(To
read about additional internships, beyond the many listed
here, see the "Sample Internship" section of the
American website for the Washington Internship Program at:
www.washingtoninternship.com
Also
note that since the "One-World Washington Internship
Program" is not separate (in terms of placements) from
interns who come from the United States and other English-speaking
countries, the internships described below - like the ones
in the other website - were not filled specifically by interns
in the One-World Program. The internships detailed here
and in the other website were completed by both international
students and Americans. They are listed together in our
website because they worked together in reality.)
AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL - Won Kyou Koh
A student at Seoul National
University in South Korea, Won Kyou Koh was placed by the
Washington Internship Program at Amnesty International from
early November 2002 through late January 2003. Won said
in retrospect: "The four months I spent as an intern
at Amnesty International constituted a great chance that
comes once in a lifetime. I was filing articles during the
first few days, which helped me learn more about what was
going on all over the world - even though it was kind of
boring. However, pretty soon I began monitoring the daily
news and UNHCR reports about China, and I followed human-rights
violations in a number of Asian nations. Within China, many
people are at serious risk of torture and mistreatment.
Hundreds of North Korean asylum-seekers have been forcibly
returned to their country. At Amnesty International, we
had brown-bag lunches once a week where I heard presentations
about Amnesty's interest in human rights. The best part
of my internship was participating in the Human-Rights Day
Program that was held on Capitol Hill in the Russell Senate
Caucus Room. I also enjoyed going to the Air and Space Museum,
the National Museum of Natural History, and other parts
of the Smithsonian Institution. Because of a cold winter
and heavy snow, sometimes public transportation was terrible,
but everything that happened to me in Washington, D.C. will
remain in my memory as the best part of my life."
SENATE
ANTITRUST SUBCOMMITTEE - Radu Marinescu
A student from Cooley Law
School in Lansing Michigan and a graduate from Ohio State
University, Radu Marinescu was placed by the Washington
Internship Program in the United States Senate with Mike
DeWine (Republican from Ohio) from January through May.
In the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Radu conducted research
on pending legislation for the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee.
Radu recalls: "The first day was special. I went to
the Senate Gallery to witness the Vice President swearing
in senators for the 108th Congress." Radu conducted
routine tasks like answering phones and clipping newspaper
articles dealing with judicial issues ranging from the filibuster
of Miguel Estrada on the floor of the Senate to asbestos
cases. Radu was taught to find specific information that
is difficult to locate. "It was exciting to be working
for the subcommittee," said Radu, who witnessed the
confirmation hearings of Jeffrey Sutton and Deborah Cook,
who were nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
in the state of Ohio. "I had to put together binders
on both judges, which dealt with researching specific cases
and assisting with talking points for the Senator. I also
did work on gun control, social security, and the Unborn
Victims of Violence Act co-sponsored by Senator DeWine."
In addition, Radu conducted tours of the Capitol for visitors
from his home state.
The
first hearing Radu attended was of the Commerce, Science,
and Technology Committee; it explored the impact of FCC
rulings. With the assistance of editors from the Washington
Internship Program, Radu prepared a memo on this hearing.
"On one occasion, I reported on a Finance Committee
hearing for a legislative correspondent from Senator DeWine's
office; this meeting was on Medicaid coverage, and Tommy
Thompson testified. My favorite committee hearing was one
in which Attorney General John Ashcroft, CIA Director George
Tenet, and Homeland Security Secretary Ridge testified to
the Judiciary Committee on Homeland Security about U.S.
progress in capturing terrorists belonging to Al Qaeda."
Radu heard Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah deliver a speech
at the Heritage Foundation, and on May 8 Radu shadowed Senator
DeWine - accompanying him to votes on the Senate floor and
meetings about funding for D.C. government as well as with
a group that accompanied the Senator on a congressional
trip to Haiti over Easter recess. The last Executive Meeting
of the Judiciary Committee that Radu attended was held in
the Vice President's Room within the Capitol. A picture
of Radu attending a Judiciary hearing was published in Roll
Call newspaper
Radu's
final two weeks of the internship were consumed by appropriations
matters, which exposed this law student to the volume of
funding requests made to the federal government. In particular,
Radu managed Ohio budgetary issues related to transportation
as well as water and energy needs for Fiscal Year 2004.
While in Washington, Radu also visited the Smithsonian Air
and Space Museum the day after the Columbia disaster. He
thought about the tragedy in the context of U.S. history
of space exploration. Radu toured the exhibit dedicated
to the September 11 attack within the American History Museum.
"It was especially sobering to see remnants from the
Twin Towers and airplane debris that struck the North Tower
on that terrible day," Radu recalls. At Arlington National
Cemetery, Radu saw the grave of President John Kennedy and
a memorial to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
In April, Radu enjoyed attending a Baltimore Orioles game
at Camden Yard.
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS ETHICS INSTITUTE - Kyung-Woo (Case) Kim
A business-administration
major at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea,
Kyung-Woo Kim (who used the nickname "Case") was
first placed at International Business Ethics Institute
on K Street, Northwest in the heart of downtown Washington,
D.C. Before coming to the United States, Case had experience
working for two years with tanks in the United States Army
and as a noncommissioned officer assigned to computer work
on MS-word, PowerPoint, and Excel, among other software
programs. Case was awarded an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM),
and he also served a representative for the Duk-Won Alumni
Association at Korea National University. At Camp Walker,
he worked with youngsters within the Children's Daycare
Center. At the International Business Ethics Institute,
Case provided administrative support and completed much
computer work. He helped IBEI rebuild its database using
Excel. For three months, Case conducted research on topics
related to moral conduct - including corporate responsibility,
bribery and corruption, safe workplace environments for
employees, equitable pay and fair hours, insurance, raises,
and promotions. Case also translated the organization's
website from English into Korean. Case worked on a project
dealing with a global code of conduct, in which capacity
he selected the best material to incorporate, analyzed elements
to be emphasized, and prepared documents for printing. Such
codes would be binding on all companies in order to insure
high standards in the modern corporate world. On the job,
Case's supervisors were most pleased with the quality of
his work, which he did from late April until early October.
KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER; CONSULAR OFFICE OF THE
KOREAN EMBASSY
Case
wanted a second internship at a larger agency than the International
Business Ethics Institute, so his next placement was at
the Korean Cultural Center, which is run by the Consular
Office of the Korean Embassy. This internship, which started
on October 6 and was scheduled to last for seven months,
was located on Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. not far from the
Berkshire Apartments - also on Massachusetts Avenue - where
Case roomed with Se-Ho (Cody) Kim, another student from
Kyungpook National University whom the Washington Internship
Program placed at the prestigious Center for International
Policy (CIP). Quite a number of students from South Korea
elected to live at the Berkshire. In addition, Case applied
for a job-bank position through the Meridian Center teaching
about Korea in the school system for $30 an hour.
NATIONAL
WILDLIFE FEDERATION - Megan Dinwiddie
A
student from the University of Oregon interested in animals
and environmental affairs, Megan Dinwiddie was placed in
late October at the National Wildlife Federation. Megan's
first assignment was to work on a media publication called
A Guide to Reporting on Chronic Wasting Disease. Megan explained:
"I was in charge of collecting all data dealing with
the topic, game ranch information, the ban on deer and elk
imports, and contact particulars to appear in the guide."
Megan worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
U.S. Department of Natural Resources, the Division of Wildlife,
and other organizations in each state to gather the necessary
facts. "I also collaborated with the Canada Wildlife
Federation to include their information in this guide,"
Megan added. "I was able to write, edit, and revise
portions of the report, including the introduction and background
on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). After release of the guide,
I made 'pitch calls' to reporters in certain states that
had the worst regulations pertaining to game ranching and
in parts of the country that had not banned the import of
deer and elk." Megan followed up with this project
on a weekly basis. She wrote press releases for a "Keep
the Wild Alive" campaign and revised fact sheets and
worked on layout in connection with the Endangered Species
Act.
