(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 other inquiries calling for a peaceful resolution through the Security Council. Some self-proclaimed pacifists felt that the fate of all humanity rested in their hands, and perhaps we took their comments too seriously."

     "Hearings at this time focused on what would happen if the U.S. went to war with Iraq and its significance for the United Nations. How would the U.N. help with peace-keeping? What would such operations cost? All angles were explored by scholars in the field, military officers, professors, politicians, elected officials, and human-rights workers. Being an intern at a humanitarian organization like the United Nations taught me how much remains to be done on a global scale. Despite all the negative developments we read about in the news every day, there is still some good in the world. I was lucky to have been given first-hand experience with such goodness here in Washington, D.C."

     Lysan lived at the Congressional Apartment Building on Constitution Avenue run by the Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH). Her U.N. internship served as preparation for pursuing a Masters degree (during evenings) at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

E-IMAGE DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING

     In September, the Washington Internship Program placed Lysan Ta at a second internship - this time in the private sector at a small consulting firm in Arlington, Virginia. The World Bank is among the clients served by E-Image Development Consulting, and Lysan was promised that contacts made for her could lead to a paid position at the World Bank following this internship. E-Image is involved with health-care regulations involving privacy matters for patients, website development, marketing, and public relations. At this full-time internship, supervisors were most impressed with Lysan's training at the United Nations, and after a personal interview she was quickly accepted for a position where she might be supervising a few other students from the Washington who have had less experience than Lysan. (A detailed report on this internship, which is scheduled to last until January, will be forthcoming.)

INTERUNIVERSITY CENTER FOR TERRORISM STUDIES (ICTS)
POTOMAC INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES - William C. Han

     A student from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, William Han was placed at an internship within the Interuniversity Center for Terrorism Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. An international relations and history major, William had requested an internship in counter-terrorism, foreign policy, or national-security research. William is fluent in Korean and proficient in Spanish; in addition, he had done research in the past at the Center for Jewish History where his project dealt with Jewish refugees from Arab lands prior to 1948. William wrote of his experience:

     "After consulting with Dr. Bayer on my immediate and future goals, she advised me that the Washington Internship Program would be able to find me a good placement to fulfill my aspirations. My request for an internship in international terrorism was a tall order to fill because although this topic was considered "hot" for the past two years, not many organizations focus on specifically. Therefore, few options were readily available. Therefore, I was ecstatic to discover that the Washington Internship Program found me a position with the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies within the International Center for Terrorism Studies. The good news about working for the institute was dampened by a personal development within my family that precluded me from working in Washington, D.C. However, Dr. Bayer went out of her way to convince the research coordinators to approve my participation in an off-site internship so that I could remain in New York, where I needed to be for family reasons, yet pursue the research under the supervision of the Potomac Institute. Dr. Bayer's faith in my ability to conduct independent research was vindicated. After receiving my assignments, I soon learned that the city in which I resided did not affect the quality of my work. As matter of fact, I was able to work at my own pace like a freelancer. Thanks to modern technology, I easily communicated with researchers at the Potomac Institute through E-mails and phone conversations.

     The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies' International Center for Terrorism Studies engages in various projects that deal with international terrorism. Established in 1994 for the study of both conventional and unconventional terrorism, this center seeks to educate policy-makers and the public about the nature and severity of the terrorist threat in the twenty-first century. The institute monitors terrorism and develops response strategies on both government and private-sector levels. The institute serves as a nexus between policymakers, academic institutions, business, media, and civic organizations. Moreover, the center sponsors research programs on critical issues.

     My first project was to draft profiles of leaders and commanders in three terrorist organizations: Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade. A was to include biographical information, specific activities within the group, and other relevant information. Trying to obtain reliable information on terrorist organizations was not easy. Most of the organizations operate in a clandestine fashion, so I had to use the Internet, academic publications, unclassified reports produced by the federal government - like congressional reports, the State Department's annual report on international terrorism, and analysis of groups or individuals provided by various intelligence services. This assignment gave me an opportunity to analyze specific leaders and commanders of terrorist organizations.

     My second project was an in-depth analysis of Yasser Arafat's Fatah and Tanzim organizations. This assignment was more demanding than the first. At the end, I mapped the structure of these factions. The project was cumbersome, but I enjoy this type of investigation. Through this experience, I gained considerable knowledge about the most prolific terrorist organizations functioning internationally. These two projects taught me a great deal about the structure of terrorist organizations in terms of their history, ideology, membership, and overall affect on the international community and the state of Israel. In addition, the internship intensified my passion for international affairs. This experience will undoubtedly serve me well in graduate school. My supervisors at the Potomac Institute were pleased with my research as was Dr. Bayer, who assisted with editing my first drafts and helped improve my writing."

TALK RADIO NEWS SERVICE - Min-Ji Kang

     A graduate student from Ewha Women's University in Seoul, South Korea, Min-Ji Kang and two other friends from her college were accepted by the Washington Internship Program. Min-Ji and Yeon-Mi Cheong both worked at Talk Radio News Service, but Yeon-Mi was also placed part-time at the International Peace Corps. (The third friend did an internship at Women Work.) All three women lived together in Rockville, Maryland. Min-Ji worked at Talk Radio News from February through July 2003. Min-Ji wrote of her experience: "I had a great chance to be a reporter and work in a variety of media outlets. I was primarily assigned to the College Media News website - a Washington-based service produced by and for university students. I covered a great numbers of events throughout the D.C. area, ranging from various conferences and news briefings to hearings on Capitol Hill." The College Media News website is divided into various categories, like "The Daily Dose," "Beltway Bites," and "Features and Op-Eds." The network sends out at least four stories a day to over four hundred college stations in the United States. "Since the articles will be delivered to mass audiences, every piece needs to exhibit the highest standards of quality," Min-Ji explained. "For example, the format for each piece is based on thirty-second increments so that stations can transform them for their own shows."

     "The most difficult and challenging part of being an intern for College Media News was finding fresh stories and meeting deadlines because news gets old quickly and hence ceases to be 'news,'" Min-Ji noted. "On the other hand, the most exciting part of working at Talk Radio News Service was covering press briefings as a credentialed reporter in the Radio-Television Correspondents' Galleries on Capitol Hill. I met a lot of prominent figures, like Secretary of National Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Majority Leader Senator Bill Frist, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Senator Jeff Sessions." Min-Ji did an excellent job at her internship and was praised by supervisors who were impressed with her diligence and professionalism. Min-Ji was given a scholarship from her college in connection with her unpaid placement.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE DOYLE (DEMOCRAT, PITTSBURGH'S 14TH DISTRICT) - Joseph Rocco Krivijanski

     A graduate student from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Joseph Rocco Krivijanski participated in the past in the National Student Leadership Forum, which awakened his interest in politics. President of student government, a newspaper editor, and the recipient of more than twenty honors - including a full scholarship through the Chancellor's Merit Award, "Rocky" (Joseph's nickname) was thrilled when the congressman accepted him for an internship from June 1 through August 1. Rocky recalls waiting to hear about his acceptance:

     Before arriving in D.C., I was not sure what to expect. I applied for Congressman Doyle's internship on April 23 and found out about a month later that I had received the position. That month was quite stressful, not knowing what I would do if I did not get my desired job. Having lived in Pittsburgh my whole life, I wanted to work with one of the representatives from western Pennsylvania. When I learned that I had been chosen by Congressman Doyle, I was extremely excited. I had met Congressman Doyle in the fall of 2000 at a National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values in Washington, D.C. Congressman Doyle was my group leader at the conference, and I was immediately impressed with how genuine he was.

