2020 Civic Engagement Fellows

Originally shared December 2020

Our 8-week fellowship was in collaboration with Empowering Pacific Islander Communities. Seven fellows planned and facilitated 2 phone banks, attended by 27 volunteers, making 864 phone calls and 6688 text messages, outreaching specifically to Pacific Islander households.

This, despite many of them learning to phone/text bank for the first time through fellowship! They presented on Propositions 15 and 20, informed community members, spoke at press conferences, practiced outreach, attended National NHPI Voter Week of Action, attended trainings led by Terisa Siagatonu, and more!

Thank you, Cynthia, Imani, Isaiah, and Leialani for sharing your energy, questions, and laughter with AAPI FORCE-EF these last 8 weeks! And thank you to Ana, Leila, and Karlinna from EPIC for all that you’ve added to our joint community! With gratitude, we look forward to their ongoing journey of social change.

Reflections from AAPI FORCE-EF 2020 Civic Engagement Fellows

Cynthia Tam

“From these past 8 weeks, I have learned so much about civic engagement, people power, personal growth, as well as professional growth. I met so many wonderful individuals who have taught me so much about their journey and knowledge.

A memory from this fellowship that I enjoy reflecting back to was icebreakers and virtual games with staff and fellows. These moments helped us all get closer and more comfortable with each other. We put in work during these several weeks, but we also had fun times getting to know one another.

I am so grateful to have been a part of AAPI FORCE-EF and I hope to spread my knowledge from this space to others. :)”

Imani Isaia

“My fellowship with AAPI FORCE-EF taught me how to lobby via phone/text banking, to present on important issues that hit close to home, as well as define my roles in civic engagement. For me, I discovered my roles as a storyteller, and a disruptor. I also found areas I’d like to work on such as being a guide and a leader.

I learned that my voice and work matters and that I can take action to help our communities. There is always work to be done, and I am happy to have begun this work with such a caring team at AAPI FORCE-EF. Thank you AAPI FORCE-EF for giving me this opportunity, and showing me the direction of work I’d like to pursue with my degree in Sociology.”

Isaiah Aitolu

“Hi Everyone! My name is Isaiah Sila’ila’i Aitolu, my pronouns are he/him/his and I am student at Sacramento State studying Political Science. I am truly so grateful for my time as a fellow for AAPI FORCE-EF.

One of my favorite memories was participating in the phone/text banks with the other fellows and EPIC fellows. We went from being so nervous during our first bank to creating and hosting two phone banks! Just going through the process and growing with everyone and then accomplishing something so big made me feel proud.I learned a lot and grew so much in many areas of my life throughout my fellowship. A major thing I learned and will keep with me as I move on is that everyone has a role and every role is needed.

Some people may be on the front lines and some may be behind the scenes, but every role is important and crucial in the work we are doing. Don’t ever be discouraged to do this work, if you want to, there is always space and community for you to join. I’m so thankful for the staff at AAPI FORCE-EF and EPIC. Thank you for this great opportunity.”

Leialani Santos

“As someone who doesn’t support the notion of electoral justice (at least as it stands right now), voting is very complicated to me… Voting to me often feels like a dupe- an attempt to pacify the masses from demanding more because they (some, not all) had say in the current state of our nation. With voter suppression and the fact that we’re on violently stolen land, voting in no way feels just to me… I don’t believe that voting in and of itself is going to liberate me, my communities, and those I stand in solidarity with.

That being said, I have voted in the past and I am active in civic engagement. While I have many critiques for our voting system, I also realize that we are not presented with any solutions to combat them… Voting provides small solutions that would directly benefit/relieve issues applicable to me, my communities, and/or those I stand in solidarity. While I support radical change taking place under BIPOC movements, I also think it’s important to take what little small steps we can to protect our communities until then (which can sometimes be done through the polls… i.e. propositions)! Voting, to me, is not /the/ solution, but a solution amongst very limited options.”

For the past six months, AAPI FORCE-EF was incredibly fortunate to have Kyu Andrew Lee on board as our civic engagement fellow! From field work to communications to organizational partnerships, Andrew played a pivotal role in building our base and tackling the issues our communities face.

Reflections from Kyu Andrew Lee

“When I reflect back on my last six months at AAPI FORCE-EF, I realize how lucky I was to be a part of an incredibly supportive and empowering space where I learned about amplifying my voice in civic engagement and building people power.

I gained so many important skills during my time here, including phone banking, relational organizing, graphic design, data analysis, and organization outreach.

While working here, I also really appreciated the chances I had to pursue my own ideas and projects. I know this type of flexibility is not usually afforded to interns, and I doubt I would have grown as a leader and organizer without these opportunities. Finally, the most unforgettable part of this internship/fellowship have definitely been the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve created.

During the countless phone banks and meetings I’ve been a part of, I always found myself having such amazing and engaging conversations with the people I worked with. We talked about everything from the co-optation of social justice movements and dealing with internalized racism, to our favorite fantasy books and being addicted to the game Among Us.

I’ve met so many amazing people working here, and their passion and commitment to social, racial, and economic justice inspires me to continue working in political and community organizing after I graduate. I’d like to give a huge shout out to everyone I worked with this summer and fall: thank you to Jen, Lan, Timmy, Huanvy, Rozlind, Fran, Ashley, and all of the other fellows for making this experience so special — appreciate you all SO much!!”