Next,
Megan was assigned to a report, scheduled for release in
late February, called: "The Best and Worst for Wildlife."
Megan noted: "This project was great. I was given the
opportunity to edit and revise all articles, and even rewrite
one, to be used in the report. My supervisor said I have
a real gift for editing and the results were better than
what he has received from many experienced writers."
Via the Internet, Megan collected photographs to be used
in the report. In this regard, she worked with the graphics
and magazine department of the National Wildlife Federation.
Megan also called newspapers, non-profit organizations,
and government agencies to locate the best pictures. Megan
added: "I was able to attend all meetings of the Steering
Committee and join with 'head honchos' who make final decisions.
I was exposed to the internal workings of the organization
and given important responsibilities unlike anything I imagined
would occur when I anticipated an internship."
IRAQ
RECONSTRUCTION TASK FORCE - Jennifer Cimadon
An economics major from Central
Connecticut State University in New Britain, Jennifer was
placed at the Iraq Reconstruction Task Force within the
International Trade Administration of the Commerce Department.
"My internship with the United States Department of
Commerce in Washington, D.C. was a life-altering experience,"
Jennifer declared. "It gave me the opportunity to apply
the fundamentals I had learned during college and use them
to assist the federal government with important decisions.
My internship lasted from June 16 to July 28." Each
full-time employee at the Iraq Reconstruction Task Force
was on a detail from another branch of the Commerce Department.
The IRTF was established in May of 2003. Jennifer worked
as a liaison between Ambassador Paul Bremmer, stationed
in Iraq, and the general public. Following the demise of
Saddam Hussein's regime, many U.S. and foreign companies
became interested in rebuilding the country and bringing
goods and services to people in need of them. Members of
the IRTF had to study Iraqi law in order to abide by its
regulations. Jennifer said: "It took me a few weeks
to familiarize myself with the law and become comfortable
explaining it to interested businessmen hoping to begin
operations in Iraq. I kept a diary of daily events, some
of which I will share with you below."
"On
June 16, I spent my day reading what seemed like endless
documents regarding information I would have to convey to
potential clients. I was invited to a meeting with a major
law firm that had considerable expertise regarding corporate
law in the Middle East."
"On June 17, I attended
a staff meeting where I was asked to create a document listing
all U.S companies that had worked in Iraq previous to the
U.S. Trade Embargo of 1991. The department head invited
me to an OPIC meeting on June 19. Other invitees included
CEOs of a major insurance firm and executives from well-known
U.S. companies like Motorola. Among the topics discussed
was the type of insurance a company needs to function in
Iraq. The meeting was informative, and it gave me the opportunity
to meet with top-level executives."
"The
following week, I spent much of my time conducting research
on the project assigned to me. On June 26, the Task Force
met with the Middle East Institute regarding American businessmen.
On July 9, I went to a meeting at Clifford Chance with a
co-worker. Clifford Chance is one of the largest international
law firms in the world. I met the senior partner of the
firm and had the opportunity to answer questions he had
regarding procedures for doing business in Iraq."
"By
this point, I was allowed to set up meetings on my own with
people who wished to review their business plans with a
member of the Commerce Department. My first meeting of this
sort was with a private investor from Lebanon who was seeking
information on establishing a construction company in Iraq.
I was able to answer his questions and direct him to better
sources of information for his specific job-related inquiries."
"One
of the last things I did at my internship was to complete
the project assigned to me weeks earlier. I established
a database for my boss that consisted of all U.S. companies
that had prior dealings with Iraq. My supervisor thought
I did a phenomenal job and commended me on my work ethic."
"On
my last day with the Commerce Department, I had a meeting
with the human resource director who offered me a position
within the agency and asked me to keep in touch with her.
I will receive my bachelor's degree in December, after which
I have a federal government position waiting for me in Washington,
D.C upon completion of my undergraduate studies."
"I
truly had the time of my life in Washington. I received
great work experience and met lots of interesting people
from all over the world. Dr. Bayer and her staff made this
internship one of the most memorable times of my life. I
now have a rewarding career to look forward to in the upcoming
months, and I couldn't have done it without the Washington
Internship Program." Before Jennifer Cimadon returned
to her last semester of college, she spent the month of
August in an internship on Wall Street. The experience and
confidence Jennifer gained in Washington helped pave the
way for this placement.
U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: CONGRESSMAN KENNETH BENTSEN (DEMOCRAT
FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS)- Gabrielle Hargrove
A
graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Gabrielle
Hargrove worked in a paid internship for Democratic Congressman
Kenneth E. Bentsen from Houston, Texas. Garielle started
on September 16 and worked from 8:30 AM to 6:00 P.M. through
January 3. Her duties included basic office tasks like answering
phones and logging the mail, but during this Capitol Hill
internship she also composed letters to constituents, drafted
memos, and helped write a bill that the Congressman introduced
for passage before his term of office ended. Gabrielle conducted
research and took classes on the legislative process at
the Congressional Research Service in the Madison Building
within the Library of Congress. Congressman Bentsen also
sent Gabrielle to the district office in Houston to handle
some casework on the local level. Gabrielle was involved
with the activities of the Congressional Black Associates,
which invited her to help with various community services
like a Halloween Party at Brookland Elementary School and
a three-mile walk for the homeless on the National Mall.
Gabrielle was invited to many receptions for new members
of the Congressional Black Caucus. A Ball was held at the
Library of Congress, which Gabrielle also attended. Gabrielle
traveled to New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, Georgia
during the internship. Gabrielle remarked: "Congressman
Bentsen was very kind and a wonderful person for whom to
work. He gave the staff many opportunities to travel and
educate ourselves so we could do our best for the office
and the state we helped him represent. While working in
Congress, I was able to sit in the House Gallery and observe
many debates on the House floor, and Congressman Bentsen
mentioned all the staffers by name into the Congressional
Record, which will forever be a part of American history.
The time I spent with the Congressman allowed me to meet
many other representatives, including Congressman Richard
Gephart (Democrat from Missouri), Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
(Democrat from California), Congressman Jessie Jackson,
Jr. (Democrat from Illinois), and Representative John Lewis
(Democrat from Georgia). My internship was extremely enjoyable,
and I would like to return whenever I get another chance!"
EMBASSY
OF FRANCE - Sophie M. Mathiaut
A citizen of France and a
student at Mount Holyoke University is South Hadley, Massachusetts,
Sophie Mathiaut described her internship as "the best
experience of my life." She was thrilled when the Washington
Internship Program placed her at the French Embassy since
Sophie had tried unsuccessfully for months to apply by herself
for a diplomatic internship at the embassy of her own country.
Thanks to Dr. Bayer's tireless efforts, Sophie was assigned
to the general adjunct delegate at the French Alliance,
whose job entailed the cultural planning of lectures, performers,
and artists coming to America from France. Although technically
separate from government, Alliance Française is a
nonprofit organization supported by the Foreign Office.
It selects singers, classical and jazz musicians, theater
troupes, dance groups, and photography exhibitions. Sophie
helped choose around thirteen lectures to be given in the
United States between 2003 and 2004. When scheduling events,
Sophie had to balance different genres, stay within an allotted
budget, and include both famous celebrities and up-and-coming
figures. She had the chance to introduce famous people from
her homeland to the American public. Tours were arranged
throughout the United States. Sophie reviewed press books,
dossiers, letters, and resumes in the course of planning
the visits.