     Initially, Joseph's duties on Capitol Hill included basic office work like filing E-mails and faxes or opening mail. However, having been a journalism major as an undergraduate, Rocky asked the press secretary if he could do some writing or editing. Soon thereafter, Joseph was given the chance to compose remarks for a newsletter Congressman Doyle sends to veterans. The first article Rocky wrote dealt with Doyle's attempt to push for "concurrent receipt." Currently, military veterans with service-related injuries and twenty years of honorable service are ineligible to receive money from both military pensions and disability funds. Before articulating Doyle's position, Joseph researched the current bill along with similar legislation that previously had been proposed as well as relevant news articles. Then he drafted an article that the congressman signed after minor editing. After seeing what Joseph could do, the press secretary asked Rocky to draft a response to another bill on veterans' health-care. Under the current system, each year Congress appropriates money for this purpose in the federal budget. Under the proposed legislation that Doyle supports, veterans would be guaranteed adequate health-care each year.

     Joseph showed additional initiative when he asked Doyle's chief of staff if he could cover a briefing on Installed Capacity Charges - a payment to generators for providing electricity during peak periods of use. Three speakers would be appearing, two of whom opposed ICAP. After returning from the briefing, Joseph prepared a memo bulleting all the information objectively but also noting which side was more convincing.
     
      Joseph recalls the way he got his third writing assignment: "One day, while researching local Pittsburgh news, the congressman asked me to join him in his office. We sat down and conversed about my future goals, our common interests, and current political topics. I was impressed by Congressman Doyle's interest in what I was doing as well as his knowledge of many subjects. The most interesting part of our talk was that the Congressman believed the best course of study to prepare for politics isn't political science but communication. He said that as a representative or assistant, the most important skill was the ability to analyze information quickly and convey facts clearly and concisely."

     "Shortly after this encounter, I was told to prepare the script for a panel hearing on technology. The press secretary was going to be out of the office for a week and suggested I handle this project. I was thrilled to have earned his trust so early in the internship. I never realized that an intern or staff aid might be compiling such information. In order for the congressman to introduce the panelists, I read biographies to pull out relevant information. I also typed a timeline describing how the hearing should unfold, inserting spaces for comments and questions. After finishing the first draft, I went over the script with one of the legislative aids. We continued to tweak the text, adding transitions and directions to make the hearing go smoothly. Then I wrote the congressman's closing remarks. Again, the legislative aid looked over my work and with only a few minor changes, approved the speech. This assignment reminded me of work I did at the Tribune-Review in Pittsburgh. We were on a tight deadline since a piece had to be finished by the end of the day. I was given the assignment earlier that afternoon. Since the Congressman was flying out of D.C. early on Friday, we did not have much time to spend on the script. With the added pressure of a deadline and almost complete independence on the project, I was able to have an informative and exciting experience."

     Rocky was able to attend British Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech to Congress. "I was offered a seat in the gallery and was able to watch the historic address to the joint houses of Congress. Blair's speech was incredibly relevant and carried an optimistic message about peace in Iraq and international cooperation." Joseph also wrote a press release for Doyle's appearance at an autism conference and dinner recognizing his role in co-founding the Autism Caucus in Congress. Rocky remembers: "I was familiar with press releases, having worked at a newspaper and written articles from such documents, but actually composing the press release myself was quite different. I hoped to include enough information so that reporters would be able to write the story easily with few phone calls. After some editing, the press secretary approved the release and faxed it to the local papers." All Doyle's interns were asked to work on a long-term project: preparing a database/spreadsheet for every news clip on the congressman since 1994. Each month for the past nine years has been separated already. "Our task was to put the folders in order and create a list of articles, date them, and draft a short synopsis of the articles and the papers in which they appeared. Reading old stories is much like a history lesson. I am learning more about how my congressman voted and what he thought about major issues, like the Clinton impeachment. At the time many of these events took place, I was not as media-conscious as I am today. I was also less interested in politics. However, now I crave knowledge about how our government works." Joseph concluded: "Overall, my internship has been extremely rewarding. I enjoyed working in the city and on 'The Hill.' I would recommend this opportunity to anyone interested in the political process."

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART - Brittany A. Emens

     A student from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, Brittany Emens was accepted at both the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of African Art and the National Museum of Women and the Arts; so she worked twenty hours a week at each institution, splitting Mondays between the two and then devoting Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30 to 4:30, to the African Art Museum. In the end, Brittany worked an average of fifty hours a week. After an initial few weeks at the African Art Museum, Brittany started her internship on June 2 at the Museum of African Art in the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives. For the first two weeks, she conducted research on the Dogon and Bamana tribes of Mali and Niger, respectively. Brittany's summer project was to catalogue slides and filmstrips from Dr. Philip Ravenhill's fieldwork in Africa. Brittany identified the images in over a thousand slides, which she catalogued, scanned, and arranged for Internet publication while consulting with architects and other experts. When a permanent staff member left in July, Brittany handled additional administrative matters like setting up appointments with visiting scholars and helping to manage the archives.

     Brittany noted: "Over the course of the summer, I supplemented my internship by meeting with individuals in other departments for short informational interviews in order to learn about the overall functioning of a large museum. I frequently met with curatorial, exhibits, library staff, the registrar, and photographers. Such personal interaction provided a nice break from the data entry and research while putting me in a better position to determine my future path toward a museum career."

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS

     At Brittany's second internship, she worked half the day on Mondays as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. On May 18 Brittany started her NMWA job within the Development Department where she worked full-time until June 1. The National Museum of Women in the Arts is a mid-sized institution with a modest collection and conservative exhibition schedule. It is dedicated to supporting contemporary and historical artists; both permanent and temporary exhibits revolve around female artists and themes. The development office strives to bring money into the museum to cover salaries, maintenance, and special exhibitions. Resources come from generous individuals, mailed requests for support, fundraising benefits, and foundation grants. Brittany performed a wide range of tasks ranging from soliciting donations to organizing galas. She worded the text for appeals connected with an annual funds letter sent to three thousand individuals and corporations and compiled data for an endowment mailing to help attract pledges. Brittany also wrote a thank-you note on behalf of the museum's founder, which was sent to every donor. Brittany handled matters related to web inquiries, researched foundation prospects and planned-giving programs, and participated in departmental meetings on strategy and marketing.

     "My primary objective was to produce a comprehensive grants list and calendar encompassing all available sources," said Brittany. The computerized list covered funding from public, private, corporate, and government foundations. This long-term, large-scale project was created from scratch and included over two hundred foundations and nearly four hundred grant options. Organization names, grant titles, contact information, websites, organization interests, types of support, grant ranges, deadlines, geographic focus, and organization types were listed for each organization. The master list was categorized into eight spreadsheets for simplified searches. Brittany was one of four summer interns, all of whom "received an impressive amount of personal attention from museum employees," Brittany explained. The volunteer coordinator arranged for informational sessions with the directors of each department, and these casual presentations included question-and-answer periods for interns to learn about museum functions and ask for advice from professionals. "My supervisor was determined to make our stay at NMWA quite memorable, and she arranged several field trips. We were given private tours of the Sackler-Freer Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and NMWA storage facilities and exhibits. During these outings, we had access to some extraordinarily valuable objects like the fourth oldest gospel in existence at the Sackler." One of Brittany's supervisors left the Museum of Women in the Arts for the National Gallery of Art just prior to the July 4th weekend. Two weeks later, this person invited Brittany to the National Gallery for an in-depth tour.

