A USC graduate student studying public policy, Xuxu Song came to the US to learn how its government works.

Little did the Chinese student know she'd end up part of local government.

Through a fledgling internship program that matches Chinese students with cities with large numbers of Chinese speakers, Song went to work in San Gabriel, which is 60 percent Asian.

She translated fliers for code enforcement officers to hand out during inspections. She went on site visits of homes tightly-packed with people.

"The city wanted to let them know they have violated the code," Song, 23, said. But "my manager can only speak English and the residents can only speak Chinese and I served as the translator for them."

San Gabriel has some Chinese speakers on staff, but no one who could spend as much time on outreach as Song, said Clayton Anderson, who oversees code enforcement in the city.

Tenants opened up to Song "because it was a familiar face," Anderson said.

"She spoke the language and she was able to help them understand that the conditions they're living in are unsafe," Anderson. "She had a really big impact."

Special talents

The non-profit Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment offers the internship program to graduate students at the USC Price School of Public Policy as a way for them to use language and cultural skills that may go overlooked.

USC has the largest international student population in the country - about 10,000 - with Chinese students comprising the biggest group. Even though many of them have been speaking English since elementary school, some have a harder time finding internships than their American classmates.  

"It’s just cultural differences, perceptions that writing or speaking skills may not be that of a native,” said Seema Yedavalli, Assistant Director of Career Services.

What they undoubtedly have is Chinese fluency and a desire to learn about the American democratic system, said CAUSE's executive director Carrie Gan.

The internship program —known as the Civic Engagement Leadership Fellowship — both helps the students, and local communities that want to boost the civic engagement of large Chinese populations.

"We thought, 'Where we can find the bridge and the answer was right in front of us," at USC, Gan said.

Making an impact

Ten students have gone through the eight-month-long program since it started last year, and CAUSE will be selecting its next round of participants in the fall.

"We're challenging them about making a difference in this community," Gan said.

One recent graduate worked as a translator for LA city officials when a Chinese delegation visited.  Yet another one translated materials for the League of Women Voters.

Others have monitored polls and worked phone banks, encouraging Asian-Americans to vote.

Song said she and the other Chinese students enjoy helping Americans become more civically-minded.

"It doesn't matter if we can vote or not," she said. "I think this process is mutually beneficial."