Sophie assisted with finding
the right dates, renting halls, setting up corresponding
visits to universities or other institutes, and providing
equipment and proper facilities. She arbitrated among various
cities like Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. who were
"fighting" for special weekends or other preferred
days while maintaining a rational travel timetable for the
artists so an event in Miami isn't followed immediately
by another in California if such long plane flights could
be avoided. Sophie had to factor rehearsal schedules, time
to prepare lighting and sets, transportation and hotel accommodations,
and getting the best deals through travel agencies. "The
whole process of programming is quite demanding and takes
a long time to perfect," Sophie explained. "My
supervisor went on vacation throughout the last four weeks
of my internship, at which time I was given to the chief
of the delegation with whom I worked in tandem for cultural
programming during the upcoming season. When my boss left,
he handed me the keys of his office, left his personal laptop
so I could work on it, and clearly indicated that I was
going to do his job for a whole month! I was flattered that
I was trusted to take over his position. I knew this assignment
entailed considerable responsibility, but I am the kind
of person who needs a lot of independence in order to enjoy
a job."
Sophie continued: "Alliances
across America sent me E-mails every day. Each morning my
inbox was filled with at least forty messages. I needed
to satisfy competing needs and keep different constituencies
happy. During the first part of my internship when my supervisor
was still there, I classified all the documents, CD samples,
and press books from French artists, performers, and lecturers.
While this task sounds a bit boring, it was actually interesting
for me. I got to listen to performers I didn't know and
some whom I didn't expect to be good! I dealt with one vocalist,
Bernard Lavilliers, whom I had always considered old-fashioned
and thought only my mother's generation would appreciate.
To my surprise, I liked his songs very much. I filed and
copied hundreds of pictures from the tour for CDs and Mr.
Lavilliers' agent in Paris. I designed a cover for each
CD. My supervisor preferred that I do more "sober"
tasks, but being a creative person with an artistic sensibility,
I frequently crafted original jobs. The chief was especially
pleased with my designs. I learned to take the advice of
others into account while also listening to my own inner
voice in the workplace."
"I
really enjoyed working at the Délégation Générale
de l'Alliance Française, and I got to meet many great
people. My coworkers were really nice and helpful. Outside
of work I spent time with them. For example, I went to a
sports bar with one worker to watch the NBA final game,
and I enjoyed a picnic on the beautiful gardens of the Embassy
with another colleague. The Embassy complex is really amazing.
My office was inside "Maison Française"
(French House), which has a concert hall and a huge exhibition
room. Every day as I started work, I could admire extraordinary
paintings by Fernand Léger and many other famous
French painters. One of the best elements at the French
Embassy is definitely the food! The embassy has its own
chef, and you can eat a great meal for only $10. We had
fresh baked goods and pastries every day, which was a real
delight. Each morning I looked forward to the delicious
French cuisine we would have at the restaurant, and every
night roommates and friends jealously quizzed me about what
I had for lunch."
On June 21, the Embassy organized
a cocktail party for "Fête de la Musique"
(a musical festival). "Although no one could attend
without an invitation," said Sophie, "I was allowed
to bring my three roommates and two other friends. The party
featured African belly- dancers, body painting, a hip-hop
band, and lots of high quality French wine. I was also invited
frequently to cocktails after work at the Maison Française
where I met Ambassador Levitte on a number of occasions."
Sophie was especially excited
to spend July 4th in the nation's capital and see the fireworks.
"I met terrific people in Washington, and I really
appreciate this city's diversity. I lived on campus at Georgetown
University with three terrific roommates from the Washington
Internship Program. One was African-American, and two others
were Asian. Even though all were Americans from California,
they introduced me to two very different cultures. I therefore
also learned a lot about the West Coast that I hadn't experienced
going to college in New England. I felt sad to leave at
the end of my internship, but I have made some close friends
for life."
Sophie concluded: "I
was delighted to be part of the Washington Internship Program
and to meet Dr. Bayer in person. I discovered so much about
Washington through all the exciting activities the program
offered during my internship. I particularly enjoyed Dr.
Bayer's first lecture about the art, architecture, and history
of Washington, D.C. spiced with her great humor and amazing
personality. She is entirely devoted to this program, and
without her it wouldn't be the great success that it is.
Through the Washington Internship Program, met other students
from all around the world." Sophie enjoyed her time
in Washington so much that, like so many interns every year,
she decided to return the following summer for a second
internship. Even though Sophie applied quite late - just
before final exams when most deadlines for internships had
passed already - she was accepted by the French Embassy
as well as a Congressional office to which she applied.
Maybe next year Sophie can explore Capitol Hill.
At a time when much of America
was expressing antipathy toward France for lack of support
during the War in Iraq, Sophie wanted to serve her country
by helping repair fractured relations between two nations
she loved. Sophie also explored diplomatic ways to bridge
the gap between American technological sophistication and
less modern aspects of French culture. Initially, Sophie
was skeptical that an internship program could place her
at the last minute at an embassy that never answered her
phone calls or letters sent months earlier before all deadlines
had passed, find good housing for her, and arrange a visa
and health insurance when only a few weeks remained, and
because of final exams Sophie could devote little time and
attention anymore to these rigorous procedures. The Washington
Internship succeeded on all accounts, and was rewarded by
a grateful, enthusiastic participant.
PAN-AMERICAN
HEALTH ORGANIZATION - Vibhuti Jain
A student from Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut, Vibhuti Jain worked from June
1 through July 18 at the Pan-American Health Organization
before spending the remainder of her summer in India. Vibhuti
was assigned for seven weeks to the Local and Urban Unit
of the Sustainable Development and Environmental Health
Department. Established in 1902, PAHO is the oldest public
health institution in the world, and its mission is to promote
health throughout the Western Hemisphere. Jibhuti's division
concentrates on both urban and rural settings and is devoted
to respiratory conditions, diseases caused by air pollution,
illnesses due to unsafe water or poor sanitation, and health
problems resulting from improper waste disposal. Vibhuti
noted that "three-quarters of the population in Latin
America is concentrated in cities where the highest level
of income inequality on earth is located. Stark disparities
in the standard of living as well as unequal access to healthcare
for rich versus poor citizens characterizes South America.
The Pan-American Health Organization seeks to improve the
well-being of all communities by improving the infrastructure,
increasing public awareness and education, and strengthening
environmental regulations."
Vibhuti's internship began
with four topics she was asked to research. "I spent
my time reading, taking notes about environmental health,
learning about PAHO's past and ongoing projects along with
the organizations that collaborated in these efforts, and
studying international treaties supporting country-level
initiatives. I also attended several lectures on these topics
- including a Water and Sanitation Conference, a World Bank
address on this subject, and a Council for Global Health
sponsored by "Roll Back Malaria. I also contributed
to a press release on violence and health," Vibhuti
reported. Initially, Vibhuti's supervisor was on assignment
in Brazil, but the intern was made to feel "welcomed
and comfortable" by the rest of the staff. "Everyone
in the building was friendly and seemed satisfied with their
jobs. It was inspiring to be surrounded by people who are
passionate about their work."
Vibhuti
prepared several reports, one of which was an analysis of
the Shared Agenda - a document that details cooperation
between PAHO, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the
World Bank. Vibhuti compiled lists and summaries, investment
charts, and overviews of her findings. "In addition,
I prepared a background report and policy review identifying
future possibilities for collaboration." Vibhuti presented
her findings to the SDE Department, including three unit
chief and the department head. "My preparation for
this meeting involved extensive Internet research, phone
interviews with banks, and discussions with PAHO's external-relations
division," said Vibhuti. In addition, Vibhuti wrote
about the first meeting of the Health and Environmental
Ministers of America (HEMA) and sub-regional trade arrangements
like NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), CARICOM,
and MERCOSUR. As an economics major, Vibhuti had studied
all three of these treaties academically, and now she had
a chance to apply her classroom knowledge.
"The
favorite part of my internship was learning in a self-directed
manner about the workings of a United Nations institution,"
Vibhuti concluded. Furthermore, Vibhuti attended information
sessions on disease epidemics in the hemisphere and the
globalization of health that were associated with the annual
meeting of PAHO's executive board and health ministers from
across the Americas. "My supervisors were most helpful
in offering me advice and encouraging me to engage in meaningful
assignments. I was never asked to do "busy work"
like filing or photocopying, and my boss made time to discuss
my progress. Even though I am not interested in pursuing
a career in public health, this internship was a great experience.