     "As my time in D.C. draws to a close and I prepare to return to college, I am even more energized about the experiences I had in Washington," Brittany wrote. "This summer proved to be immensely successful and a complete joy - despite the dark circles under my eyes. I fulfilled my summer goals of exploring a variety of museum departments, building my resume, and expanding my portfolio of references and professional contacts. The staff members at NMAfA and NMWA were enthusiastic and generous with their advice and assistance. They were a pleasure to work with, and I was amazed by the intellectual level at both institutions. My interest in a museum career has grown tremendously, and I am now considering an African art-related topic for my senior honors thesis at Colgate. This positive experience has motivated me to pursue graduate studies in both art history and arts administration in preparation for my future. I sincerely thank the Washington Internship Program for providing me with such an amazing opportunity at two of the most prestigious artistic institutions in America."

SPECIAL OLYMPICS - Brad Justin Tropello

     A business and economics major from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Brad Tropello was placed in an internship at Special Olympics Virginia - a branch of Special Olympics International - where he worked four days a week from May 25 through August 3. Brad remarked: "Working with the Special Olympics in Burke, Virginia was a great learning experience. If in the future this organization is in need of another intern, I would recommend to your students that this is a terrific experience within a friendly environment. Thanks to the staff there, I was able to take part in nearly all activities - research, grant writing, setting up events, and working outside the office. I spent my first few days on the job reading about Special Olympics." Such preparation proved useful when Brad was asked to write a grant application to Ronald McDonald House Charities requesting $20,000 to double the size of the program's aquatics program over the next three years. Brad also wrote grant proposals to PowerBar, SAIC, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman Corporation for money to fund a bowling league for next winter. For the fall season, Brad wrote to NCR, Schering Plough, Hilton, 12-Sack, and Dominion soliciting grants ranging from one thousand to ten thousand dollars in support of athletic programs for handicapped youngsters. Brad's material explained the history and mission of this organization founded by the Kennedy family in memory of their retarded daughter.

     In the field, Brad set up soccer, sailing, and bowling activities as well as "Make the Point." He found a bowling center where a league could be started for up to eighty participants at the least expensive price. He arranged for soccer tournaments for free during the fall season by working with Washington Freedom and D.C. United Soccer to sponsor the games. Brad also contacted local clubs to set up relationships and help them create websites. In connection with the Sailing Regatta, Brad was in charge of getting a torch for the opening ceremonies from Washington Gas, and he contacted local authorities to insure safety procedures. Brad also assisted with activities to take place in October at all the high schools in Northern Virginia, which he contacted by letter and involved in a two-hour learning session. In all likelihood, Brad will be able to participate in this event in Blacksburg this fall. Through the Internet, Brad found contact information, located corporations, and discovered storage places. He also created a database of local basketball, swimming, gymnastics, and soccer clubs. Brad accompanied his boss to lunch with some Special Olympics volunteers in hopes of convincing one to take a job that needed to be filled. On another occasion, he met with D.C. United's director of community and fan relations to set up relations with this organization. Brad attended a coaches' meeting for the upcoming soccer season dealing with schedules, skills tests, practices, and tournaments.

     Brad appreciated working in an office setting, handling multiple tasks at once, and reporting to supervisors about his assignments. "I have learned a lot, including little things like using office supplies and equipment. However, if there is one thing I learned you must do, it is to be persistent to get a job done." This lesson is identical to the one taught by mentally and physically challenged young people whose courage and achievement is encouraged through Special Olympics International where they compete with peers as well as themselves.

R&L SPORTING GOODS

     As part of the job-bank, Brad had a paid position in Bethesda, Maryland at R&L Sporting Goods. "R&L," which stands for "Racket and Jog," specializes in athletic clothing and equipment. "We were well trained about shoes for serious runners," Brad explained, "including people with knee problems and other concerns regarding cushioning, stability, and motion control. "For customers without arches, we give motion control. Individuals with high arches who walk on the outside of their feet, cushioning is provided. If a person gives me an old pair of his or her shoes, I can now tell by the wear of the shoe what type of help they needed." With regard to racquets, Brad was already well informed as a former tennis player, and he learned to use related computer programs. "This job taught me a great deal about the sporting-goods world and gave me first-hand experience about running a sporting-goods store," Brad concluded.

GLOBAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES - Karin Flodin

     A recent graduate from the University of Utah who originally came from Sweden, Karin Flodin lived in Germany and Spain before coming to the United States in 1994. Her experience as an immigrant to America - combined with her ability to speak Swedish, German, Spanish, and English - made her a uniquely qualified intern for Global Immigration Services where she worked from May 27 through August 1. Karen recalls the confusion she felt after completing college: "All of a sudden I was supposed to know what I wanted to do professionally, but I had no idea what field to select. I considered going into international marketing to use my background in foreign languages, but I had only taken one introductory course in this area and did not feel well prepared. I decided that an internship might provide me with a solution. I would be able to get the work experience I needed while discovering what I liked to do. I accepted an offer I received from Global Immigration Services so I could use my language skills while planning marketing activities in Maryland and Virginia. Soon I was gaining insight not only into this particular area but almost every other part of the company, including daily communication with clients, clerical and court duties, translation and research, and computer projects."

     Karen devised marketing plans, conducted business research, reviewed competition from other consulting firms specializing in immigration and naturalization, defined target audiences, drafted advertising charts to measure the effectiveness of current strategies, and identified sources like Hispanic newspapers and television where future promotion could occur. She wrote a ninety-page manual, using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program, that outlines relevant contact information. On a daily basis, Karen communicated with clients in Spanish and set up appointments with the immigration lawyer, for whom Karen served as an interpreter on the phone and in person. Karen filed motions with the U.S. District Court, D.C. Superior Court, U.S. Immigration Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals; she also delivered courtesy copies to judges' chambers and dealt with dockets sheets and indictments from a client's file. Karen translated letters from English into Spanish and visa versa - some from the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization - and wrote correspondence in both languages. She conducted Internet research on immigration legislation and implementation as well as application procedures and requirements for H-IB visas. Karen drafted a summary of the labor certification process for the company's handbook, gathered information for clients about prevailing wages and I-136 petitions through the online library of the Labor Department, and worked on computer projects. She helped design a website using Microsoft Front Page and categorized data on clients from El Salvador. When her supervisor went to California for a week, Karen was put in charge of all Spanish-speaking clients, in connection with whom she kept a log of all interactions.

     Karen concluded: "The internship ended up being a tremendous experience for me. Handling responsibility in areas where I had minimal training built my confidence and competence. The Washington Internship Program has made me infinitely more prepared to take on the world of work, and I want to thank Dr. Bayer personally for helping me reach this realization." Karen planned to remain in the Washington, D.C. area following her internship so she could apply her internship experience immediately.

AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS - Rachael Silbar-Voorhees

     A student from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, Rachel Silbar-Voorhees was placed in the government and public-affairs offices of the American Jewish Congress where she worked from May 27 through August 1. Founded in 1918 by Rabbi Stephen Wise in response to worsening conditions for Jews in Europe following World War I, this Zionist organization soon developed a domestic agenda of using U.S. legislation to protect the rights of American Jewry. A nonprofit organization, the AJC took ground-breaking positions in favor of human rights and feminism, Constitutional issues like the separation of church and state, and peace in the Middle East while fighting anti-Semitism at home and abroad. Based in New York with a staff of fifty people, the American Jewish Congress has an important Washington office where Rachel became both a "fellow" and "administrative assistant." She wrote:

     During my last week in Washington, I whistled while walking to work - not because my internship was ending or to pass the time, because nothing was ever boring at the American Jewish Congress, but because I started to hear the music of the city and the song on the lips of activists striving to bring change in our communities. My internship was more of an experience than a job. It was definitely a living-learning application of many years of studying theory of organizational leadership, activism, non-profit-sector operations, and politics.

     About a third of Rachel's summer was devoted to Congressional lobbying about taxation, educational vouchers, faith-based initiatives, access to reproductive health-care and family planning for lower-class women, Head Start, religious-political groups, and church/state matters. She also conducted research on energy security, terrorism, the role of women in Islamic countries, the overall history of the Middle East, Israel's military and technological involvement in the Iraq War, prospects for rebuilding Iraq physically and politically, illegal trafficking in human beings across international boundaries, growing anti-Semitism worldwide, Islamic fundamentalism, and the relationship between the Jewish community and Russia, India, Qatar, Bahrain, Argentina, and Italy. During the last segment of her internship, Rachel worked on the largest undertaking AJC was coordinating this year: co-sponsored by the Department of Energy and the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures, the American Jewish Congress is convening an international conference, titled "Cooperation for Energy Independence in Democracies in the Twenty-First Century," to be held in Jerusalem at the end of August. The plan is to use Israel as a testing-ground for a renewable and sustainable energy revolution. Rachel worked with conference coordinators on invitations, speakers, databases, registration, and facilitators. Under the direction of two lay leaders, Rachel helped with a project that may "reform the way the world thinks about energy usage," in Rachel's words.

     Rachel attended Congressional hearings and then briefed staff from the New York office. "To sit in a room with some of the top leaders in the mainstream religious political lobby about 'next steps' in a campaign that will be recorded in history books is an experience that defies words," said Rachel, who also scheduled meetings with ambassadors, businessmen, and politicians "about whom you read in the newspapers every day. Although this task became routine, it was still astounding each time. Whenever a phone call came in with a request to 'act now,' they weren't kidding, and whatever action I took often made a profound impact." Rachel visited think tanks and was exposed to the development of public policy. In the course of her primary research, she visited sources at the Department of Defense. She enjoyed being part of a "government watchdog" with the interests of its constituency at heart. "My internship illustrated a point Dr. Bayer made in class, which I later internalized as a revelation. She explained that the currency of Washington is not money, as in some cities like New York, but connections through which favors are exchanged. 'Whom' you know, rather than 'what,' counts most in such a political town. Constant strategizing, maneuvering, networking, and exchanging information characterize much of life in Washington." Rachel continued:

     This summer also demonstrated for me the illusionary dichotomy between theory and practical application. Even though people were constantly saying things like: "You'll never learn this approach in school," in fact my education in problem-solving, interpreting data to decode the bigger picture, analytical thinking, and resourceful utilization of research tools served me well in the challenges I faced. My background in political science, American government, Constitutional law, and public administration proved invaluable as did specific courses in research methods, comparative religion, economics, Scripture as literature, accounting, and Spanish. Everything I had been learning about public policy over the past three years was put to use. Throughout the internship, I was treated with appreciation and respect by supervisors, and I will never be able to express fully the gratitude for all I learned this summer, which was in many ways a "test-drive" for my career vehicle. Living at Georgetown University, among hundreds of other interns, simulated the "real world" where such students would be my colleagues. We would come home from work and talk about our adventures - and often read about our nightly discussions in newspapers the next day. I learned that nonprofit organizations are vital to the quest for equity in democratic societies. I believe now, more than ever, in my ability to act independently and successfully. I relish the indescribable feeling that pervades every pore when I'm pursuing a cause that is just. One voice can make a difference - especially if it is calling to others to join a chorus. Then we have harmony as well as melody.

     Events in Which Rachel Voorhees Participated that were Internship Related
· Major General Dipankar Banjeree from U.S. Institute of Peace spoke about internal conflict and resolution in India

· Nat Lewin, attorney from Lewin & Lewin, spoke about a Jewish perspective on capital punishment

· Hearing conducted by House Government Reform Committee on use of vouchers in D.C. Public Schools; Secretary of Education Rod Paige, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, and House Education Committee Chair Congressman Boehner were key witnesses

· "Progress and Peril in Post-War Iraq," hosted by Senator Cornyn of Texas, plus panel discussion with Iraqi activists, lawyers, researchers, and professors from Harvard University

· Special briefing by State Department for representatives of non-governmental organizations on "Trafficking in Persons Report"

· Panel of columnists, editors, and directors of journalistic publications like the Washington Post, washingtonpost.com, and Congressional Quarterly discussed: "How to Make the Most of Your Internship"

· Hearing conducted by House Subcommittee on Select Education of House Education and Workforce Committee on the topic of bias and Title VI programs

· "Women as Agents of Change in the Middle East," sponsored by Council on Foreign Relations featuring three prominent, progressive women from Iran and Iraq

· Filmmaker Pierre Rehov showed his two newest films, which focus on Palestinians in the U.S. Capital; program was sponsored by the Israel Project

· Tzachi Hanegbi, Israeli Minister for Internal Security, spoke and answered questions on Middle East peace process, sponsored by American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC)

· Staff briefing on "Access to Family Planning for Low Income Women," sponsored by four reproductive rights organizations

· "God and the Inner City," documentary preview sponsored by New Forum on Religion and Public Life at National Press Club

· Former Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold spoke at book forum within the Hudson Institute; he discussed his new volume: Saudi Support for Global Terrorism: Ongoing Policy Dilemmas

· Academic panel at U.S. Institute of Peace: "Global Terrorism After the Iraq War"

· Speech by Tzachi Hanegbi, Israeli Minister of Internal Security, presented by American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC)

· "Findings from New York Voucher Evaluation: A Response to the Princeton Study," by researchers, talk held at National Press Club

· Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post columnist, spoke and answered questions on Middle-East peace process, sponsored by American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC)

· Dr. Gerald Post, terrorist expert and director of Political Psychology Program at Elliot School for International Affairs of George Washington University, spoke on: "Killing in the Name of God: Misuse of Islam by Terrorists"

· Israeli Ambassador to United States Daniel Ayalon hosted interns for a political briefing and dinner at Israeli Embassy

Career-Path/Networking Oriented
· Progressive intern gathering and ice cream social sponsored by Interfaith Alliance
· Live broadcast of CNN's Crossfire featuring Ralph Nader with group of Jewish interns
· Intern gathering sponsored by Institute for Women's Policy Research

Academically Oriented
· Dinner, via invitation from GVSU administration, honoring Bill Seidman with Vice President Cheney as guest speaker
· Dinner with GVSU Public Administration graduate students in Washington, D.C.
· Personal meeting with Mary Hamilton, executive director of the American Society for Public Administrators
· Rabbi Irwin Kula, "Power and Pluralism," speech focusing on political activism among American youth, sponsored by American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC)

