leaders, and has established itself as a unique nonpartisan APA organization dedicated solely to APA civic and political participation. Based in the Greater Los Angeles area, CAUSE’s influence reaches throughout Southern California.
HISTORY
Founded in 1993 as Chinese Americans United for Self Empowerment to promote civic and political participation in the Chinese American communities, CAUSE expanded its mission to serve the larger Asian Pacific American (APA) communities in 2003; thus, becoming Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Cause Leadership Academy (Internship)
CLA, which was formerly the California Asian American Student Internship Coalition (CASIC), was founded in 1991 in order to develop a pipeline of leadership for the APA community. Despite APAs being the fastest growing community in the United States, representation and leadership has not kept pace with the growing and changing demographics.
CLA teaches students the importance of civic engagement and political participation as it prepares its participants to be leaders at the forefront of the democratic process. Through exposure to decision- makers, policy makers, and the issues of the day, students gain a deeper awareness of the political issues facing the APA community in California. Graduates of this program have gone on to run for political office and have even become leaders in politics, business, and nonprofits.
The CLA program offers opportunities for students to gain firsthand experience in politics through constituent services, community organizing, community relations, legislative research, etc. Program participants intern at the district offices of various elected officials at the local, state, and federal level in Southern California.
For more information, visit: http://www.causeusa.org/programs/leadership-academy/