I now have a better understanding of diplomacy and the types
of steps necessary to 'save the world.' Even though I do
not speak Spanish, unfortunately, being immersed in a multicultural,
diverse environment was refreshing. I was inspired by an
organization absorbed in such a noble mission."
Vibhuti
was one of two interns this summer who lived at the Gewitz
Student Center of Georgetown University Law School. Brittany
Emens from Colgate University also lived there. Because
the Washington Internship Program teaches its course at
Georgetown University, a large percentage of our interns
live on the main campus apartments that Georgetown University
rents to students through the Henley complex. However, the
law school also has rentals for our students. Unlike other
internship programs, the Washington Internship Program gives
interns a wide range of housing from which to choose: the
WISH (Washington Intern Student Housing) on Capitol Hill
accepts all interns from the Washington Internship Program
year-round and is particularly attractive to interns working
in Congress and the Senate. Both furnished and unfurnished
townhouses and apartments are available at WISH, which has
both graduate and undergraduate housing as well as married
facilities. Housing associated with the Institute for Experiential
Learning in Alexandria is chosen by many interns working
in Virginia. Interns in our program can live in the summer
within dormitories at George Washington University, Catholic
University, Trinity College, and George Mason University.
Throughout the year, our interns can also rent apartments
on the campus of American University since we are affiliated
with all the major colleges in the Washington area that
have residential facilities.
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP)
- Anthea J.E. Knight
A young woman from Mount Vernon,
New York attending Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama,
Anthea Knight was placed at the Washington Bureau of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The NAACP is among the most famous of the original organizations
fighting for the equality of black people. From June 17
to August 1, Anthea joined a group of ten summer interns
working for this historic institution in an effort to contribute
to her community as well as her own career. "When I
arrived at 1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W., I was excited and
nervous," Anthea recalls. "As I reached the 11th
floor, I was in awe as I looked at pictures of prominent
civil-rights leaders on the walls." Anthea was given
her own office, computer, printer, and phone line. The director
of the Washington Bureau of the NAACP was Anthea's supervisor,
and she was told to select a legislative research project
from among the issues facing the 108 Congress. Anthea chose
"Affirmative Action in Higher Education" because
of the University of Michigan cases before the Supreme Court.
On
the second day of Anthea's internship, she attended a press
conference held at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Library
where her boss was speaking, alongside other famous black
leaders, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Civil
Rights March on Washington held on August 28, 1963 and to
announce a commemorative March to take place on August 23,
2003. The keynote speaker was Martin Luther King III. Later
that day, Anthea went to a reception on Capitol Hill for
Senator Barnese who was being honored for his outstanding
achievements in government ethics. On July 2, Anthea attended
a press conference at the national office in Baltimore,
Maryland honoring the Law Fellowship Program. The president
and CEO of the NAACP, Kweisi Mfume, spoke as did representatives
of the Kellogg Company, which co-sponsored the event. These
experiences helped solidify Anthea's decision to go into
the field of civil-rights law.
On July 7, Anthea went to
a televised Congressional hearing in the Rayburn House Office
Building where Director Hilary Shelton testified before
the Financial Committee on Affirmative Action. The event
was broadcast on C-SPAN TV. The next day, Anthea attended
a Hate Crimes press conference sponsored by People for the
American Way. A panel discussed different minorities - including
racial, ethnic, religious, and trans-gender groups - targeted
for heinous acts. Two days later, Anthea and two other interns
from her office went to a youth meeting for Latinos, Asians,
and members of the Black Caucus whose purpose was to encourage
fellowship among these communities in support of political
objectives.
Anthea
was one of four interns from her office sent to Miami, Florida
the following week for the NAACP National Convention. The
NAACP paid for all expenses associated with Anthea's trip
as well as conference fees. Along with the national staff,
Anthea represented the Washington Bureau at its booth and
also attended meetings and press conferences of her choice
along with parties, receptions, and an entertainment extravaganza.
"The conference was amazing, and I am so happy I was
able to go and personally meet influential people that I
had read about in books and magazines since I was a child.
I could hardly believe it was happening," said Anthea,
who was introduced to Al Sharpton, Judge Greg Mathis, the
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.,
and Julian Bond, among others. She witnessed the Presidential
Candidate Forum where presidential hopefuls for the 2004
elections expressed their views. Both in Florida and Washington,
Anthea networked and made new friends. The interns at her
office came from a wide range of backgrounds: black and
white, American and Middle Eastern. "I learned so much
from just my ordinary routine of coming to the work every
day, which will stay with me for a lifetime. I came to respect
deadlines and organize information. I worked with people
whose ideas differed from mine in pursuit of common goals."
"This
has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
I am so very happy that I discovered the Washington Internship
Program and that I was chosen for the position at the NAACP.
I cannot explain how much I gained, and I now see the world
in a completely different light. I am ready to pursue my
future - much more than I was before June 17th. Dr. King
said: 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about
things that matter.' I am returning to school next month,
and I will approach my classes with new vigor and enthusiasm.
I plan on starting a chapter of the NAACP at my college
and sharing some of what I learned." Anthea went on
to reflect: "The forces of racism and retrogression
in America are again on the rise. Many hard-earned civil-rights
gains of the past three decades are under assault. From
the ballot box to the classroom, dedicated workers, organizers,
and leaders forged this great organization and maintained
its status as a champion of social justice. They fought
long and hard to ensure that the voices of African Americans
would be heard. The legacy of these pioneers - like W.E.B.
DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, and Roy Wilkens - cannot be forgotten.
Through bold investigations of mob brutality; protests against
mass murders, segregation, and discrimination; and testimony
before Congressional committees, the talent and tenacity
of NAACP members saved lives and changed many vicious tactics
used to bar African Americans from full participation in
American society. Awakening the conscience of a nation was
the legacy of the NAACP, and now it is part f my legacy."
WOMEN
WORK - J. S. Lee
A graduate student in international
studies at Ewha Women's University in Seoul, South Korea,
J.S. Lee* was placed at the national headquarters of Women
Work - an organization devoted to female employment opportunities.
Along with two other friends who were also Ewha University
graduate students accepted into the Washington Internship
Program - Min-Ji Kang, who was placed at Talk Radio News,
and Yeon-Mi Cheong, who worked at the National Peace Corps
- J.S. was an intern from early March to mid August in the
posh K Street, Northwest area of Washington to which she
commuted from her apartment (that she shared with Min-Ji
and Yeon-Mi) in Rockville, Maryland. The year 2004 will
mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Women Work, which is
affiliated with over a thousand nonprofit organizations
across America that share a commitment to gender equality
in the workplace. J.S. was awarded a scholarship by Ewha
University to participate in the Washington Internship Program
and accept this full-time, unpaid placement within the department
of membership and development. After the first month, Women
Work was so pleased with the quality of J.S.'s work that
she was offered a modest stipend (approximately $200 a week).
Only two interns were accepted at Women Work where J.S.
helped solicit corporate grants and conducted research on
potential donors. J.S. was sent to the Foundation Center
where she took workshops on basic grant and proposal-writing.
J.S. also assisted with the
twenty-forth national convention of Women Work, held during
four days in March at the Hilton Hotel near Union Station.
From assigning rooms and preparing nametags for hundreds
of participants to distributing brochures and making arrangements
for corporate board members, J.S. was involved in every
aspect of planning a large conference. Marion Wright Edelman,
president of the Children's Defense Fund (where other interns
from the Washington Internship Program are working), was
honored at the convention where she was presented with the
"Woman of Vision Award." Edleman spoke on women's
historical roles and future directions. Other speakers included
Lynn Donnahue, a female bricklayer who talked about non-traditional
jobs for women. Women's Work also supports legislation that
favors displaced homemakers trying to re-enter the workforce
and other aspects of women's rights.