     Other
· "Good Morning Michigan," reception hosted by Senator Debbie Stabenow
· Fourth of July Parade, Reading of Declaration of Independence, sponsored by National Archives; concert/fireworks from steps of Capitol Building
· Trip to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens

WORLD SERVICE AUTHORITY - Karen Bissell

     A junior from Syracuse University in New York, Karen Bissell worked at an internship from early June through August at the World Service Authority, which she described as "incredibly interesting." Karen continued: "I was able to handle cases of my own and produce work that I may not have been given at a larger institution. I assisted clients and learned a great deal about government and the legal system." The World Service Authority is a non-profit organization that helps victims of political persecution and human-rights violations. In an effort to promote equal justice for citizens of all countries, this office is committed to a system of global common law. The World Service Authority issues passports, which do not list national origin but place of birth, to promote the concept that all people have a right to travel freely. Many people seeking refugee status or political asylum apply for these passports if they are unable to obtain regular passports, and the documents have been recognized de jure by six countries (Ecuador, Zambia, Tanzania, Togo, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso) and accepted de facto (on a case-by-case basis) in more than 150 nations. Despite such progress, many Western states don't acknowledge such passports - especially since heightened security measures were implemented after September 11.

     Karen was given the title of "associate legal counsel" under the supervision of the organization's director, who is an attorney. As one of four interns, Karen reviewed the mail to identify clients appealing to WSA for help and categorize the cases by subject and priority according to whether people were seeking asylum, being detained, or protesting the confiscation of their passports. Karen logged new cases into the computer as well as a separate journal while deciding which ones were most urgent. For the first three weeks, the interns worked on cases together. Karen drafted a legal brief to President Bush, Colin Powell, John Ashcroft, and the head of U.S. Immigration Services on behalf of a man seeking asylum in the United States to avoid deportation to Cambodia where he was a democratic activist who opposed the government. A speechwriter for the Funcinpec Party, this individual had been repeatedly harassed and threatened with death. When his request was denied, Karen and the other interns wrote to various heads of state in an effort to delay his deportation. Karen also drafted a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Partially due to Karen's appeal, this person has not yet been deported. Karen sent similar materials to United Nations officials and heads of state in European countries when people were seeking asylum there. Another case involved a man whose documents were confiscated when he was traveling between Amsterdam and London, and Karen sent a letter of validity to H.E. Jan Peter Balkenende, prime minister of the Netherlands. Karen also wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan explaining why arbitrarily seizing such documents is unlawful.

     Karen also contacted clients to solicit information in support of cases. In that Karen was the only intern in the office who speaks Italian, she was able to use these language skills on one case. Karen became quite knowledgeable about treaties and applicable case law to which she referred in briefs.

U.S. AQUATICS

     On weekends, Karen went to her part-time paid job at U.S. Aquatics where she Worked as a lifeguard in Maryland. Rather than have a stationary assignment, Karen was assigned to different pools, which created flexibility in her schedule. Sometimes Karen went to Bethesda, and often she worked in the Silver Spring area. At most locations, only one guard was on duty, so Karen's responsibilities consisted of watching swimmers and maintaining the facility. "I would clean the pool area, check chemical levels in the water, and keep a daily log of the members using the pool. At the end of the day, I had to straighten up, close, and lock the area." Most of Karen's time was spent on surveillance and enforcing safety practices. This summer, Karen performed one rescue when two toddlers, who were unable to swim, flipped over an inflatable toy on which they were sitting in the water. Both children were saved by Karen.

NATURE CONSERVANCY - Rachel Baudler

     A student from the University of California at Santa Cruise, Rachel Baudler was accepted for a summer internship at the Nature Conservancy before applying to the Washington Internship Program, but she joined the internship program in order to take advantage of the academic course at Georgetown University along with the editing assistance, trips and special lectures, housing options, and other features of the program. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the biodiversity of life on earth by protecting the land and water they need to survive. Incorporated in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is the world's largest operation of its kind with chapters in all fifty states and four hundred offices in thirty countries. It employs over three thousand people, including four hundred scientists, and pursues research and natural management at priority sites. The Nature Conservancy is one of the largest charities in the U.S. with assets exceeding three billion dollars (primarily reflecting the value of the land it owns). The Nature Conservancy identifies geographic sites that need protection and then designs strategies - ranging from outright acquisition and public education to partnerships with private landowners - in order to protect endangered species. Working collectively with businesses, towns, government agencies, and multilateral institutions as well as individuals and other organizations, the Nature Conservancy has an impressive record of accomplishments, including: protecting fifteen million acres of wildlife habitats in the United States, establishing 1,340 preserves in the United States (the largest private system of nature sanctuaries on earth), securing 102 million acres of natural habitats around the world, and developing a hemispheric biological inventory to track fifty thousand species and ecological communities.

     Rachel spent half her time at the internship under one supervisor working with the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency. She conducted research in support of future public rule-making for wetlands. Rachel polled the Nature Conservancy field offices to determine the extent to which isolated wetlands are an issue and compared state and federal regulations. Then she prepared a written summary of her results. Rachel catalogued previous Nature Conservancy grants and partnerships with federal agencies, developed survey instruments, and contacted state chapters to determine if they had received federal grants. She also wrote a letter and project description that were sent to all state Department of Transportation secretaries explaining the recent collaboration undertaken by TNC's California chapter and California's Department of Transportation. Rachel particularly enjoyed attending hearings on Capitol Hill, in connection with which she organized testimony into a database.

     The second part of Rachel's internship, under a different supervisor, was devoted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Forest Legacy. Rachel prepared an update of state Coastal Zone Management contacts. She reviwed previous research dealing with the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS) and National Estuary Programs (NEP). Rachel surveyed the field offices to determine what funds had been received, how they were spent, and what additional sources of grants might be required in the future. She conducted related research at NOAA's headquarters and worked with projects associated with the United States Department of Agriculture. Rachel wrote a press release about the partnership between TNC and NOAA and prepared a PowerPoint presentation on the topic.

      In retrospect, Rachel recalls that she came to Washington to find direction.
"Before coming to D.C., I needed a change. I took off the spring quarter from college to 'find myself.' I wasn't quite sure what I was seeking, but I needed to locate my best self. I would be graduating from college within a year with great uncertainty about what to do. I wanted to work in the conservation movement, but I needed to find my place in it. Therefore, I headed for the nation's capital and an internship at the Nature Conservancy. For ten weeks, I worked under two supervisors in the Government Relations Department learning the intricacies of lobbying within this large organization.

      On an educational, personal, and career level, this internship was the best step I could have taken. It focused my concentration within the conservation movement. Now I want to work directly within the House of Representatives or Senate or for an agency that lobbies Congress. Through my internship, I learned the importance of policy as a tool in conservation. Although the political left - operating outside the government process through groups like Greenpeace and EarthFirst - are effective in energizing the environmental movement, more conservative, middle-of-the-road organizations - like the Nature Conservancy - can get more done by working from the inside. Through my internship, I also discovered that working on Capital Hill can be very exciting. The constant political buzz is invigorating, and I appreciate the learning process. I tried to engage myself in as many events as possible. My highlight was attending a Democratic National Committee fundraiser where I had the opportunity to hear candidates for president, meet with Terry McCuliff, and listen to Howard Dean for the first time. I was standing just a few feet from him and felt inspired. I connected with his ideas and approach to grassroots organizing. After this address, I joined his campaign as a volunteer. I am currently trying to organize a Dean group on campus.

