Twelve years ago, when an opportunity arose to run for El Cerrito city council, I jumped at the chance to give back to my hometown, which had already given so much to me.

As the second Asian American and first Filipino and member of the LGBTQ+ community elected to the city council, I knew how important it was for all people to feel respected and welcomed. People deserve to see themselves in the leadership of their communities. An inclusive community leads to better policies, higher resident engagement, and more public trust in local government.

As city leaders, we have an immense opportunity and responsibility to lift up those around us and invest in the next generation of local leaders. For many, a committed mentor can help define one’s experience in public service.

Around a decade ago, now California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other Asian American leaders created a boot camp for Asian Americans interested in political office in California. I was fortunate enough to participate in the inaugural class. I didn’t just learn a lot about running for public office: I forged relationships with people invested in building the bench. These folks shared my sense of community and commitment to public service, and we all wanted each other to succeed.

It was around the same time that I met the current California State Treasurer, Fiona Ma. She took me under her wing and, for years now, has been a steadfast mentor, confidant, and guide. I owe everything to Treasurer Ma, who taught me the importance of supporting others in the Asian community and investing in aspiring city officials.

I have benefited firsthand from dedicated mentors throughout my career in public service. It’s my mission in life to help build the bench of passionate, dedicated local leaders to serve after me. 

One young, elected official that I am very proud to call a mentee is Hercules Vice Mayor Alex Walker-Griffin. I met Alex through his volunteer work during his first year of college. Alex and I connected right away. I was inspired by his passion for his community, civic engagement, and plans to run for local government. Early on in our mentorship, a colleague and I took Alex to an event sponsored by Treasurer Ma. Alex was blown away and inspired by many of the regional and statewide elected officials in the room. I hope this moment — and seeing what could be possible — was a formative moment for Alex and his local government aspirations. You can read more about Alex and the next generation of leaders in last month’s issue of Western City.

My goal is to create a space for others to see themselves in politics, so that the next generation knows that there is a seat at the table for them. And I’m not alone in this effort. The Cal Cities Latino Caucus is the gold standard for succession planning and mentoring young Latinos interested in public office. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is an example of someone heavily involved in the caucus during his time as a Los Angeles council member and President of Cal Cities. Sen. Padilla hasn’t forgotten his local government roots and always makes time to meet with California city officials.

Mentorship is not something that should be taken lightly. It takes time, effort, and is a form of civic engagement in its own right. However, regardless of your experience or seniority, everyone has something to give and something to gain from mentoring. I hope you embrace any future mentorship opportunities you come across.