While in the United States,
J.S. traveled to New York and New Jersey to visit friends
and see more of the country. Supervisors in the office of
Women Work and faculty at the Washington Internship Program
were equally impressed by the phenomenal English skills
and professional conduct displayed by J.S., who had been
to America in the past to polish her language facility.
Research conducted by J.S. on "Korea and Globalization"
helped prepare Dr. Bayer for a lecture / recruiting tour
devoted to this topic, which took place throughout Korea
in September and October on the campuses of major colleges
in Seoul, Daegu, and Busan. J.S. was extremely successful
at her internship, and this experience will provide a foundation
for further international work she is now seeking in an
international context.
*pseudonym
TRANSAFRICA
FORUM - Ashley A. Patterson
A student from the University
of the Pacific in Stockton, California, Ashley Patterson
was placed at TransAfrica Forum and then worked at a second
internship with the National Association of Drug-Court Professionals
from late May through August. When recalling how she got
to these placements, Ashley wrote the following:
"For
today's college students, one of the top experiences they
would die for is an internship, which is usually volunteer
work that is supposed to provide insight into what to do
with the rest of your life. A good internship can give a
recent college graduate an edge over thousands of others
looking to move into the working world. The question of
whether I wanted to be an intern was a no-brainer. For me,
it wasn't a matter of if but where and when. To start my
search, I visited my school's Career Resource Center and
discovered that a recruiter from the Washington Internship
Program would be visiting our campus soon. When I found
out about the recruiter, I jumped at the chance of meeting
him and getting all the information necessary. Unfortunately,
I still had to find funding that my parents were unable
to provide. I knew how much this opportunity meant to me
so instead of giving up because of money issues, I went
back to the Career Center and met with the director, whom
I told how important it was for me to intern in our nation's
capitol. Not only did he agree with me, but the counselor
took it upon himself to help me solicit every resource on
campus until we came up with the funds. By early April,
I received word that the assistant provost was giving me
a scholarship through the James Irvine Diversity Grant,
which would not only pay for my tuition at the Washington
Internship Program but also cover housing and airfare. Suddenly,
I was a lot closer to reaching Washington."
"After
being accepted by the Washington Internship Program, I spoke
to Dr. Bayer who suggested that I apply to TransAfrica Forum
considering that I wanted to work with social-justice issues
within the African world. Editors at the internship program
helped me with my materials and represented my candidacy
in Washington with leaders at the TransAfrica; within a
week, I received word that I had been accepted for an internship
during the summer months. Soon, everything was in place,
and all I had to do was hop on a plane to Washington. I
arrived in D.C. on Thursday, May 22, and stayed with a friend's
family in Upper Marlboro, Maryland until my apartment-style
dorm at Georgetown University opened that weekend. One of
my roommates was Sophie Mathiaut, another student in the
Washington Internship Program, who is a citizen of France
studying at Smith College in Massachusetts; with little
lead-time, the Washington Internship Program had been able
to place her at the French Embassy (after Sophie spent months
trying in vain on her own to get an internship there). We
liked one another right away and enjoyed learning about
one another's culture. After getting somewhat acclimated
to Georgetown and celebrating Memorial Day, I was ready
to start my internship."
"TransAfrica
Forum is an education and advocacy group for social-justice
issues regarding the African Diaspora. I had the opportunity
to work alongside the vice president of TransAfrica and
serve as part of a team coordinating the Haiti campaign,
titled "One Standard," the aim of which is to
challenge U.S. policy and assure equal treatment for Haitians.
On every level, ranging from interdiction at sea to expedited
deportation, current American policy unfairly discriminates
against Haitian asylum- seekers. My tasks involved:
o
Preparing a briefing book and annotated bibliography of
articles and reports for Harvard
Law Professor Charles Ogletree
o Collecting educational materials regarding the treatment
of Haitian refugees
o Attending general body and subcommittee meetings
o Participating in a post-September 11 forum on U.S. treatment
of immigrants
o Researching legislation and other Haiti-related materials
at the Library of Congress
o Going to Congressional hearings with Haitian ministers
who addressed community
concerns
o Attending a protest near the Department of Justice in
response to Attorney General John
Ashcroft's decision regarding detention of Haitian refugees
o Preparing a program summary for the Third Annual D.C.
Caribbean Film-fest featuring Bacchanal Time: The People's
Carnival
o Arranging a resource list of distributors
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG-COURT PROFESSIONALS
While in D.C., my cousin
- who is CEO of the National Association of Drug-Court Professionals
- offered me a second internship working with the director
of development and membership at NADCP. Since this position
was paid, the financial burden of covering my living expenses
was lifted off my parents' shoulders. At NADCP, I assisted
with filing, data entry, mail work, and phone calls. These
tasks helped me become fluent in Microsoft Excel and Access,
important tools in any fast-paced workplace. I also conducted
research on fundraising from foundations and other non-profit
organizations within the drug- treatment field. I spent
much time assisting the chief financial officer with several
administrative tasks. Although I worked hard, my time in
Washington felt like an extended vacation. While in D.C.,
I was exposed to so much culture, and I took the time to
get to know myself better. I visited many Smithsonian museums,
saw the D.C. production of Dance Africa, watched a fellow
intern compete in a poetry slam, and met lots of people
from around the world. There were times when my friends
and roommates weren't able to join me on sightseeing excursions,
but instead of sitting around because they couldn't go,
I started doing things on my own. Living and interning in
our nation's capitol was one of the greatest experiences
of my life, and it definitely would not have been possible
without the support of the Washington Internship Program,
school administrators, and my parents who have always helped
me in everything I wanted to do."
UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE - Matthew Silverman
A student at Albany Law School
in New York, Matthew Silverman was delighted when the Washington
Internship Program was able to place him in the Criminal
Division of the U.S. Justice Department within the section
devoted to Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering. From June
through August, Matthew wrote two memoranda discussing DoJ's
position on the separation of church and state. He also
drafted Petitions for Remission, Restoration, and Lienholder
Petitions to help victims retrieve property that had been
taken from them in error. In addition, Matthew assisted
lawyers at the Justice Department in the preparation of
their cases. He contacted District Attorneys in different
states, who were compiling facts on various lawsuits, and
wrote briefs or gathered information to help close the cases.
"The
Department of Justice gave me constant support for every
project assigned to me," said Matthew. "I was
made to feel like I was part of the team and not just an
intern getting in the way. I received the same type of projects
that were given to all the attorneys. Whenever I had a question
about the law, staff members were generous with their time
and expertise. I gained valuable legal experience this summer
at the Department of Justice. I worked on real cases and
gained considerable knowledge about an area of law I never
knew existed. I realized that there is more to criminal
law than going to court and defending or prosecuting criminals,
which never interested me. This internship taught me how
to apply the law in actual situations as opposed to book
learning." Matthew lived near Georgetown with three
of his friends and enjoyed Washington as well as his work.
He was one of the interns for whom the Washington Internship
Program was able to arrange a visit to the United States
Holocaust Museum for the opening of an exhibit on Ann Frank.
AMERICAN
FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION - Joan Best*
A student from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, Joan Best
became an advertising intern at the Foreign Service Journal,
which is published by the American Foreign Service Association,
from May 27 through August 1. Joan stated: "Over
ten weeks, I accomplished things I never imagined doing
in a place I never dreamed of working. The opportunity taught
me so much about design, advertising, and myself."
Because of Joan's strong interest in graphic design,
she wanted to create advertisements for the magazine, which
caters to a combination of big-name companies and small
businesses in terms of its advertising. Joan was able
to use her creativity by designing ads for clients. "First
I reviewed past advertisements from back issues of the journal
and researched the companies online." Then Joan
met with customers to learn more about their enterprises.
