Jenny Lee (she/her) is a rising senior at Yale University double majoring in Economics and Ethnicity, Race & Migration, with a concentration in Asian American feminist ethics of care. Informed by her background as a 1.5-generation Korean American from Seattle, Washington, her work has brought her to the Asian American Cultural Center and Office of Gender and Campus Culture at Yale, as well as Reproductive Freedom for All (NARAL) and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. This summer, she is an intern at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). In her free time, you can find her perusing new books on her Goodreads feed, listening to Korean pop music, and walking in the Pacific Northwest nature.
Internship Placement:
White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI)
As a CAPAL scholar/intern, what does CAPAL mean to you?
CAPAL provides an opportunity to envision myself fitting into a world of public service I once considered inaccessible, welcoming me into an intimate and strong community of AA and NHPI leaders.
What is an issue or topic within the AANHPI communities that you feel passionate about addressing?
I am inspired by questions of how Asian American feminists and women of color have cultivated understandings of care and kinship in the face of institutional, interpersonal, and historical violence; and how Asian American communities can embody/recognize feminized forms of labor and knowledge.
What are your main responsibilities at your position? What are some of your big projects?
At WHIAANHPI, I am primarily working in policy and communications, grounded in the Initiative’s priorities of advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. I take part in crafting WHIAANHPI’s public-facing materials and digital engagement, alongside other internal ad-hoc projects.
How does this internship fit with your professional and career goals?
This internship is my first time working in a federal agency, different from my previous engagement with public service through nonprofits and campus spaces. Here, I am both broadening my understanding of how people, government, and organizations interact and piece together, while beginning to particularize what directions best align with my values.
What does public service mean to you? What sparked your interest or desire to get involved with public service?
To me, public service means applying my lived experience to name which communities of the ‘public’ are often rendered invisible, and thoughtfully committing to a path forward that centers those directly impacted and foregrounds the interconnectedness of all issues. Generous mentors, personal reflection, and literature have gently guided me into the world of public service.