Good Friday

Today was an awesome Friday! At work the office took us to lunch we had amazing Thai food. After that I went to the Department of Interior's Office of Insular Affairs. It was both good and bad. It was awesome because we finally focused on Pacific Island issues. We even had a quiz game and the team I was on won! I felt so proud that I knew a good majority of the answers. However, it was a little discouraging because it felt like we only touched the minimum. We broke off into mini groups later on to meet with different members of the staff. I got a chance to speak with a senior policy analyst who gave me valuable insight into the issues on Guam and their specific issues. After the staff let us use the conference we had a very interesting discussion on the Pacific Islands and the relationship with the US. We even got a chance to work on our community action plans! We got to work and play! All in all, a very good Friday (:

Catching up

I apologize, been a while since I've been on here. Out here in DC there's barely seems to be time for anything - really. I just realized today that I will be out here for only 4 more weeks! Amaris, Terrina and myself have dedicated some of the remainder of our time togetherfor community planning. Last night, we had a light dinner together and discussed where what we want for the PI community in the future.

REWIND!

Last week KCF came out and I spent like 4 days with them. It felt so good to be with them. We took tons of photos and videos on my laptop so I can look at the when I'm bored or miss home.

Here's a few...

We had a blast performing at the Guam Liberation Celebration reception, as well as the Guam Society Liberation picnic the next day. It felt like being with family the entire weekend- actually some of my family did end up visiting as well. It was a great break from the normal DC routine! The OCA interns even came to one of the shows and stayed right in front of the stage the entire time! It was like my two worlds coming together: where I come from, and where I'm heading next.

Fast forward to now!

Today was a regular day at Naional CAPACD. Doing research and various projects. I have been given a huge impact to do when I get back to California, more details to come in time. This project is a testimony of what the internship has given me the possibility to do - mobilize the PI community effectively. I can't wait to get started.

Tomorrow we are going to tour the Interior, I am so excited! Plus EPIC gave Amarais & me official EPIC business cards, so I can practice giving my contact info successfully as well as practice my elevator speech! Wish me luck!!! Be back soon.

Confidence is key

Wow, the last 2 days have been the longest of my life. But they were AMAZAZING!

Yesterday I went to the farewell address to Secretary Locke who will become an US Ambassador for China. I was really interes

ted in going because I heard that APIA Vote would be hosting it. The even went well, lots of speakers - all entertaining. As they started to wrap up I appreciated that Secretary Locke & his wife constantly used the terms "Asian American & Pacific Island communities." Even though it should be AA&NHPI, I was grateful to finally be recognized. Most of the speakers kept saying Asian, Asian, Asian, Asian...some did mention PIs though, but over all it was a very rare mention. Then afterwords, Amaris started to move closer to get a picture of him and I followed. Soon, I found the secretary reaching for my hand to meet me!!! He grabbed my hand as I

introduced myself and said "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it." I felt so honored. (Even if he said that to everyone lol) A few of us OCA interns even got a picture with him, located at the beginning of this post. Soon after, I started to make my way toward his wife. Again I ended up meeting her and getting a picture with her! (The one below, to the right) This made my night.

I can proudly say that I no longer have a fear of meeting people of power. Ever since yesterday, I just gained more confidence I guess. Like tonight, I attended an NCAPA meeting and we had a chance to preview the Asian Pacific American Program and their new exhibit. I was listening to the head of the program talk on and on about Asians and Asian art. It made me think - what about PIs? Why call it Asia Pacific if there's only Asians being represented? So I worked up the courage to ask him if PI art/artists were ever part of the conversation. To my surprise, he said yes; of course. He explained that they are working on the PI

aspect for the future and encouraged me to email him.

I feel like I am armed with the voices & strength of my ancestors, and oh yes we will be heard.

Meet some of my fierce fellow community leaders aka the OCA Intern class of 2011, well some of us anyway (:

Eeeeek...Halfway

So, last week was officially my half way mark. I have grown, changed and most of all learned so much during my stay here in DC. I think what's changed about me most is becoming more politically conscious. For example, before I came I used to think of undocumented immigrants only being a Latino community issue. Now I know it is a huge issue in the AA&PI communities. Also, I knew what the dream act was about, but I underestimated the power & impact it can have on so many lives.

With my partner in crime at my side, we are slowly but surely expanding our network out here in our nation's capitol. I am so thankful for her, miss Amaris (: She pushes me to be more active, go to more meetings/workshops. My fearless leader - who I am both proud & honored to follow. She's constantly on conference calls & working on projects that benefit the AA&PI communities. My favorite thing about her, I think, is that she isn't scared to speak out. She speaks out against unrighteous authorities, and sometimes even elders. However, she does this in a respectable manner. I hope one day to be as brave as her.