"My boss was there too and asked lots of questions
while I listened attentively and took notes. I also demonstrated
previous promotional materials to exhibit color schemes,
fonts, etc." Finally, Joan produced copy using
a design program called QuarkXpress. "For each client,
I devised four completely different versions so they could
choose from a broad range of alternatives. When I finished
with each design, I circulated it throughout the office
to solicit advice." Joan also worked on headlines,
text, and photographs. Her finished advertisements were
sent to the journal's layout designer, who placed them into
the magazine.
"The
reason I loved this internship so much was that everyone
got something out of my work. Clients were ecstatic to receive
professional advertising, my boss was glad to have happy
clients, and I was delighted to open the Foreign Service
Journal and see my work in print." In addition, Joan
designed a brochure template that was used for a retiree
directory and educational supplement. Along with another
intern, Joan also worked on the website of the American
Foreign Service Association. Joan concluded: "My
time at A.F.S.A. was well spent. Not only did I get excellent
design experience, but I was also able to learn what life
will be like working a nine-to-five job. I met amazing people
in the Foreign Service and heard stories about their lives
in different parts of the world. I had the chance to live
right in the city of D.C., at George Washington University,
and experience the nation's capital first-hand. It was an
amazing experience that I'll never forget."
*pseudonym
WKTV
(KOREAN CABLE TELEVISION) - Go-Eun (July) Lee
Go-Eun Lee, from Kyungpook
National University in South Korea, was one of a group of
select interns chosen from this campus of 24,000 students
- all of whom are encouraged to complete an internship in
America in order to graduate from college. Go-Eun, who used
the English nickname "July" during her time in
Washington, enjoyed three part-time internships. The first
was at Korean Cable Television (WKTV) where Go-Eun worked
from mid April to mid September, Mondays through Fridays
for thirty hours a week. Although the internship was initially
unpaid, within the first few weeks the supervisors were
so impressed with July's abilities that they offered her
a stipend of $500 per month. Although July had some previous
experience in newspaper work, this internship was her first
exposure to broadcasting. As the only intern at WKTV and
a fluent speaker of Korean who is both poised and attractive,
Go-Eun was quickly promoted from reporter to an anchor,
and she regularly appeared on television covering weather
bulletins, sports events, and other news features. Among
the pieces Go-Eun featured on the air were stories about
the NBA (National Football Association), the achievements
of various Korean athletes, and golf. On three occasions,
July served as the anchor for an entire news broadcast.
The rest of the time, she learned how to find sources, gather
information, edit copy, and produce segments. "As a
reporter, I met so many interesting people," noted
Go-Eun.
"On
May 13, I attended a reception in honor of South Korean
President Roh, to whom I was introduced. I thought highly
of him even before his inauguration, and I continue to respect
this man of vision. I also met Ambassador Han Sung Joo,
a most energetic diplomat who just assumed his post a few
months ago. One of the councilors at the embassy with whom
I spoke recently wrote a book about North Korea." July
described going to press conferences at the National Press
Club to follow stories about people abducted to North Korea
and delegates for peace on the Korean peninsula. "I
recorded these pieces on video tape and reported on them
myself. These events were so exciting for me, and I became
increasingly professional in my presentations. I also learned
to use the AVID editing program." Go-eun took courses
on websites, "broadcasting language," and "video
journalism" offered to reporters at WKTV. "I really
enjoyed these classes," July added.
WOMEN'S
FOREIGN POLICY GROUP
While still working at WKTV,
Go-Eun did an internship at the Women's Foreign Policy Group
during the month of June on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
for nine hours per week. Because July is majoring in sociology
and interested in both women's studies and foreign affairs,
this internship complemented her television assignments.
Among the topics Go-Eun researched were the problems faced
by women in Latin America, Iraq, the Middle East, and North
Korea. On June 20, the Women's Foreign Policy Group took
July to a meeting at the U.S. Department of State on the
participation of women in the future of Iraq. Panelists
included Charlotte Ponticelli, senior coordinator at the
State Department, and Zainab Salbi, president and founder
of Women for Women International. Aside from the wonderful
event at the State Department, Go-Eun had some difficulty
at the Women's Foreign Policy Group because her English
skills were weak. As one of four interns, July was consigned
to filing, copying, and researching since she was unable
to write well in English or communicate comprehensibly on
the phone. For this reason, So-Eun's internship was cut
short, but she still learned an enormous amount before this
placement ended.
POLARIS
PROJECT
In order to continue the international
and feminists concern that Go-Eun started at the Women's
Foreign Policy Group, she worked from late July to the end
of August at the Polaris Project. Among sixteen other interns
from around the world, Go-Eun helped fight against trafficking
in human beings - for the purpose of slavery and sexual
exploitation - between Korea and the United States. "Sex
trafficking is a terrible type of abuse and a critical symbol
of the inequality between men and women," Go-Eun remarked.
She worked Mondays through Fridays, fifteen hours a week,
at a time that did not interfere with her paid internship
at WKTV. Go-Eun was assigned to victim outreach, in which
capacity she helped process referrals through the Polaris
Hotline and assist with case management. Go-Eun assisted
in writing brochures to inform the Korean community about
this problem and translated some of the website (humantrafficking.com)
into Korean.
Go-Eun
also conducted some counseling. Two Korean victims who were
assigned to Go-Eun had been brought to the United States
against their will by pimps. These women were suffering
from physical injuries as well as psychological trauma.
July helped them to switch the type of visa they had been
given so they could legally remain in America if they chose
to do so, in connection with which Go-Eun translated some
documents from Korean into English. She distributed the
brochures to people in the massage parlors and spas where
some of these women worked to bring their plight to the
attention of others and let the victims know that organizations
were working to help them. Other interns translated the
brochures to make Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indian
versions while Go-Eun drafted the Korean copy. "By
showing these materials to the victims, we confirmed their
reality and extended hope," said July. "Many people
in South Korea have no idea that this problem exists in
terms of human trafficking and the sex industry. I myself
was surprised to learn about it. Millions of women and children
have been victimized with an estimated 50,000 people being
transported annually to the United States alone," said
July.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, NATIONAL CENTER FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S WOODS HOLE FIELD CENTER - Damon
L. Dunson
A native American from the
Choktaw Tribe who is also of African-American descent, Damon
Dunson loved animals and dreamed of being a park ranger
long before he majored in biology at the University of Maryland
in College Park. The Washington Internship Program informed
Damon about a Cultural Diversity Internship, offered by
the Student Conservation Association, and helped him apply
for in iternship through the National Park Service and an
Everett Public-Service scholarship, which Damon won. In
connection with the National Center for Cultural Resources,
Damon was awarded $2,300 and three days of training near
Dulles Airport, after which he was sent for ten weeks to
Woods Hole Field Center - run by the United States Geological
Survey - in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Prior to this internship,
Damon had never traveled outside the Washington, D.C. area.
Established in 1989 by philanthropists Henry and Edith Everett,
these public-service awards are given each summer to two
hundred undergraduate and graduate students (only U.S. citizens
are eligible) who then work at sixty-four different organizations.
In an article titled "An
Ocean of Knowledge" published in the fall of 2003 in
the Volunteer newsletter of the Student Conservation Association,
a picture of Damon and another intern (whose family came
from India) are prominently featured in a photograph where
the two young people are examining maps of the ocean floor.
The piece begins: "Let's say you're considering buying
beachfront property. How would you project El Nino's effect
on erosion? Or where would you go to monitor pollution-control
efforts on local watersheds? Or to learn more about global
coral mortalities? The Coastal Marine and Knowledge Bank
is intended to provide answers to these and countless other
oceanographic questions." A marine worldwide web that
started three years ago and is slated for completion in
2010, CMKB is designed for scientists, policy makers, educators,
and concerned citizens. This online data-management tool
is being constructed at the Woods Hole Field Center where
Damon worked. In print, Damon is quoted as saying: "This
internship has gone so far beyond my expectations. I'm working
with oceanographers who have twenty or thirty years of experience.