      My internship was educationally spectacular. I spent the most time conducting extensive research on government grants, forty of which I described in detail on an Excel spreadsheet. I then developed a survey to poll all state chapters so that the national office will know which states are succeeding or failing at various projects. Because the Nature Conservancy is decentralized, there was little in the way of grant tracking before I arrived. Through this survey, I took the initial steps toward implementing such a system, which will help the Government Relations Department to focus its lobbying efforts. Through this project, I learned to conduct extensive research. The most difficult task was overcoming my fear of talking on the phone with colleagues, but the need to poll people constantly finally put me at ease when calling. I also learned the intricacies of Excel by having to put all my research into different databases. To my surprise, I soon enjoyed developing complicated spreadsheets.
I improved my writing skills by drafting a press release and a letter to all Department of Transportation secretaries. At first I found this task daunting because of their importance, but I learned the technical rules for preparing press releases and business letters, which are both valuable tools that I was never taught in school. The most exciting part of my internship was attending hearings on Capitol Hill. At one, I witnessed my idol, Senator Hillary Clinton, speak about the loss of wetlands protection - an issue about which I care deeply. Observing Congress in action was both awesome and sobering. I was frustrated when attending subcommittee hearings where only a few senators attended. On the other hand, the testimony and questioning process was fascinating. I even had the opportunity to help prepare testimony for a scientist from TNC who was speaking on invasive species before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Taking notes at these hearings was an incredible way to learn about conservation policy.

      A large part of what my supervisors did with their time was lobbying the House and Senate. Shadowing them on visits to staff members was instructive for me. I also attended an excellent seminar on lobbying techniques. These skills will be invaluable for me in the future. Part of the training I received dealt with networking, which may well be the most important skill I acquired. I now understand how to establish and maintain such relationships. Finally, during evenings I had the chance to coach a high school varsity basketball team. When I finish playing my last season next year, I plan to become a coach for other students - so this experience was also gratifying.

      In conclusion, this summer proved to be the best I ever had. Despite some inconveniences working behind a cubicle for much of each day, I found my experiences to be remarkable. Working for such a large institution was better than my previous experience with smaller organizations. With more resources at my disposal, I felt empowered. Now I am ready to work directly in Congress or on political campaigns that will be pivotal in 2004. Next summer I plan to volunteer at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. This internship laid the groundwork for my dive into politics and my entrée into new avenues of interest."

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS - Andrew Zinger

     A student from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Andrew Zinger worked at an internship from June through August in the accounting department of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. "This ten-week experience was enjoyable and definitely beneficial to my development as a student in accountancy," said Andrew. "I was assigned a variety of tasks, some routine and boring, others new and exciting. The best thing I liked about NACCHO was the fact that I had no boss, and no one looked over my shoulder. I was treated as a regular employee. I attended all meetings and was frequently asked for my opinion on topics that were discussed. Sometimes my work wasn't even checked because my colleagues trusted me, which made the job rewarding."

     Andrew was first asked to do data entry, through which he learned the company's structure of accounts and became familiar with the clients. "By the second week, I had my hands full processing accounts payable, cash receipts, bank-statement reconciliation, payroll work, and other basic accounting tasks. Toward the end of the internship, I was given a fairly complex and time-consuming assignment. The petty-cash account had been neglected for the past year, money was taken out of the cash box, receipts dropped off, and "IOU" notes were written. The problem was caused by the absence of a chief financial officer who resigned last summer. Ever since, the accounting department had been swamped with work, and no one had time to keep cash on hand. To straighten out the problem, I had to go back a year into the pile of notes, receipts, and spare cash still in the box, figure out all transactions that had taken place, classify them, and reconcile the account. After a few days I successfully completed the project, which was a great relief to the senior accountant who had been worried about it for quite some time."

     The last projects Andrew handled involved fiscal month-end and year-end closing procedures. "Most of it was data entry, but I mentally worked through the process based on what I knew about the company and what I previously studied in college. That assignment was a good learning experience because I could apply in real life what I had been taught academically," Andrew observed. "I am very grateful to the people with whom I worked this summer. They treated me with respect, taught me more than I could learn in school, and prepared me for the business world. I enjoyed my time at NACCHO and in the city of Washington." Andrew lived at the Institute for Experiential Learning in Alexandria, Virginia and worked in the District, so he got to enjoy "Old Town" as well as D.C. Andrew concluded: "I would like to thank the Washington Internship Program for providing me with this opportunity."

LA NACION USA NEWSPAPER - Gary Huynh

     A student from Simpson College in Indianola, Ohio, Gary Huynh was placed at two internships. The first was at La Nacion USA, the only daily Hyspanic newspaper published in Washington, where Gary worked from June through August, 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Mondays through Fridays. Then he went to the Polaris Project from 5:00 to 10:00 P.M. each day. "It was quite exhausting, to say the least, but now I know that any schedule I get with a future employer will seem easy by comparison," said Gary, who recalls the reason for his joint placements. "Coming out of college, I had a double major in Spanish and graphic design. Given this rare combination, I doubted that any work could be found to utilize both sets of skills. When the Washington Internship found La Nacion where I could do graphics work at a Spanish newspaper, I jumped at the opportunity." At La Nacion USA, Gary updated and later redesigning the publication's website. At first, Gary created a few advertisements for the classified section of the paper. Once he was assigned to updating the website, he soon learned to do so in an hour every day. "I spent the rest of my time conducting research and finding new features for the website," said Gary.

"About a month into the internship, my supervisor asked me to redesign the website and give it a cleaner, more user-friendly look. Beginning in July, I worked on this project while updating the old website daily. The new site was launched on August 7, my birthday! My supervisors and everyone else really liked the new website. Check it out at:

www.lanacionusa.com

     Not only did I improve my ability to create and manage a large website, I also improved my Spanish skills by interacting with reporters and editors who came from over a dozen Latin American countries. Era una gran experiencia! (It was a great experience!)

POLARIS PROJECT

     "My second internship also helped me improve my website-design skills because I utilized many different programs to update and create promotional materials for the Polaris Project," said Gary. The Polaris Project is a nonprofit organization that works to combat trafficking in women and children, for the purpose of modern-day slavery and sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is the third-largest type of international criminal activity, behind the illegal weapons trade and drug trafficking. The Polaris Project was the brainchild of co-directors Derek Ellerman and Katherine Chon, whom Gary described as "two very nice and caring people." One unique feature of the organization is its website, humantrafficking.com - which houses a large database of articles and resources dealing with human trafficking. Gary updated this website and implemented new features, like a job bulletin, calendar of events, and site map. "I worked with Derek to improve my ability to create animation and presentations using the Macromedia Flash program. I am now quite adept at this skill, having made two long flash movies. In addition, I created the bsccoalition.org website for an organization in California that works with Polaris," said Gary.

