Meet SJPLA’s Administrative Coordinator Anh Le
So excited to have you on board Anh! How do you like to celebrate or honor new beginnings?
I wasn’t always one for parties or celebrations but throughout the pandemic, my group of friends started finding any reason to get together, from birthdays, holidays, even a party to choose the best Christmas song (Last Christmas by Wham! won if you were curious). This was and continues to be a great way for me to keep in touch with friends who I don’t get to see on a regular basis. Personally, to signal changes or new beginnings, I like to rearrange my apartment. It’s a fun puzzle to figure out how to make everything fit and it makes me feel like I’m in a fresh new space.
One of our shared values is connectedness. What are the ways you maintain and build connectedness with the people in your life?
My #1 love language is quality time so I love nothing more than to just sit and chat with people. Additionally, since we live in LA, land of abundant food, my friends and I also try to find new food places to try each time we meet up.
What has been influential in shaping your values?
After college, I did a year of service and lived in an intentional community with four other women. This experience taught me the struggles and beauty of living with and for each other. My spirituality has been ever-evolving but the values that have stuck with me are love for oneself, each other, and our natural world.
How is social justice integrated into your life?
When I think about social justice issues, I can quickly become overwhelmed by how large and all-encompassing they seem. What helps is for me to do my small part such as being vegetarian and striving to produce less waste, as well as continuing to learn about more ways to make an impact. On a more personal level, I’ve had the desire to reconnect with my Asian heritage for some time now. The unfortunate rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic has strengthened my resolve to reconnect with my roots and help uplift the Asian American community as a whole.
Finding moments of rest and joy has never been more important. What’s bringing you joy, and how are you taking care of yourself?
My one-month-old nephew is bringing me the most joy right now. He’s getting chubbier and cuter by the day. Dancing also brings me a lot of joy because it gets me out of my head and into my body. I also find it to be a beautiful way to connect with others in a natural and organic way. My best form of self-care is having nothing on my to-do list so I can just curl up on the couch and read all day long.