They've embraced me and really treated me as an equal."
The piece continues: "Soon after Damon began his internship,
he noted that the Knowledge Bank included few photographs
and recommended that pictures should play a larger role
in telling the story of the world's oceans. Project managers
quickly agreed and tasked Damon with creating a database
of the Center's extensive image library." Damon remarked:
"They totally switched my position. After saying they
liked my ideas, they told me to take things in a new direction."
Eventually, Damon found himself leading top USGS scientists
and webmasters in a discussion of how best to access and
showcase the agency's photographic assets.
As
one of two interns at the federal program within USGS designed
to encourage minorities and young women to explore conservation
careers, Damon remarked that his time at Woods Hole reaffirmed
his professional plans. "It's amazing to know that
I'm helping to create a tool that I'll use as I pursue my
master's degree and later in life as a reference site. It's
been beneficial both ways, and I take a lot of pride in
that." Damon recalls that without prior training, he
was called upon to prepare short descriptions of photos
as part of the Marine Realm Information Bank (MRIB). "Initially,
I had to familiarize myself with the MRIB and the work of
the Woods Hole Oceanic Institute (WHOI). Each photo had
to contain scientific terminology, which I also put in layman's
terms, as well as key words that could be cross-referenced.
I was responsible for integrating the websites of WHOI with
various scientific websites of the USGS and NOAA. Once this
assignment was completed, I cataloged the photos into the
computer using key words that were previously designated.
The photos came from a variety of sources including scientific
vessels and cruise ships. I secured the information for
the process by interfacing with photographers, scientists,
oceanographers, and technicians."
"Although
our hours were listed as 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a half
hour for lunch, we often worked nights and evenings to meet
specific deadlines. As a result, our schedule was flexible,
and we generally worked autonomously," said Damon.
"My internship lasted from June 1 until August 22.
It was extended, at my request, so I could finalize my work
and say goodbyes to all the staff members who had treated
me so professionally."
UNITED
STATES SENATE: SENATOR PETER FITZGERALD (REPUBLICAN,
ILLINOIS) - Whitney L. Cawley
A sociology major at the College
of Wooster in Ohio who had completed her junior year, Whitney
Cawley was placed in the United States Senate working for
Senator Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican from Illinois. At
the time Whitney applied, over two hundred other applications
had already been received by this office, but with the help
of the Washington Internship Program, Whitney was accepted
by the end of March for an internship from June through
August. Whitney lived in the Capitol Hill area at Washington
Intern Student Housing (WISH), which accepts all members
of the Washington Internship Program, along with her friend
Rebecca Brems (from Tulane University in New Orleans, who
was placed by the Washington Internship Program with Republican
Senator Mike DeWine from Ohio). The two friends lived together
on Constitution Avenue in an apartment close to their work.
"Reflecting
on my time spent in Washington, D.C. these last few months,"
said Whitney, "I realize how much I have matured in
a short time. When I learned that I had been offered a position
with Senator Peter Fitzgerald, I was thrilled. I was eager
to observe senators in action and see how public policy
is made. Not only did I gain an insider's perspective on
the daily responsibilities of Senator Fitzgerald and his
staff, but I also developed some wonderful friendships with
other interns in his office. I arrived at Senator Fitzgerald's
office on June 1 and joined three other interns starting
on the same day, so the Senator's scheduler gave us a tour
of the office and introduced us to members of the staff.
Our main responsibilities were divided into four categories:
administrative, legislative, communications, and correspondence."
Whitney's administrative duties
included answering phones and recording constituent comments,
leading guided tours of the Capitol, and working on correspondence.
Sometimes she relieved the receptionist at the front desk.
"I enjoyed answering phones because doing so gave me
a chance to talk with constituents and learn what issues
concerned them," noted Whitney. "When a person
called about a bill with which I was unfamiliar, I would
research the legislation and track its status among other
matters being debated on the floor. Giving tours was one
of my favorite assignments. I enjoyed talking to families
and groups. My public-speaking skills improved dramatically.
I was also amazed by the volume of mail that arrived twice
every day (in the morning and afternoon). Each letter had
to be opened and checked, sorted and answered."
Whitney
conducted legislative research under the direction of the
Senator's staff. "Almost every week, the Senator's
Chief of Staff would assign hearings for each of us to attend.
We were required to take notes and report back on the information
imparted. In most cases, I wrote memos highlighting the
main points. The first hearing I attended, on: "Arming
Rogue Regimes: The Role of OSCE Participating States,"
was held in the Cannon House Office Building on June 5 and
led by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE). The witnesses included John Robert Bolton, Roman
Kupchinsky, and Terrence Taylor who discussed the need for
improved export control systems, primarily in Soviet states
and countries in Southeast Asia. The second hearing I was
assigned to cover, on June 19 in the Dirksen Senate Office
Building, was on: "The Growing Problem of Identity
Theft and Its Relation to the Fair Credit Reporting Act"
under the direction of Senator Richard Shelby, chairman
of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
The witness list included the Honorable Howard Beales II
from the Federal Trade Commission; Timothy Caddigan from
the United States Secret Service; Michael Cunningham, senior
vice president of JP Morgan Chase Card Member Service; Linda
Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource
Center; Michael W. Naylor, director of advocacy at the American
Association of Retired People (AARP); Stuart Pratt, president
and CEO of Consumer Data Industry Association; William Hough,
vice president of Credit Services at Neiman Marcus Group;
and Captain John Harrison, a U.S. Army retiree. Identity
theft occurs when an individual's personal information is
stolen and used to commit fraud. At the hearing, several
recommendations were made to combat the growth of this problem
and assist victims."
"Next I went to a hearing
on July 9, held in the Rayburn House Office Building and
titled: "Disrupting the Market: Strategy, Implementation,
and Results in Narcotics Source Nations," headed by
Representative Mark Souder, chairman of the House Subcommittee
on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources. Witnesses
included Paul Simons from the Department of State, Andre
Hollis from the Department of Defense, Rogelio Guevara from
the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Roger Mackin from
the Department of Homeland Security. Testimony established
that the production and trafficking in illegal drugs provides
a market for foreign criminals, so steps must be taken to
control these sources of narcotics and improve interdiction
programs to reduce the supply flowing into the United States
while reducing demand for this product through a combination
of prevention and treatment among U.S. drug users."
Whitney attended another hearing
on July 16, this one called: "Food for Thought: How
to Improve Child Nutrition Programs" under the direction
of Congressman Mike Castle, chairman of the House Subcommittee
on Education Reform. The first witness panel was composed
of: the Surgeon General, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, and the
Honorable Eric M. Bost, undersecretary of food, nutrition,
and consumer services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The second panel included two professors of pediatrics:
Dr. Tom Baranowski and Dr. Deborah Frank; plus Betsy Clarke,
president of the National WIC Association (Women, Infants,
and Children); and Gaye Lynn McDonald, president of the
American School Food Service Association. Three approaches
were offered to combat the growing problem of child obesity:
increased physical activity, healthier eating habits, and
improved health literacy by providing relevant information
to parents and children.
On
July 17, Whitney attended an oversight hearing, held in
the Longworth House Office Building, titled: "The Role
of Strategic and Critical Minerals on National and Economic
Security," under the direction of Representative Barbara
Cubin, chairman of House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral
Resources. The first witness was Dr. Charles Groat, director
of the U.S. Geological Survey, and other speakers included:
Hugh D. Hanes, FASM consultant to Brush Wellman, Inc. and
the Metals Affordability Initiative Consortium; Robert J.
Noel, executive advisor for the Metals Affordability Initiative
Consortium; Ann Carpenter, advisor for the Women's Mining
Coalition; and Douglas B. Silver, president of Balfour Holdings,
Inc. These people discussed the need for exploration funding
to locate undiscovered resources in the United States and
reduce U.S. dependence on foreign nations for strategic
minerals, which are critical components in America's defense/aerospace
infrastructure.
