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Since 2017, KAGC has helped undergraduate students who have demonstrated commitment to empowerment of the Korean American community and public service work in congressional offices each summer. Over the past four years, a total of 19 students have been hosted by 14 congressional offices in the Senate and the House of Representatives, both Republican and Democrat.
Given the public health crisis this year, all of the 2020 KAGC Congressional Fellows are working remotely across different time zones.
Meet the six students in the 2020 KAGC Congressional Fellowship, as they help build a pipeline for representation, establish a Korean American visibility, and amplify our community’s voice.
UPDATE: Meet this year's class of KAGC Congressional Fellowship!🔹 Soho Sarah Cho serving in the office of…
Posted by Korean American Grassroots Conference – KAGC on Friday, June 12, 2020
Soho Cho serving in the office of Rep. Susan Davis (D, CA-53)
What compelled you to apply for this program?
I was never really interested in government and politics until I attended the KAGC U Leadership Summit earlier this year. Attending that event first exposed me to issues that Korean Americans, and as a student leader for my community at home in Tucson, I naturally wanted to learn more.
How did your experience this summer impact your view?
This summer was a crazy time for everyone on Capitol Hill, especially with the rise of racial tensions, COVID-19 affecting everyone, the election coming, unemployment benefits expiring, etc. Being able to work on the Hill during this time I think was the best timing, mainly because this internship confirmed that I could finally understand why people thought that the government has inefficiencies that lead to frustration.
I have also realized that many still looked past the presence of Asian Americans in this country, with many of us still unfortunately facing stereotypes, prejudice, and normalized racism. The importance of Asian American representation at the federal level is so crucial, and I think my views on the importance of civic engagement is stronger than ever.
What do you like the best about your experience this summer?
I feel so blessed to be able to work with such incredibly dedicated and kind people on my team. I also love that KAGC provides guest speakers every week. Each of the guest speakers’ stories were extremely empowering, and it made me realize that we as college students still have a long way to go.
Student Spotlight: Soho, Arizona
Yvette Han serving in the office of Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D, TX-35)
What compelled you to apply for this program?
I knew I wanted to intern on Capitol Hill after this year’s KAGC U Leadership Summit when I visited Capitol Hill to meet with Senator Ted Cruz and Senator John Cornyn’s staffers to ask for their support on policy priorities for the Korean American community. I was compelled to apply for the KAGC Congressional Fellows Program after I witnessed how my advocacy efforts for the Korean-American policy priorities turned into tangible changes.
How did your experience this summer impact your view?
Before this internship, I had thought that the power to enact change in a community through legislation was only reserved for the member of Congress. However, I learned and personally experienced that any law or policy can be traced back to an individual who was brave enough to voice their concerns and demand for a change. Every time I see a social media post that I had drafted reach hundreds of thousands of constituents or the research that I had compiled regarding health care become actual ideas for legislation that will soon be considered by the House, I realized that politics is not something that is reserved only for the politicians but a product of everyone’s beliefs and efforts.
What were some of the questions you had prior to starting your Fellowship? Have they been addressed?
Before starting my fellowship, I was always curious about how different policy ideas, needs, recommendations, and grievances turn into legislation. I found the answer to this question by helping a staff member write new legislation on improving care at nursing facilities from start to finish.
Student Spotlight: Yvette, Harvard
Abby Jung serving in the office of Rep. Joaquin Castro (D, TX-20)
What compelled you to apply for this program?
I’ve always had an interest in politics, but I never had an outlet in my community to express this. For a while, I considered politics a “hobby” or a part-time interest investment. It never occurred to me that it could very much be a career, and in public policy, you don’t even have to be the frontline Congressperson; you can be a behind-the-scenes staffer.
When I attended the 2018 National Conference and looked through the program book, I saw the names and headshots of that year’s KAGC fellows. I remember thinking, “I want to do that too.” Two years later, I found my name and headshot on a virtual page alongside other interns. To my younger self, working on the Hill and interacting with my representatives was not fathomable. But thanks to KAGC, I was able to turn this seemingly far-fetched idea into a 7-month portion of my gap year.
