Alex Song (JD/PhD '98) is an outspoken alumnus booster and generous donor to Cal U. He graduated from Cal U Law School and has lived in the Los Angeles area for the last 30-plus years, where he serves as an immigration lawyer. He and his wife Reyna are well-known in the Cal U and LA Chinese community. We recently conducted an interview with Song to ask him about his connection with Cal U and the Laura Song Foundation.
The Daily Clue strives to raise the voice of all members of the Cal U community, of which Laura was a valued member of. What did the university mean to Laura? How can the Cal U community best honor and remember her?
"Cal U played an instrumental role in Laura's life, spearheading her passion for activism in the local LA Chinatown community. Her decision to major in Asian American Studies, as well as her active involvement in Theta Theta Theta's various charity projects, continued to fuel her desire to understand the Asian American experience and uplift the community around her. Cal U also allowed her to better understand other communities in downtown LA, particularly the Latinx community, and helped bring the two communities closer together. I believe the Cal U community can best honor her by developing a proposal that reflects Laura's commitment to local Chinatown community activism, education on the Asian American experience, as well as her desire to bring together the Asian and Latinx communities of downtown LA."
You and your wife are generous alumni donors to the university. Why do you choose to invest so much into this campus?
"I owe it to Cal U for allowing me to be in the position I am today. I am a proud alumnus, having attained my bachelor's, JD, and PhD here, and the things I learned and activities I did directly influenced my desire to provide justice for immigrants."
What are you looking for in a proposal for Laura’s scholarship? How will it impact or benefit the Cal U community?
"The money from the foundation will help bring the immigrant experience to greater light for students at Cal U, spearheading greater support for local immigrant communities among student organizations."
How can Cal U faculty, students, etc. play a role in supporting immigrants and businesses in LA Chinatown, a cause that you are passionate about?
"My education here provided me with the tools to succeed in my current role, and I firmly believe that education is the foremost way to support immigrants and businesses in LA Chinatown. When people develop an understanding of the complex history and politics around the community they live, it equips them with more power to take actionable steps to improve that community. That's why I believe an educational component led by Cal U is integral to the winning proposal, particularly one that supports the experiences of immigrants."
Finally, Alex held a paid internship at your office. How was he as an employee? Did you approve of his and Laura's relationship?
"I have utmost respect for Mr. Vila. His dedication to the community and passion for social justice issues was made clear as he worked in my office. I saw parts of him reflected in myself and in Laura, and I found it no surprise that they were bought together. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, their desire to uplift their communities united them and I was proud of the work they both did." We thank Mr. Song for his time and continued commitment to Cal U and the greater community.
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