We both just returned home today from our retreat with our OCA intern class. It brought us closer as a group, and as an individuals. As we stayed up until 5 AM both nights, we talked story and shared experiences. I must say, I am so glad to surrounded by such intelligent and passionate minds. The retreat made a lot of us realize why certain people are so passionate about certain issues. It also assures me that our future is in great hands! Even though I've only known them for 5 weeks, I feel like I've known them my whole life, especially my partner in crime. We (Amaris&I) constantly get asked if we had known each other before the internship, and people are always in disbelief that we didn't.

This week Kutturan Chamoru will be coming out to DC to perform for the Guam Liberation. Can't wait to see them, especially Uncle Joey aka my Fahja. It's like they're bringing a little piece of home to me, which I really miss. My mom sent me a letter, and Jojo wrote me one too. It kinda made me tear up a little, I miss them so much - especially Jojo. I hate every day that I don't spend with him. It's ohkay, I'll see him soon enough, 3 weeks to be exact.

Well, I know this post is kind of all over the place, but there's a lot that has happened (: Tune in next time!

Quick check in

I can hardly believe I've been here 4 weeks exactly! I've already grown so much and have gained so much more insight on political advocacy. I used to just come right home after finishing up at CAPACD, now I barely have time to read the OCA weekly reading assignments. It's all good though, I mean I have learned to speak more spontaneously. Last week in Samma Samma (OCA's sort of internship workshops we attend every Friday) we had a workshop on telling our story.

I know it sounds easy right, but the point is to be able to get the point of your story across in a short amount of time effectively. This skill will be useful if we are ever asked why we do what we do, or are so passionate about a certain topic. Even more useful if we ever are caught in an elevator with a person of high power, for example an elected official. This "self story" is also known as your elevator speech; you only have that small amount of time in the elevator to prove your point - which is usually hit or miss. So start practicing now!

I have grown so close to my OCA interns, that I can hardly imagine having to part ways with them - which I'll have to do in a little over 5 weeks. All in all I can say with confidence, that doing the internship is probably the best opportunity that has ever happened to me.

(Sorry my phone camera is still broken, so there's not that many pictures, if any at all -_-)

Right at home

Wednesday night was Pacific Night. I was totally psyched because I heard it was being held at the New Zealand Embassy!

I got to go with fellow, wiser (not elder, I don't want them to think I am calling them old lol) PI community leaders.

Over all the night was a great turnout! The majority of the people in the room were PIs! I felt so happy, and at home. And they weren't just Samoans and Hawaiians, there were like so many Fijians, it was beautiful to see everyone! All the different faces, to hear the different languages, honestly almost brought me to tears.

I also got a chance to meet some great PI leaders who were around my age, which I was stoked about! The night was just what I needed. I felt like I was surrounded by family. The whole room even got involved in a group Fijian dance, I am not sure of the name but basically the entire room danced together.

So much joy, so much love. So many people, so many good times and of course GOOD FOOD! I felt right at home, free to be myself. We were all there for a purpose, to enjoy each other's company. I'm not saying that I hadn't appreciated or enjoyed spending time at other events or conventions, but that night ... I felt like there was a deeper connection with these people: my people (:

(I also connect with the Asian American community, and I'm not putting them down in any way. I consider my people, people who are joining the fight for a stronger force in the AA&PI community)

proud to be a community leader

I know it's been a while since I wrote, but it's because National CAPACD's annual convention is finally over. The staff and I have been working day and night for the past 4 days. It was SUCH a great experience. I didn't realize the impact CAPACD has in the AA&PI community. They have the ability to gather the most inspirational leaders from all over the country! Such legends as "Uncle Bob" Santos, Gordon Chin, Bill Watanabe, Jan Masaoka, and of course the great Sefa Aina! There were many more guests such as Representatives Judy Chu, Xavier Becerra, Secretary Hilda Solis, etc. It was definitely an empowering convention! It was beautiful to be in that environment, everyone advocating for huge issues. Everyone talked with each other sharing stories, experiences, new ideas; so much political dialogue it made my heart swell with joy.

I was fortunate enough to meet with Wayne Ho: the ED of the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families. He is so chill, yet he gets things done. I met other great people as well, even Pacific Islanders - like this young Native Hawaiian woman who got to meet Obama and take a picture with him. Anyhow Wayne shared with us 3 main points which summarized the convention's theme (building the future).

1. All politics are local. Meaning you can always do something for your community to create lasting change.
2. Vision is the ability to see the invisible. This is touching on how for years the AA&PI communities have always been left out of conversations. We were never taken into consideration, never at the table. Invisible. Luckily, we had community leaders early on to pave the way to change. To make us be seen! To force people to hear our voices, and believe in ourselves.
3. It's about who you know, it's about who knows you. He explained it like this: Do you know Obama? Ohkay that's good. Now, does Obama know you? The point is to network network network! Build relationships, and create change so you will be known.

