Anika Bjork’s journey into California‘s political arena is a testament to their lifelong dedication and passion for public service. Born and raised in Sacramento, Bjork’s professional trajectory has been marked by a series of formative experiences that have shaped their career in public affairs.
Bjork’s fascination with California’s political sphere began early, fueled by their upbringing near the state capitol and participation in the political studies and public service academy at Rio Americano High School, known as CIVITAS. This early exposure to civic engagement set the stage for a career dedicated to influencing and driving political change.
Early Beginnings and Educational Pursuits
Growing up in Sacramento, Bjork attended public school K-12 and initially planned to stay in-state for college. However, an unexpected opportunity to attend Georgetown University, one of the best institutions for public policy and international affairs, changed their trajectory. “I didn’t think that coming from a public school in Sacramento, I would ever have the chance to study somewhere like that,” Bjork said. “I had this crazy opportunity, and I took it.”
At CIVITAS, Bjork gained hands-on experience in local politics, including interning at the Northern California World Trade Center and canvassing for Congressman Ami Bera. These experiences solidified their interest in international and public policy, leading them to pursue a major in Culture and Politics within the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown.
Formative Experiences and Professional Growth
Bjork’s time at Georgetown was marked by a diverse range of experiences that extended beyond the classroom. They utilized their French language skills to work as a translator in the mayor’s office of Saint-Omer, a small town in France, and contributed to their school’s arts and culture publications by writing concert and album reviews. These experiences honed their ability to adapt and learn in various environments.
One particularly eye-opening experience was their second-year internship with Congressman Bera in Washington, D.C. This internship provided Bjork with a glimpse into public policy at the federal level, which they described as “eye-opening” compared to their previous experiences in Sacramento. “At the federal government, people don’t seem to want to work together,” Bjork noted. “The bills have to go through more representatives, so more stakeholders are involved in conversations, and I feel like it’s more difficult to find a compromise that works for everyone and leads to the passage of a bill.”
The Shift to State and Local Politics
Despite their initial hopes of working in D.C., Bjork found that the federal political landscape was challenging. They described the “compromise zone” between legislators as much narrower at the federal level, making it difficult to see tangible results from their work. “I like to see things move,” they said. “I want my effort to have something come about it. I feel like at the state and local level, that’s honestly where a lot of change is being made right now.”
This realization led Bjork to focus on state and local politics. After moving back to the Sacramento area, they secured a six-month apprenticeship at Lucas Public Affairs through a family friend. This role allowed them to work with clients from public, private, and nonprofit sectors, utilizing their skills in public policy, politics, communications, and media.
Current Role and Future Aspirations
Currently, Bjork serves as an Account Executive at Calkin Public Affairs, a role they “kind of fell into” after their apprenticeship at Lucas Public Affairs. In this position, Bjork balances a variety of responsibilities, including coalition-building, where they reach out to organizations and elected officials on behalf of their clients to build support for or opposition to ongoing bills or legislative issues.
Cassandra Pye, President of Lucas Public Affairs, praised Bjork’s ability to ask insightful questions and bring a valuable perspective to any project. “Annika just did a really good job of sitting with me and going over issues I wanted to cover, questions I wanted to raise, questions I should think about, points I should think about,” Pye recalled. “I remember it turning into a very nice give and take.”
Looking ahead, Bjork is focused on learning as much as possible and exploring different issue areas. “One thing that I’m really wary about is closing any door before I even arrive at it,” they said. “There’s so many issue areas that I work on daily, but that’s not even scratching the surface of everything that the legislature deals with, or that our country is concerned about, or that the international community cares about.”
Bjork’s journey is a testament to their dedication and passion for public service. Their experiences in Sacramento, D.C., and beyond have equipped them with the skills and perspective needed to make a meaningful impact in California’s political landscape.
