The Many California Experiences

In January of 2022, I took my very first work trip as a CCST S&T Policy Fellow at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to observe a wildfire-impacted disaster site. After a three-hour drive—weaving through winding roads toward the Sierra Nevada mountains—I stepped out of the car in my uniform (a short-sleeved black polo and baggy khakis) into one of the only grocery stores I could find in a snowy, small town.

At the register, the cashier prompted me to enter my phone number for a discount. When he noticed I had an unfamiliar area code, I told him my number was from Maryland, where I spent most of my years growing up. He asked me why I would ever want to move to a state like California, and suggested that I should go back to Maryland. His question struck me. Maybe he thought it must be much more glamorous there than the town he and I were crossing paths in?

It was at that moment that it really sunk in—not everyone lives in the same California.

The Golden State that we often see advertised on our television screens—you know, the one with the folks who can afford plastic surgery, riding off into the sunset in their convertibles amidst the slanted palm trees and beautiful skies—isn’t the state that is experienced by many who are here.

In fact, 13.2% of residents live in poverty, making California the state with the highest poverty rate in the nation.

There was a similar sentiment conveyed to me during my fellowship placement at Cal OES, with a focus on reducing the barriers to federal funding that can assist Californians who are suffering, especially as they experience the increasing number and intensity of emergencies/disasters in the state.

From refugees, to migrants, to the unhoused, to natural disaster survivors, I witnessed the difficult and brave experiences of many people who were just trying to navigate a better life for themselves and their families. The stories I encountered were often heartbreaking, but I knew I was exactly where I needed to be—learning from those I am serving. No one should ever be involved in the making or implementation of policy without truly knowing what the people they are serving are experiencing. And even further, we should be working to include these affected individuals and their perspectives in the policy process.

It was exciting to get the chance to learn from those who are fighting day in and day out to make a difference.

Through my Cal OES experience, I was also able to gain direct exposure to the dedicated work of California’s State employees. I saw the staff and leadership of Cal OES laboring tirelessly to make sure the people of California had what they needed when vulnerable to disasters or after surviving them. With their work driven by the goals of equity, resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainability, they strove to implement innovative, data-driven solutions to the problems facing the state. It was exciting to get the chance to learn from those who are fighting day in and day out to make a difference.

Although I did end up moving back to Maryland after this state fellowship to gain federal experience in nearby Washington D.C. as a AAAS S&T Policy Fellow, I’m grateful to have had this adventure that I think back on as one of the most meaningful of my life. I was surrounded by people who encouraged me, I learned what it really takes to be a leader, and I got the opportunity to contribute to purposeful projects that also expanded my understanding of the lived experiences of people in California.

From incorporating research, to utilizing communication skills, to feeling like I’m making a difference – becoming immersed in the world of science policy has allowed me to find a path that combines my various interests in the perfect way.

I pursued the CCST fellowship and a Cal OES placement because I wanted the opportunity to look at life and the state of California through a different lens, and to feel a sense of greater purpose.

Thankfully, I was able to do exactly that.

About the CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship
The CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows program places PhD-level scientists, engineers, and social scientists in the California State Legislature, State Agencies, and Offices of the Governor for a year of public policy, leadership training, and public service—training scientific thinkers to be policy-savvy, while helping equip California’s decision makers with science-savvy staff. Discover how our CCST S&T Policy Fellows make a difference in California’s policy arena and learn how to apply at CCST.us/CCST-Science-Fellows-Program.