Robin Danner also added: being in a coalition is not optional! We need to come together to become one powerful force in order to take care of business.

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The convention was a great learning and growing experience. I'm so glad I got to be a part of it, needless to say you can find me there next year! (Hopefully lol depends on the dates, school comes first ya know?)

Look what I woke up to this morning (,;

Word on the street

I totally underestimated this internship. I was well aware of the cirriculum, but it's just different when you actually get t meet the fellow interns and talk, like really talk. Everyone is so different than what I expected. Not that I thought they would be bland, I just didn't expect everyone to be so similar to me, they're from all over the nation too!

Anyhow...

The ED of OCA spoke with us last Friday and had termed us as "ahead of the curve." I've been hearing that a lot lately; how we have this internship programs and are attending the CAPAL workshops. It's pretty much like word on the street is you're ahead of the curve kind of deal.It really does help us to network more and give us a chance to meet interesting, powerful and full on inspirational people. I am really glad that Amaris pushes me to attend those sorts of things. I learn a lot too, and get free food (: Tonight's workshop was about cyber security, I thought it would be boring, but it was actually really informative. Made me realize a lot.

In other news National CAPACD's convention is coming up, so this week is crunch time! Hopefully everything gets finalized in time. I'm really excited for the conventions. This year's theme is building the future. It's a gathering of API community leaders from all over then country, including some people from the Hill! Can't wait to see it all come together and see our hard work pay off. Be back soon!

Taking the time out to say thanks (:

Dear world,

Like Rihannan and Nicki Minaj said: get ready for it, cause we came to WIN!

Love,

Nikki & Amaris & OUR PEOPLE!

Broadened horizons: check!

Yesterday was the first day of CAPAL 's workshops. It was very motivational for me. All the speakers had been doing their jobs for a while and spoke about how they ended up at their careers that they love. I think there were 2 main points I went away with: those speakers who had their dream jobs were in my shows at one point - as an intern. They went through the same uncomfortable sittings with their role models, going to events because there was FREE FOOD. They had the same doubts and uncertainties, but they also had a goal - to serve their community. And even though they are all different, each of their careers allows them to accomplish that. The second point made was that you shouldn't only come to the events for the free food; your main goal should be to NETWORK. All the EDs and officers from all kinds of orgs have chosen to take time out of their busy schedule to meet us - the interns. We shouldn't take that lightly.

Also since I've been in DC, I have been getting so much advice on law school and community work, etc. But the ED of the org I'm placed at really talked to me the most. We happened to both take the same line on the metro to get home. What she told me was very helpful and even refreshing. She said that whether I go to law school or go to grad school, either choice is not wrong or right. They are just different paths. I can apply the skills/education from either choice to my ultimate goal: to serve/better our community. Whether this means by becoming a lawyer, or a public servant doesn't matter because I'll be making a difference either way. As well as leading the way for future generations of our people.

Getting My Feet Wet

Today was a very good day! Amaris and I decided to take the metro today on our own. Thankfully the family that is hosting us stays literally less than half a block away from the station so we don't have to drive to our placements. We are grateful for the Afele Faamuli family for housing us, we feel right at home. We took the train to my placement National CAPACD (aka National Capacity) which is/near Dupont Circle. We were talking with Lisa Hasegawa, she's the ED of National CAPACD. She gave us the entire rundown of the organization. It was very interesting. She also gave us an important piece of information. She said that when she first started becoming an advocate in the political realm she discovered that there needs to be 2 parties involved. The people pushing the federal government to act, and people in the federal government acting. Without these 2 essential components you can't get much done, you need both sides of the equation you know - the problem and the solution. One is not more important than the other, both are essential. That is my most meaningful takeaway for the day.

DUPONT CIRCLE IS AWESOME!!! For more details on our day be on the lookout for the video should be posting it soon. Amaris is doing a sort of video log, can't wait to see it all come together.

In the mean time, enjoy our crazy picture.

Pregame

Just got the call I have been waiting for, for about a month (: I am officially in OCA's summer internship program! I have been placed at National CACPACD

I am so excited! I have finals next week and I can barely study because now the internship is on my mind all the time. None-the-less I will of course study my brains out. But as soon as my finals are done I'll be in "I'm going to DC" mode 24/7. I have to book my flight, pack accordingly, plan accordingly and so much more. This will be the first time that I have been on my own - and it's for about 2 months! My mom is proud and excited for me, but is just sad that I'll be gone for so long. The majority of my family and friends feel the same way. I may be missing my niece and nephew's first birthdays. It's devastating, but I know that I can do more for them by being in this internship than letting this opportunity pass me by.

I can't wait to start working for the National CACPACD. I love working with the community and with community organizations! I am such a people person, really. I love meeting new people. I hope to offer new insight, and learn more about myself.