Whitney also attended several
hearings on her own, like a meeting on June 26 of the Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs pertaining
to the Fair Credit Reporting Act; and another on July 29
dealing with "Consumer Awareness and Understanding
of the Credit Granting Process." Whitney went to a
hearing of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs
- of which Senator Fitzgerald is a member - because she
knew the Senator would be present. This hearing was titled:
"Juvenile Diabetes: Examining the Personal Toll on
Families, Financial Costs to the Federal Health-Care System,
and Research Progress Toward a Cure." Actress Mary
Tyler Moore testified as the first witness.
Another
of Whitney's duties as an intern was to assist the legislative
correspondents in writing letters in response to constituent
inquiries. These notes covered a wide range of topics and
required considerable research before they were drafted.
Some of the topics about which Whitney wrote were: bear
baiting, commercialization of rest areas, contract bundling,
the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, land loss, lumber services,
the MediKids Health Insurance Act, pensions, power lines,
special-needs children, tuna labeling, wetlands conservation,
Chicago hotel workers, arbitration, and copyright laws.
Many of these letters were sent out under the Senator's
signature and became models for similar responses in the
future.
Every
Thursday morning, Senators Fitzgerald and Durbin (the latter
being the Democrat from Illinois) hosted a joint breakfast
open to all citizens from Illinois. The senators both introduced
themselves and then opened the floor for questions and answers.
At the end, constituents were given the opportunity to have
their pictures taken with both men, and Whitney helped with
this process. In addition, Whitney ran errands occasionally,
cross-referenced mailing lists, and reserved baseball fields
on the National Mall for office games after work. "Prior
to this summer, I had never played softball, but after joining
our office team, I found that I really enjoyed the sport,"
said Whitney. "Sometimes, if we had free time, several
interns and I would sit in the Senate gallery and listen
to debates on the floor. We also attended the Summer Intern
Lecture series where I heard speeches by Senator Trent Lott,
Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of State Colin
Powell." Whitney concluded: "I plan to start applying
to law schools this fall, and after my experience in Washington,
I decided I want to return to the D.C. and hopefully attend
school here. This internship was a wonderful experience
through which I acquired valuable skills, pushed myself
to try new things, and met so many interesting people."
NATSO
FOUNDATION - Adam Dietz
A business major from Rhodes
College in Memphis, Tennessee, Adam Dietz was placed in
a paid internship at the NATSO Foundation, sponsored by
the National Association of Truckstop Operators based in
Alexandria, Virginia where he worked from June 16 through
early August. Adam said: "My internship with the NATSO
Foundation allowed me to use some of my strongest abilities
while procuring important skills in communication and business.
I was given tasks that required me to plan, organize, create,
and interact. I worked with all aspects of the foundation,
including the Drive to Save Lives Program and the Bill Moon
Scholarship as well as media analysis and marketing.
My main job was working on the Drive to Save Lives - one
of the largest national blood- collection efforts of its
kind in the country. My duties included working directly
with three of the largest truck stop/travel plaza chains
in the country: Travel Centers of America, Petro Stopping
Centers, and Pilot Travel Centers. I was responsible for
helping to set up blood drives at all their nationwide locations
by making daily phone calls to individual sites and maintaining
files of each company's involvement in the program. I also
communicated with the corporate headquarters of the three
travel centers in order to keep them up-to-date with the
progress made at the other locations. I called the Red Cross,
invented ways to recruit donors, found local blood-collection
agencies, and answered questions about the program."
Adam also developed a survey
for the foundation. He planned in detail the type and number
of questions to be asked and then handled collection of
the results. "This survey proved to be my favorite
task at the NATSO Foundation," said Adam, "because
it allowed me to apply the knowledge I learned in college
from my marketing classes. Once the survey was completed,
I presented it to the executive director of the foundation
as well as the director of communications for NATSO. They
carefully reviewed it and then allowed me to send it out
to all NATSO members." During Adam's six-week internship,
he also worked on a media-analysis project for the foundation.
He searched through printed publications in the library
for articles or advertisements that mentioned NATSO, or
any of its programs, and then organized all findings into
a spreadsheet. He made copies of each article and kept them
all in folders that corresponded to the publication. This
information was presented to Travel Centers of America at
the end of the summer so that members could trace NATSO's
exposure in specific publications over the past few years.
"My
internship with The NATSO Foundation was also a learning
experience outside of the office environment," Adam
explained. "I was allowed to attend several luncheon
meetings and see how business is conducted over a meal instead
of a desk. Such occasions constituted a nice break from
the office and proved to be a good way to see how NATSO
interacts with other companies on a less formal basis."
Adam concluded: "This summer proved to be a great experience
that not only taught me new skills but also allowed me to
apply things I learned academically to work situations.
I was able to refine my communication and organization skills
while feeling free to express ideas. Overall, my internship
with the NATSO Foundation was more than I expected and a
good learning experience." During the summer, Adam
lived at George Washington University in Aston Hall. His
internship paid around $300 a week.
UNITED
NATIONS - Lysan Ta
A student from the University
of Utah in Salt Lake City who speaks three dialects of Chinese
and has traveled extensively in Hong Kong, China, and Europe,
Lysan Ta was placed at the United Nations Information Center
where she could pursue her interests in Third-World nations.
From January until August of 2003, Lysan worked at the U.N.
on K Street, N.W. where she covered hearings dealing with
international affairs in the House and Senate, following
which Lysan wrote reports for the U.N. headquarters in New
York and other delegations around the world. Titled a congressional
liaison intern, Lysan also attended meetings at various
think tanks and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) on
economics, trade, and national security. She conducted research
on specific U.N. projects and related media coverage. Lysan
provided administrative, accounting, and office support
for her supervisor at the U.N.
"As
a whole, this internship was a tremendous experience,"
remarked Lysan. "Coming from a nonpolitical background
and knowing less than I should about U.S. government and
the United Nations, I left this internship a little wiser
for wear regarding politics 'within the Beltway.' Despite
fierce competition, I was accepted by the United Nations,
and the memories I have of working there will last me a
lifetime. At the office, I became friends with people from
Iran, Belgium, India, Kenya, Turkey, Ireland, and many countries
in Central America in addition to Mexico, Bolivia, France,
Canada, and throughout the United States. Although I was
occasionally assigned tasks like purchasing lunch for the
director, making photocopies, and running errands, my other
responsibilities actually contributed to the well-being
of the United Nations. The majority of my activities were
quite substantive in nature because with a limited number
of staffers and many critical briefings that needed to be
covered, interns perform invaluable services at the U.N."
"On
the first day of my internship," Lysan recalled, "I
was given a packet of information about the history of the
United Nations, the different U.N. offices in D.C., and
other affiliated organizations. Although my focus was on
Southeast Asia and economic matters, I was asked to attend
hearings on a wide range of topics. For example, I went
to meetings of the House International Relations Committee
(HIRC), General Accounting Office (GAO), and the International
Congressional Committee (ICC) at which nuclear programs
in North Korea, U.S. Policy toward Southeast Asia, and drug
trafficking in Latin America were discussed. I also attended
meetings at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Studies where experts reviewed long-term assistance
programs toward building peace and bridging the gap between
America and the Muslim world. I went to lectures at the
American Enterprise Institute, Woodrow Wilson International
Center for Scholars, New America Foundation, Middle East
Institute, Carnegie Center, Brookings Institution, United
States Institute for Peace, Stimson Center, and Heritage
Foundation. I was working at the U.N. both before and after
America invaded Iraq to force out Saddam Hussein, which
was a fascinating time to be associated with this incredible
organization. Prior to the incursion into Iraq, the office
was inundated with phone calls, faxes, and oth
