Hello Folks! APA for Progress is launching a new feature on our site! Hoping to demystify the political process for members of our community, as well as to give kudos to amazing individuals, we have come up with Pol-Files. In these weekly posts we will be highlighting AAPI individuals working behind the scenes of politics as well as others that are making progressive efforts within their fields. To start us off, we have one of our favorites. What is your name? Jennifer Javier What is your current position? I am a caseworker in Congressman Henry Waxman's district office. I help people who are having difficulties with federal agencies (ie. immigration, Social Security, IRS, Medicare). It's social work on the federal level where I advocate for constituents to address their needs or concerns. What are some interesting jobs you have had in the past? To be honest, the most interesting job I’ve had is my current one. Because I deal with people and their livelihood, it can be unpredictable just as life is. I could receive a call from a homeless veteran in need of help with the VA or from Stone Temple Pilots in need of a visa for their sound engineer. You never know who may call. What is your educational background? I have a BA in Sociology and minor in Asian American Studies and Public Policy from UCLA. What skills do you think are necessary for your job? The ability to deal with difficult people is important. You learn to deal with different personalities in the general public as well as government agencies. On top of these factors, you have to think about how you can best advocate for a constituent and address their concerns within the limitations of policy. Patience is also key when dealing with people who are upset with the government. Most of the time, staffers are soundboards for constituents to air their frustration. It's part of the job as we are the face of government in their eyes. It’s not really for the faint of heart. How did you get your start? After interning for a non-profit and a local government office, I knew I wanted to work for an elected official after graduation. It took me seven months to find an open position that I wanted, but it was worth it. Do you have any role models? My sister, Joyce. She’s a mother of a toddler, who works full-time as a pediatrician. She is an associate professor, conducts research and on top of that, she’s a health advocate for the API community. Describe your typical day. First thing, I check the news in the morning. I try to make my phone calls to agencies or constituents earlier in the day, and draft letters and e-mails in the afternoon. Throughout the day, I may do intakes and find out if there's a way that we can assist or at least refer them to helpful resources. On occasion, I attend a briefing or a meeting outside the office. Each afternoon we go over cases or letters where we all brainstorm the best way to help someone. Who is your favorite politician? Congressman Henry Waxman What do you do with your free time? I’m Director of Internal Affairs for APALS – Asian Pacific American Legislative Staffers, an informal network of API staffers for federal, state, and local officials. While we are a support network for each other, our primary purpose is to promote the civic participation of the API community. I'm also foodie - I like to try different foods and new restaurants. I enjoy the arts – especially musicals and plays. Anything else you would like to add? I like what I do because I make a direct impact on people’s lives. I can say that I’ve helped about 600 people and/or families over the past few years. Thanks Jennifer, for all of your great work and dedication! If you are interested in being featured or know someone who would be a great candidate for it, please fill out a questionnaire and attach a photo and e-mail it to apapeditor@apaforprogress.org. We would also love to hear some feedback about this new feature.

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