West LA College Builds Relations

West LA College has experienced a demanding, yet exciting and successful semester. With the addition of four new interns mid-year, the West LA program added to its diverse team. As a new group of students working together, the interns were able to expand their influence on campus and simultaneously create a powerful force. They exemplified leadership and building relations.

West LA interns achieved their goals in having two legislative visits, participating in the March in March, and putting together a town hall on campus. Interns met with Assemblymember Ted Lieu and Speaker Karen Bass. In addition, they re-chartered a club called DSOL (Dedicated Students Organizing and Leading) that the interns themselves started up to rally other students on their campus. The interns use this club to run workshops based on what they have learned so as to mobilize others; the interns themselves as trainees become trainers. This club is unique to the West LA campus and has caught the attention of AFT interns at other campuses.

“I had the vision to start something that is not just one person leading a club, but rather a group of students figuring out what to do together,” said West LA intern William Diaz. “I really focused on gaining as many skills as I could from all of the various trainings and using that to get other students involved.”

At the March in March, West LA interns traveled alongside the ASO to participate in the statewide rally. Intern coordinator Mindy Chen revealed how the interns persuaded members of the ASO, who usually do not lobby on student issues, to become more proactive and engaged. The interns trained the ASO members on the bus to Sacramento and pushed them to knock on legislators doors one arriving at their destination.

“This was a moment of mobilization”, said Chen. “The interns took what they were learning and used their knowledge to rally other students.”

With a diverse team of interns, rallying brings a range of perspectives that makes their arguments more powerful. Chen described the interns as “people from all walks of life”, not only in their ages, personalities, and personal backgrounds, but also in their talents. West LA interns are active on campus- ranging from involvement with KCRW to leadership on the Environmental Club board-and each member brings their skill to the team.

The West LA town hall was the most successful event the interns organized. The event was put together in a week and a half with Reggie Jones Sawyer, State Assembly candidate, and took on a more intimate setting. Unlike other town halls, West LA interns had an intimate discussion as well as a guest who was not in the existing legislature. By doing this, the interns established a more personal atmosphere and hoped to build a relationship with Sawyer before he takes office.

“Sawyer sat in a blue chair just like the students,” said Chen. “The town hall was more of an in depth conversation, off the microphone, and this organization really demonstrated the team’s flexibility and ability to mobilize”.

In addition to building relations with their peers and legislators, West LA interns also keep a close relationship with the AFT chapter on campus. The interns attend all of the AFT meetings and make announcements every time about the program. They are creating partnership with the faculty.

“We have made so much progress on campus this semester figuring out how to work with our campus,” said Diaz. “We are all looking forward to next year.”