Real world experience: UH Hilo senior Imani Lee interns in CA U.S. representative’s office
Earning her way into a competitive slot chosen through a California non-profit, Imani Lee completed a nine-week internship in the district office of U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez.
By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
A psychology major at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with a minor in political science was chosen in a highly competitive process as one of 15 interns placed in prestigious positions by the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE), a nonprofit based in Los Angeles, California.
Imani Lee, who hails from California, is a Vulcan student-athlete on the women’s volleyball team and also is working toward a pre-law certificate. She was honored as a 2023-2024 scholar athlete. She joined the 2025 CAUSE Leadership Academy cohort with students from well-known universities such as Georgetown, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCLA.
CAUSE’s mission is to advance the political and civic empowerment of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through nonpartisan voter outreach, training, and education as well as leadership development. The group helped with the summer internship placements while holding educational and support activities for the members of the cohort.
While majoring in psychology, Lee also has a deep interest in political science. CAUSE found a good match for her with an internship in the district office of a California U.S. representative.
“I have specific interests in environmental policy and climate justice, while also personally connected to the sports world and having an interest in sports psychology,” she says on her LinkedIn. “To help narrow down my path, I am actively seeking hands-on opportunities in the Psychology, Political Science, and Law fields, including any research experience that might align with topics I am passionate about.”
“Whether is it at the city, state, or federal level, our communities demand advocacy, and this real-world experience has prepared me to fight the necessary fight.”
For her CAUSE internship, Lee was placed in the district office of U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (California Congressional District 34), where she helped with outreach efforts. (See a fun post featuring Lee on Rep. Gomez’s Instagram.)
During the nine weeks of the summer internship, Lee and the cohort immersed themselves in meaningful work and CAUSE activities to strengthen their leadership skills, deepen their understanding of civic issues affecting Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities, and learned about the power of working with others toward a shared purpose.
“Working with CAUSE this past summer opened my eyes to the importance of having a seat at the table,” says Lee. “Being surrounded by a passionate AANHPI [Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander] community who constantly find new ways to advocate for these voices sparked my commitment to this line of work. Whether is it at the city, state, or federal level, our communities demand advocacy, and this real-world experience has prepared me to fight the necessary fight.
The program culminated August 15, when the members of the cohort gathered to share with each other what they learned with their host offices and the CAUSE network. It included reflections about the CAUSE leadership workshops they had attended, their host office placements, the Capitol Summit trip to Sacramento, and their Mock Campaign for Assembly District 49 featured at the CAUSE Summer Soiree.
Lee says the mock campaign activity was a highlight of the summer experience. Participants were split into two teams, and she was chosen to lead one of the campaigns. “It was an incredible learning experience,” she says.
“I am motivated by a genuine desire to promote mental well-being and equality for all.”
Lee’s focus for now as she completes her senior year is on exploring her career options in the legal field, foreign service, or the nonprofit realm of AAPI advocacy, or possibly something else.
“I am motivated by a genuine desire to promote mental well-being and equality for all,” she says on her LinkedIn.
Lee now joins over 300 CAUSE alumni, described by the organization as “a network full of bold thinkers, caring advocates, and everyday change-makers. Can’t wait to see what they build together next!”
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