     Throughout the summer, Gary was charged with finding an efficient, cost-efficient way to translate Humantrafficking.com into several languages. After considerable research, Gary discovered that the best approach to the problem was to use a translation service provided by Altavista.com. Consequently, the site would be translated into eight different languages. Looking back over the busy summer, Gary concluded: "Through my experience at Polaris Project, I gained valuable skills using the Flash program, and I also learned how an NGO operates. I came to realize that serious human-rights violations are happening everyday right under our noses - even in Washington, D.C. Everyone who can spare the time should volunteer or serve as an intern at the Polaris Project to help out with this important cause. I also want to thank the Washington Internship Program for finding these two internships for me. On my own, I would never have been able to make the contacts I developed or gain the quality experience from which I can now profit as I search for a job in my field. I plan to remain in the Washington, D.C. area and work as a freelance graphic/web designer. You can find my professional website at:

www.garyhuynh.com

CROSSFIRE - Mary (Katie) Ross

A student at George Washington University, Mary Ross - who goes by the name Katie - balanced two internships plus a job-bank position during the summer and accepted a third placement in Congress in the fall. From June 2 through mid August, Katie worked mornings at the Women's Foreign Policy Group, afternoons at CNN (Cable News Network) on the show Crossfire, and on evenings and weekends for fifteen to twenty hours a week, she worked at a paid job in J Crew within Georgetown. Beginning in September, this woman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania worked in the House of Representatives for Congressman Joe Pitts (Republican from Pennsylvania) in the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. At CNN, Katie worked as a student manager on Crossfire, a political debate program in one Republican and one Democrat argue about various topics in confrontation with guests who makes appearances to the television show. Katie was in charge of daily preparations for the show. She set up took down security posts, oriented the audience, and performed miscellaneous tasks during broadcasts. Because Crossfire has a live audience for each taping, Katie interacted with people 2:00 to 6:00 each day when she worked on the set. Katie was given managerial experience that included coordinating student volunteers who helped with the program.

     "Working at Crossfire gave me first-hand exposure to how a live TV show is produced," said Katie. "I worked behind the scenes, amid the chaotic process of a live broadcast, watching directors, producers, stage managers, and famous guests on CNN who successfully creates exciting programs five days a week. This internship lived up to all the stereotypes people associate with the fast-paced, impromptu media world. My time at Crossfire will serve me well in the future as I plan a career in broadcast journalism." Katie decided to continue with this work as a volunteer at Crossfire in the fall.

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, GRADUATE REASEARCH - Monica Chung

     A second-year Master's candidate in international affairs from Columbia University in New York, Monica Chung graduated from the University of California at Berkley and is specializing in security policy within Central Asia; she speaks Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), German, Farsi, and Persian. An older student who has been in business for herself for thirteen years, Monica was placed by the Washington Internship Program with Dr. Jerrold Post, former head of the Personality Analysis Division at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and world-renown counter-terrorism expert who now directs the Political Psychology Program at the Elliot School for International Affairs at George Washington University. From June through October, Monica worked on several projects with Dr. Post, who accepted only three interns this summer - all from the Washington Internship Program. Monica's first assignment involved a "Sermon Project" in connection with which she helped build a database of Islamic sermons from fundamentalist mosques in England, Palestine, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. Monica also worked on copy-editing Dr. Post's pending book on Psychological Profiles of Political Leaders. Monica attended interviews Dr. Post gave to the media and before other scholars working on the "psychology of terror," and she helped prepare Dr. Post's weekly lectures on this topic at the Smithsonian Institution. Finally, Monica conducted extensive research on the rise of fundamentalist Islam in Central Asia and wrote a sixty-page report on the topic.

     Beginning in October, Dr. Bayer from the Washington Internship Program assisted Monica in editing the final version of that paper in preparation for possible publication - whether within Dr. Post's upcoming volume or elsewhere. Monica worked alongside other researchers exploring similar developments in South America. Monica worked hard on research, writing, editing, and re-editing her materials. "This paper, along with the insight I gained on psychology in politics (which is Dr. Post's specialty), really helped me understand many dimensions of politics today," said Monica. Although at times Monica felt frustrated by the lack of clear instructions involved with such independent study since she did not know exactly what Dr. Post expected her to do in connection with the development of Islam in Central Asia, she demonstrated initiative and did an excellent job despite the fact that Dr. Post's schedule of international lectures and travel does not permit the type of daily feedback that often characterizes undergraduate work with less famous professors. Other staff members at the Elliot School for International Affairs can give only general guidance. Monica concluded: "Although I have become fascinated with the psychology behind world leaders and terrorism, I'm not sure this field is right for a person like me who owned her own firm and managed complex business transactions and thus developed negotiation skills. I am good with customers and relating to people in general. I can take initiative if no one has given clear instructions, but there's a cultural gap between academia and business/sales that seemed evident during my internship."

CONGRESSMAN PATRICK J. TOOMEY (REPUBLICAN, PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT # 15) - Kristin L. Dini

     A student from Temple University in Philadelphia, Kristin Dini had two internships this summer: one in the House of Representatives and the other in the Senate.
Kristin wrote about her first days in the Cannon House Office Building: "Entering an internship places a student in an awkward position due to the newness of the job, the intern's lack of knowledge, and the impressive nature of the setting. Stepping into an office on Capitol Hill to tackle unknown tasks and meet all sorts of people presents quite a challenge. My internship with Congressman Patrick Toomey lasted from June 12 through July 3. It provided insight into how a congressional office functions, taught me to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, and helped me gain respect for the men and women who serve our country by holding public office."

     Kristin continued: "How much a student learns from an internship depends in part upon the quality of the experience. I was constantly told how important interns are on the Hill these days. Full-time staff members welcome the vitality young people bring to the offices along with new ideas and questions. Congressional interns are acknowledged by special speakers and luncheons held to teach them about the inner workings of our government. Despite my relatively short time Congress, I attained invaluable experience and refined my ability to speak with any person who walked into the office whether he or she was an average constituent or the CEO of a major company. Prior to my weeks in Congress, I had no idea how a representative functioned. I soon learned how the office corresponds with citizens about bills and legislation. In the past, I couldn't understand how one person could know so much about multiple issues ranging from health care to the environment, but now I realize that legislative assistants work vigorously to remain informed about the matters they are researching as well as constituents' opinions. Only by witnessing the frantic process of drafting press releases or missing flights can a person begin to appreciate the amount of work and thought that goes into each day at a congressional office. Every minute is crucial. One wrong comment or decision by a representative or chief of staff, and everyone's jobs could be in jeopardy."

     "Negative aspects of my time in Congress are difficult to find because even with hours spent going through constituent mail or learning about the history of the capitol in order to conduct tours, the knowledge and experience I gained was invaluable. In this type of on-the-job training, no one is at your side providing an explanation of everything that happens. Much learning came from direct observation and figuring things out for myself. In congressional offices, everyone learns that way. In a short internship like mine, legislative assistants won't assign long-term projects to an intern, but the experience was quite rich nevertheless. From learning new skills to refining old ones, I enjoyed a great opportunity to witness the type of communication skills we previously studied in the classroom."

     "Attending hearings and lectures with different congressmen exposed me to a wide range of communication styles. The truth is that every politician isn't an effective speaker. One committee chairman slouched in his seat and practically mumbled, and he failed to look up from his notes more than a handful of times. In this business, the key players have a group of superb writers working behind the scenes to create flawless presentations. Nevertheless, some representatives I observed needed a freshman course in public speaking. Much of what is stressed in the classroom is disregarded once people reach this level of achievement."

