Pillars of Leadership
After meeting with Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Raul Grijalva, CHCI’s emphasis of civic engagement was really driven home for me. Because I intern with Congressman Grijalva, I am familiar with the details of his path to the House of Representatives. Both he and Congresswoman Chu were civically engaged at the local level early on in their careers. Because they both spent time in the trenches, so to speak, they built strong records of public service in their respective communities. This experience simultaneously educated them about the needs of the people they would later represent and made them stronger, more effective leaders in the House. As both Chu and Grijalva progressed through their careers they moved from the local level, into state offices and finally into their current roles at the federal level. For Congressman Grijalva, this path included the Tucson School Board followed by the Pima County Board of Supervisors. At each step the Congressman was civically engaged in his community and thus attuned to the needs of the people he serves. This is an important lesson to learn as a young leader. By being civically engaged in my community, I am learning the needs of people just like me. Should I be privileged enough to represent my community in some capacity in the future, as a leader such knowledge and awareness will be invaluable and empowering.
