Vanuyen Pham '18

When I learned that the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) was the only national civil rights organization devoted to empowering Southeast Asian American communities through advocacy and leadership development, I knew it would be an incredible opportunity for me to intern there, and it was everything I hoped for and more. SEARAC was the perfect place for me to grow more comfortable within my identity, to be in a space surrounded by fierce, empathetic leaders who were supportive mentors, and to understand the remarkable history of how Southeast Asian Americans have fought hard to carve a space for ourselves in this country and make our voices heard.

For once, I was in a space where I was innately understood, owing to our shared histories, experiences, and struggles. SEARAC is uniquely situated as an organization with deep ties to community partners, but is also a state and national leader in policy research and is oftentimes the only source of disaggregated data focusing specifically on Southeast Asian Americans. Here, I was able to better my explore my interests in direct community work as well as broader level policy advocacy, and to think more deeply about intersectionality both among issues that Southeast Asian Americans face, and also across other racial and ethnic groups. I was able to go into the community to interview Southeast Asian American youth on their sexual and reproductive health needs, but also had the chance to visit the California State Capitol on legislative visits and learn more about the policymaking process. I am determined to continue seeking public policy experiences after graduation, while always remembering to ground my advocacy in the communities that I am a part of and working for, and this is all due to my experience at SEARAC. I am immensely grateful to have been part of SEARAC, and I know I will take the love and resilience that I felt there with me wherever I end up going next.