Legislative Staff Academy
The California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Staff Academy provides staff with an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and management skills that aim to support upward mobility in their careers.
The program is designed around a four-pillar model of API upward mobility: building individual readiness for change, creating peer networks and safe spaces, explaining the unwritten rules of the Legislature, and connections to power through cultivating relationships with influential leaders.
Program Overview
The Legislative Staff Academy is a 9-month program, 60-hour leadership program for API legislative staff
12 highly interactive, expert-led seminars on six core topics
Team project to benefit and build the pipeline of young legislative staff and high school leaders
Customized 5-year career planning session with the Executive Director
Personalized 1:1 mentor program
Policy briefings
All sessions will be conducted in person in Sacramento, CA
Free program to the participant, thanks to generous sponsors and supporters
Now Accepting Applications
The Experience
Participants can expect to experience a well-rounded and immersive experience tailored to provide the participants with the relationships and essential hard and soft skills needed to navigate the complexities of public service. The program pairs strengths based data, individual goals and the insider insights to help participants navigate their path in public service. Whether it is a path to elected office or to excel as a legislative or administrative staffer, participants will acquire the knowledge, skills and relationships they will need to get them there.
“As a proud member of the inaugural class of the API Staff Academy, I can say that my professional development and career have been enhanced tremendously by this experience. API Staff Academy not only provides knowledge and a deeper understanding of the legislative world, but it pairs you with a mentor who shares your values and goals. The mentorship I received in the program was without equal. The Academy utilizes the most prestigious talent and accomplished individuals to serve as mentors. It’s hard to overstate how much I benefited from having my mentor recount his experiences and directly impart his wisdom to me. His guidance was a turning point in my career. Now, I am fortunate enough to call him my boss, and also my friend. API Staff Academy mentorship made this possible, and I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.”
Brandon Seto, Class of 2018
Senior Floor Consultant, Office of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
"The legislature can be an intimidating space to be in, especially when you do not see yourself represented well (or at all) in the staff and legislators around you. As a Muslim, Pakistani staffer who started in the building in 2016, and as a new Legislative Director, the Institute has provided me with a strong network of mentors, deep relationships with other staffers from similar API backgrounds, as well as tools to expand my understandings of politics. More importantly, it has helped me feel more comfortable and confident in this political sphere knowing that I have a support system that I can turn to for advice and guidance when I need it."
Maheen Ahmed, Class of 2019
Deputy Director, Office of CARE, California Department of Justice - Office of Attorney General
Staff Academy Cohort 7
Over seven months, 12 rising API leaders engaged in a training program gaining skills, insights, and connections to propel their careers. Guided by policymakers, advocates, and civic leaders, this year's cohort explored policy strategy, leadership development and the unwritten
rules of the Legislature.
We are incredibly proud of their growth and can't wait to see the impact they will make as the next generation.
Arali Seneviratne
Legislative Aide
Asm. Arambula
Bhawan Cheema
Policy Analyst
Sen. Ashby
Vincent Ma
Assistant Deputy Director Legislation and Finance
Ryan Tomlinson
Legislative Aide
Sen. Ashby
Steven Lee
Legislative Assistant
Asm. Fong
Connie Chan
Legislative Manager
State Treasurer’s Office
Fatema Nushin
Legislative Aide
Asm. Muratsuchi
Allie Umemoto
Legislative Assistant
Asm. Ransom
Evan Fern
Legislative Aide
Sen. Cortese
Anthony Pham
State Affairs Analyst
CAISO
Erica Willett
Deputy Director of Operations Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement
Therresa Austin
Consultant
Senate Education Committee
Featured Program Speakers
Our sincere thanks to the Capitol Community for empowering our Staff Academy cohort, sharing guidance on navigating the Capitol's culture, and building lasting professional networks.
| Session 1 Navigating the Capitol Landscape |
Session 2 Adapting To Your Environment |
Session 3 Deeping Connections Community Engagement |
Session 4 Communications |
Session 5 Project Management |
Session 6 Leadership Development |
Session 7 Building Resilience & Sustaining Excellence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia Kwong Kim Chief Of Staff API Caucus Chair Mike Fong Kevin Liao Principal Frontrunner Strategies Voleck Taing Government Affairs Advocate American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Mark Tollefson Undersecretary California Transportation Agency (CalSTA) |
Viviana Becerra Chief of Staff, Attorney General Rob Bonta Annie Chou Legislative Advocate of California Teachers Association Dean Grafilo Partner Capital Advocacy Ryan Guillen Chief of Staff, Assemblymember Kalra (AD-25) Mona Pasquil Rogers APILCI Board Member Director of California State Policy, Meta Marielle Tsukamoto Educator and Activist Japanese Internment Camp Survivor |
Rejie Marie Baloyos, MA Executive Director Asian Resources, Inc. (ARI) Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen District 10 Jim Tabuchi Serial Social Entrepreneur Maeley Tom Founding Member & Author Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Institute |
Regina Brown Wilson Executive Director California Black Media Sabrina Bodon Equity Lab editor The Sacramento Bee Darrel Ng VP of Communications and Marketing Health Net |
Julian Canete President and CEO California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Willie Pelote Principal Pelote Strategic Advisors |
Diana Crofts-Pelayo Deputy Director of Communications Office of Gavin Newsom Yumi Sera Executive Director Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Governors office of Service and Community Engagement Bill Wong Principal Bill Wong LLC and Author of Better to Win: Hardball Lessons in Leadership, Influence, & the Craft of Politics |
Carrie Wright Chief Strategy Officer Sage Strategies |
