Tales of the City

It may be absolute vanity to think that there may be prospective LEAP folks who are actually reading this blog...but here goes nothing:

LEAP is an opportunity of a life time to really dig deep down into the Asian Pacific Islander community in Southern California, and to form strong relationships with mentors. I can't say enough how important LEAP has been for my development--professional and personally. If you have any questions (what's it like, etc.) feel free to get a hold of me.

The 2010 applications for the Leadership in Action Internship with LEAP, Inc. is out! For prospective applicants, feel free to contact me about questions you may have about the program.

ALSO...

The Capital Fellows Program consists of 4 programs, 2 in the Legislature, 1 with the Executive Branch, and 1 with the courts system.

Fellows in each program work for 11 months, receive health benefits and a monthly stipend of $1972 and are employees of Sacramento State. They work as full-time members of a legislative, executive, or judicial branch office, and are typically given assignments with a significant amount of responsibility and challenges. Fellows also enroll as graduate students at Sacramento State and receive graduate units from the Sacramento State Government Department or Public Policy and Administration Program. The enrollment fees are paid by the programs.

The selection process for the fellows programs starts in the late fall when the application period opens. Anyone with a bachelor's degree by September 1, 2010 and a demonstrated interest in state government and public service is eligible to apply. There are no preferred majors. Applicants must be 20 years of age by September 1, 2010. Graduate, postgraduate and mid-career applicants are welcome. Non-U.S. citizens must provide proof of appropriate immigration status. The Capital Fellows Programs do not meet the requirements for F-1 or J-1 visas.

Fellows are selected in the spring and start their programs in fall with an intensive orientation conducted by the program, after which they interview with various offices before being placed. They attend weekly graduate seminars conducted by their program's academic advisors.

If you have any questions about the Senate Fellowship, which I'm currently serving, please feel free to contact me as well.

So my blog is still linked to LEAP and I find it only appropriate to document, document, and document the different experiences I've had.

I left LEAP two weeks ago. Thanks to all the LEAP staff, we had a fabulous graduation ceremony with great food. Jury Candelario, an API Equaltiy - LA Steering Committee Member, and also Division Director of Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) represented API Equality and attended my graduation.

I've now stepped in as temporary staff here at API Equality - LA. The other interns like to joke that I'm now an "interim director" which, while as a nice ring to it, is completely untrue. I'm staffing the steering committee full time, making sure that operations are running smoothly, and chiming in when I need to raise concerns. But I have a long way in terms of work experience and education to actually be a director. BUT that day will come! Working here the last two weeks has already been a huge learning curve, and I'm glad I have the steering committe to be my mentors. Seriously, I could not wish for better bosses!

So we have to some reflections for LEAP's Friday professional developments and it coerces you, and not in a friendly way either, to think about about the future--critically and deliberately. I stress those two things largely because we think about the future...briefly...but never really engage it. So off I go to engage critically.!

Since yesterday, I've been staffing API Equality - LA as a staffer, and not just an intern. I appreciate the opportunity to work so closely with amazing steering committee members and to be able to really hone my skills and to work in such an environment that is positive.

My tasks lists continually grow, and I'm completely amazed at the amount of work our organization can do with so little resources. A lot of it comes from the heart and energy of our volunteers--2000 strong--to make sure we restore marriage equality to California.

Immigration will be on the Obama agenda for later this year (theoretically). This is exactly tied into marriage equality.

This is from: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/12300/immigration-equality-at-last-a-real-chance-for-reform-that-includes-samesex-couples

Julie Kruse is the Policy Director at Immigration Equality, a national org that is working to gain equal immigration rights for the LGBT and HIV-positive community. She has written this guest post for the Blend. (Photo of Kruse by Judy C. Rolfe)

There's a battle looming for LGBT families that we can win now - a battle to keep lesbians and gays from literally being torn from our same-sex partners. Discriminatory immigration laws are causing LGBT families needless suffering.

In April, Shirley Tan of Pacifica, Calif., as reported in a recent People magazine article, was facing deportation and forced separation from her partner Jaylynn, who is a U.S. citizen, and their two U.S. citizen children. Just days before her scheduled deportation, Sen. Diane Feinstein introduced a private bill on her behalf, which effectively delays the deportation for almost two years.

Gordon Stewart has moved to England to stay with his life partner Renato. Because of being abroad, he was not able to spend the time caring for a sister sick with cancer, as he had hoped to do.

Judy Rickard retired early to be with her partner, Karen, and move abroad, if necessary, to keep their family together.

In short, the 36,000 bi-national lesbian, gay and bisexual families in the U.S. face acute crises every day because discriminatory immigration laws prevent them from sponsoring their same-sex partners for residency in the U.S.

Finally, after years of struggle to fix this injustice, we have a shot at winning this fight, but it will require our community to take action.

CONGRESS AND THE White House are committed to moving forward with comprehensive immigration reform. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), chair of the subcommittee charged with overseeing immigration, recently said that he will have a bill ready for consideration by Labor Day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised, once the Senate votes on its version, to bring a similar measure to a vote in her chamber, too.

The White House held a summit in June and formed an immigration working group to help move comprehensive immigration reform legislation forward. And President Obama has said he supports our inclusion in the bill.

Now, the LGBT community is at a significant tipping point to ensure inclusion of our families in this legislation.

API Equality - LA is asking me stay on after my internship as full time staff. WHEEEEEE!!