A 19 Year Old Voice

UCA

By Meranda Ma

Growing up as one of the only Asian American individuals in a Caucasian-dominant Chicago suburb, I constantly sought the comfort of assimilation and conformity. Aside from my mom and other family members, I could rarely find another Asian or Asian American role model who I could follow and feel inspired by. In fact, for most of my life, it was rather difficult for me to identify well-known national and international leaders who were also among a minority race or ethnicity like myself. However, the 2008 presidential election that named Barrack Obama as the first African American president left a significant impression on my ten-year-old psyche; I distinctly remember watching his inauguration and thinking, "If Barrack Obama can be the first African American president, then I can be the first woman president."

Upon returning from the National Civic Leadership Forum, I continue to feel unbelievably humbled, inspired and empowered by all the trail-blazing Asian American politicians and leaders I had the opportunity to meet. At the forefront of improving the lives of many Americans and illuminating issues that the government has failed to recognize before are Asian American politicians, such as Judy Chu, Mike Honda and Norman Minetaall of whom attended and spoke at the convention, as well as interacted with its participants. After listening to numerous panels and individual speeches, the essential lessons or pieces of advice I retained from the convention were: create alliances with all people, become involved in the community, and remember the human aspect of all policy and political action. Among all the speakers, a common theme emphasized was the importance of building relationships between all minority groups (e.g. African American/Black, Latino, etc.) rather than exclusively establishing relationships within the Asian American community. Furthermore, multiple individuals mentioned how crucial it was to become involved in ones community and to expend ones energy by making a difference beginning from a local, grassroots level. Finally, when talking about controversial and significant issues like healthcare and immigration, many of the speakers implied that in constructing and establishing policy, one must not forgo the values of humanity for political goals or motives.

The National Civic Leadership Forum, co-organized by APAPA and the Civic Leadership Forum foundation, provided a refreshing experience and invigorated my personal beliefs in the potential of Americas minorities. I no longer struggle to identify Asian American and minority leaders to whom I can look up as I once did as a little girl; instead, I aspire to one day represent the Asian American community in such a way that advances social justice and international cooperation, thereby building upon the legacy of all Asian American leaders.

Ultimately, I am deeply appreciative to have been able to attend such a dynamic conference, and it would not have been possible without the invitation from the Illinois chapter of United Chinese Americans (UCA) and through the Civic Leadership Forums (CLF) sponsorship. By providing these opportunities, organizations like UCA and CLF are priming future leaders and equipping them with skills to excel.