APAPA National Intern Alum Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Oakland
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CONTACT: Henry.Chang@apapa.org (916) 402-6215
APAPA National Intern Alum Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Oakland
SACRAMENTO - Sheng Thao, a national intern student alum with the Asian Pacific Islander Public Affairs Association (APAPA) has declared her candidacy to run for Mayor of Oakland. Elected in 2018, Sheng Thao made history in California as the first Hmong-American elected to serve on the Oakland City Council representing the city’s district 4. Oakland is California’s eighth largest city and ranks 45th most populous city in the United States.
Every year, more than 250 students from California and across the country are part of APAPA’s National Internship Program. In its 18th year in 2022, the coveted internship program provides student interns with valuable leadership skills through civic engagement and community empowerment. Successful applicants are chosen to work in a lawmaker’s office to gain a unique behind-the-scenes experience about the legislative process in action.
Thao’s story of perseverance and resilience is truly inspiring. Raised by refugee parents, Thao is the seventh out of 10 children who fled Laos and the genocide against the Hmong people. She is a single mother and a survivor of domestic violence and earned her degree in legal studies from the University of California, Berkeley. During this time, she interned with Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan’s office and found her calling in public service. Kaplan eventually promoted and hired Thao as her Chief of Staff.
"Sheng Thao is a shining example of a hard-working leader who is truly grassroots and cares deeply and passionately not only for our AAPI community, but for our entire community. APAPA is so proud of her accomplishments, how far she has come, and her future is bright," said Carl Chan, Chair of the APAPA Bay Area Region and President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.
“I actually owe a lot of my success to APAPA’s internship program. It is through these strengths that shape my empathy for others and directs how I lead as an elected official. The experiences that I was able to absorb as an APAPA intern in the councilmember’s office is what set me up to eventually run for office and be successful,” said Thao.
The Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Asian Pacific Islander communities through increased leadership and civic engagement.
