Considered more of a “Grass Roots” person Sefa says that it has been interesting seeing the “other side” of politics.For example 75% of their initial commission training was learning how to deal with the media, because of the media’s way of twisting things around at times. While representing the Commission, he admits that people are surprised at his mellow nature. Although extremely passionate about his views and causes, he has a way of expressing his viewpoint in a way that makes people really “feel” what he is saying, and people are very responsive to him.Sefa has a really great sense of humor as well.I laughed when he was telling me how if he has enough time with someone, he can get them to “flip over to my side, just like that”.
Two of Sefa’s passions are the First Start and Free Lunch Programs.“We had the free lunch and really needed that growing up.Someone had to sacrifice to make that possible for me.”To keep needed programs like these in place he continues,” we need a joint sacrifice… so pay your taxes.”We can’t let good programs like this get cut.
Education is another passion.Being 8th out of 9 children in his family, it was tough growing up in a home that tried to balance Samoan culture with the “American Way”.“Everyone had a different way of dealing with our experience growing up.I was lucky that education saved my life.It (education) was a silver bullet for me…. It gave me the tools to think through my problems and to figure out how the world works and how history impacts the way life is lived today as an individual and as a group.”
“In Samoa if you see a family from a different village that is struggling, you go help them.”Sefa explains that it needs to be like that here in the U.S., whether it’s supporting the needs of the people living in Quail Valley or supporting the people going through difficulties on other side of the nation.We need to help each other.And we need to “recognize each other as “people”, not as different races.People need to say “HI” when they pass each other on the street.”I totally agree.
Friends and associates living in Carson (from where the Aina family moved 5 years ago) still try to get Sefa to move back because they want him to run for public office.Not to be considered however, “My family loves living in Menifee.When I was young I dreamed of living in a house like this.I dreamed of living close to a beautiful lake like we have (Heritage Lake) with the birds and ducks and rabbits.I dreamed of someday raising a family in a place like this.My wife and kids are happy here.”When I asked him about politics and Menifee, “Menifee has the opportunity to be in ‘that progressive space’.”With people moving here from OC, LA and Riverside counties, “Menifee isn’t molded yet… it’s a young place that hasn’t yet made up its mind.”
Sefa graduated in 1997 from UCLA with a B.A. in History. Upon graduation, Sefa was hired by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center (AASC) Student/Community Projects (S/CP) Unit. S/CP serves as the liaison between the UCLA AASC and the local Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Aside from creating relationships with Los Angeles API non-profits, Sefa also advised various Asian American and Pacific Islander student organizations at UCLA. He was also the Instructor for a service learning course titled, "Asian Pacific American Leadership Development Project (APALDP)".
In 2005, Sefa became the Associate Director for the Asian American Resource Center at Pomona College. He continues to work with students to foster leadership and participation in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community on campus and off. He is also working on the Pomona College Connections to the Community task force which seeks to strengthen relationships between the College and the larger community.
Sefa has also served as an Instructor for Asian American Studies at CSU Fullerton (Pacific Islander Experience course), has also been a trainer for the APIA-U Program (Organization of Chinese Americans) and has sat on the Boards of many community based organization.
Sefa’s wife, Belinda, is a first grade teacher at Valley View Elementary School.They have three beautiful children.