How did your experience this summer impact your view?
One of the biggest things that has been reinforced while working on the Hill is that if you never ask, the answer is always “no.” There is a presence of Korean Americans on the Hill, but it is nowhere near as large as what our community needs. The more Korean American representation we have on the Hill, the slimmer the chances of receiving “no” as an answer become. As much as we need grassroots activism within the Korean American community, we need people who will represent us in office as representatives and staffers.
What do you like the best about your experience this summer?
I loved the Thursday night Meet and Greet sessions. Each speaker was truly amazing, and I learned that the world of public service and politics is 1) a revolving door, and 2) much larger than I would have ever thought. The level of networking and sunbae–hoobae relationships this fellowship fosters is unprecedented. Covid definitely impacted how our internship looked, but thanks to the KAGC team, the transition was seamless, and I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.
Talking to My Parents about Black Lives Matter: Abby Jung
David Jung serving in the office of Rep. Gil Cisneros (D, CA-39)
What compelled you to apply for this program?
Public policy is personal; it touches the lives of every single member of the country. Having seen my family’s past experiences and challenges, I wanted to intern on Capitol Hill because I think legislators and the legislation they pass play a key role in giving voice to those who are voiceless. KAGC offered a path for me to do that, all the while getting closer to fellow Korean Americans in the process.
During your internship so far, what did you get to do in the office?
In my office, I was able to work on tasks from multiple different workstreams: legislative, press/communications, administrative, and constituent services. In addition to these daily tasks, I was able to conduct research for staffers, write memos for hearings and briefings, and put together small projects for the Congressman’s office.
How did your experience this summer impact your view?
My experience on the Hill demonstrated just how heavily constituents rely on their representatives during times of crisis and hardship. While the common stereotype of politicians is that they are not motivated by public interest, I’ve seen first-hand how hard representatives work to advocate and serve their constituents’ interests despite bureaucratic backlog.
What do you like the best about your experience this summer?
I truly enjoyed the KAGC Community. The internship was made infinitely better by having our weekly speaker sessions and by continuing to chat with friends in different offices.
Ciara Timban serving in the office of Rep. Charlie Crist (D, FL-13)
What compelled you to apply for this program?
In college, I had the opportunity to work alongside amazing organizers and activists in the A/PIA community. Since then, I’ve developed a strong passion for grassroots advocacy and community organizing. It’s always been a dream of mine to bring my passion for public service to Capitol Hill, and I’m grateful that programs like this exist to help Korean Americans like myself get our foot in the door and advocate for more representation for our communities.
How did your experience this summer impact your view?
Prior to working on Capitol Hill, I used to have this notion that staffers and Representatives focused almost exclusively on lawmaking, but one thing I didn’t realize until I started working for Rep. Crist is just how much customer service plays a role in congressional offices. My experience handling constituent services has truly changed my understanding of what it means to not only be a good representative, but also a good citizen.
What do you like the best about your experience this summer?
What I like best about this program is getting to be a part of such an amazing cohort of other passionate and driven Korean Americans. While I’m sad we don’t get to be together in person, it’s nice to know that there are other people going through similar (if not the same) experiences as I am, and they have all been such a great source of support and encouragement throughout these weird and uncertain times.
Ketzia Lee serving in the office of Rep. Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5)
How did your experience this summer impact your view?
This experience has really reinforced the importance of civic engagement for me, especially for groups who are typically underrepresented in government. A staffer once told me that in their experience, the most effective lobbyists were not the ones who were professionally hired, but rather the group of regular people who assembled for something they believed in. I myself often felt most compelled to do something when hearing directly from constituents who were taking the time out of their busy lives to advocate for themselves.
What do you like the best about your experience this summer?
One of things I liked best was the people the program connected me with—the KAGC interns/fellows and staff members, my office’s staffers, and the special guests that offered their time to talk with us candidly about their experiences. I am truly thankful to this program for the new friends and mentors it has given me, whom I am constantly learning from.
Throughout the summer, our Fellows receive a stipend of $3,000, benefit from education and mentorship support, and enjoy special opportunities for networking and enrichment.