     "Overall, I have difficulty finding anything critical to say about my experience in the House of Representatives because I was able to learn things no textbook or professor can teach. Whether a student is heading for a career in law, public relations, business, or politics, an internship on Capitol Hill provides a fantastic education that is applicable to any career. Beyond the value of my internship for future jobs, I gained a deepened awareness of how democracy works and greater respect for my country. In this way, I was forever changed."

SENATOR RICK SANTORUM (REPUBLICAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA)

     Kristin said of her second internship with the federal government: "The opportunity to see how both sides of Congress function was a unique experience that allowed me to understand more of what happens in a senator's office. From July 8 through August 15, I worked as an intern for Senator Rick Santorum in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. I was one among six interns who ranged from sophomores in college to a second-year law student. The weeks spent working for the Senator constituted an unforgettable experience. The intern coordinator in this office spent time creating schedules for the interns, keeping them informed about special speakers, and serving as a mediator between staff and the interns. My six weeks were broken down into morning and afternoon rotations. Many hours were spent in the mailroom, the front office, the press office, and with our assigned legislative team."

     "Sometimes I had a chance to do extremely important tasks, and at other times I completed what may have seemed like busy-work but is actually vital to the overall operation of the office. Each station provides for both tasks. The Senator has an extensive mailroom. Time is spent there on data entry, filtering E-mails to the correct staff assistant's mailbox, paper mail sorts, letter stapling, and drafting correspondence. At times, the front office was one of the most interesting places to be. The primary task there is answering phones and speaking with callers. The press office was always overloaded with work for interns, which mostly included updating media databases. The legislative team with which I worked covered issues like labor, education, and housing. Our tasks included responding to constituent letters and conducting legislative research. Spending an entire morning or afternoon for five days in one department allowed us to work on projects without disruption. Even though a schedule dictated where every intern was supposed to be each day, considerable flexibility was involved so we could leave our post to go listen to lectures given by various congressmen, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Our intern coordinator also recognized the value of visiting museums, so we went to the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and Bureau of Printing and Engraving. I am pleased to say that the quality of the internship program and my experiences with the senator and his staff were on a very high level."

     "I was also inspired by the environment where I worked. As my time there came to a close, I realized that I cannot just leave Washington and never return. This small district directs much of what takes place throughout our country. In addition, I now understand how quality leadership is essential to the vibrancy of a nation. I don't know whether I want to work in a congressional office again, but more than ever I am committed to attending law school now that I have seen up close how our laws are made."

WOMEN'S FOREIGN POLICY GROUP

     In the mornings, Katie worked at the Women's Foreign Policy Group, an organization dedicated to promoting the voices of female leaders in international affairs. Throughout the year, WFPG holds various programs, including an annual luncheon for members to hear different women speak on global issues. Past lecturers include: CNN's Andrea Koppel and Judy Woodruff, NBC's Andrea Mitchell, and Elizabeth Bumiller and Karen DeYoung from the Washington Post. The Women's Foreign Policy Group also produces an annual directory of members, which includes biographies, areas of expertise, and contact information for each individual. The directory promotes large-scale networking and is available to the media, various political organizations, and the public at large. Because this nonprofit organization is small, interns there are entrusted with a great deal of responsibility. Since Katie's area of expertise is in communications, she was initially assigned the task of updating media contacts, whom she subsequently invited to events.

     Katie also worked on event-planning, research, outreach, editing, and computer tasks using Microsoft and Excel. "This internship taught me a great deal about the corporate world," said Katie. "My supervisor, the director of the Women's Foreign Policy Group, taught me basic skills that will serve me well in future jobs. She directed my attention to details that should be addressed in any work-related task." Katie worked with C-SPAN, CNN, and NBC, among other outlets, in the course of her assignments. Katie convinced C-SPAN to cover a WFPG event at the State Department, and she spoke with NBC's Andrea Mitchell on the phone regarding another event. "I thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from my internship at the Women's Foreign Policy Group this summer," said Katie - who was invited to continue her work during the year whenever her schedule permits.

CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE
IMPROVE THE WORLD INTERNATIONAL - Christopher John Forster

     A student from Cambridge University in England where he attends Queens College, Christopher John Forster was placed at the Center for the Prevention of Genocide within Improve the World International, which is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Chris worked there from late June through September in keeping with the British academic calendar. Chris joked, with characteristic good humor, regarding this serious subject: "A position as a human-rights violation monitor has its perks. For example, it can halt a conversation at twenty paces. Few people know how to respond when I say that I have been preventing genocide all summer." Chris described the "pressure and urgency" of the work done at this nonprofit organization. In an effort to prevent mass murder, the organization where Chris worked has an early-warning system run by monitors who continually assess hotspots around the world through a network of contacts and informants who warn the center of any impending mass killings. Other people work to disseminate information about violence in progress.

     During a crisis, policy makers and the media are informed of the situation - after confirmation by neutral third-parties - in hopes of putting pressure on offending governments to stop the slaughter or help prevent it. "We had success with this process in various countries, including Indonesia and Chechnya," Chris explained. "During my time in the Washington area, we only initiated one crisis procedure. Contacts in northern Sudan informed us of the danger of a massacre in Darfur. I was chosen to join a team that would investigate the case. We needed to get independent confirmation of the threat before issuing a press release. The experience was intense. All other work was put on hold while we devised strategies for tackling the problem. Thinking 'out of the box' was crucial, and ideas had to be acted upon immediately. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to go into further detail due to the sensitive nature of the subject. Suffice it to say, we were unable to go public due to specific information we gathered on the victims."

     Christopher's regular monitoring duties took up most of his time. During his first week on the job, Chris conducted research through news wires and E-mails. During his second week, he was assigned specifically to threats in Liberia - a country that had not previously been listed as a hotspot. Chris gathered information and prepared reports, in connection with which he completed considerable reading over the next few weeks. Christopher wrote a description of the problem for the organization's website and produced a summary about the background and abuses in that country. Chris contributed to the center's Country Reports and Summary Journal. He also helped with mass-mailings pertaining to Liberia, including briefings for congressmen and senators, White House staffers, United Nations officials, and ambassadors as well as press releases for newspapers, magazines, television stations, and genocide scholars. The report itself included a history of the current climate of conflict and the role of leaders and rebel forces. This section of the report was designed to be used by diplomats and other political figures as a reference guide. The compilation of abuses reported in this part of Africa was important because over two-thirds of the country is now under rebel control and thus beyond the reach of international observers and human-rights groups. Nevertheless, Chris documented attacks on civilians and internally displaced people, forced conscription of civilians and children, sexual abuse, and other forms of torture. The rest of Chris' report included his observations of the conflict and projections of future dangers.

     The legal department supported accusations of human-rights abuses in Liberia within a section of the document created by this division. Despite the regrettable bloodshed, a case for genocide was difficult to make. However, publicizing the loss of life and assaults on human dignity could help bring international pressure to bear and stimulate relief efforts. The report was printed and put in circulation within three days, but even short delays for mailing and other forms of delivery have negative ramifications. By the Monday following the report's release, the peace process had restarted. Chris was asked to draft an opinion editorial for the Washington Post, and he did a remarkable job on this piece, which was also sent to a wide range of other prestigious newspapers. By the time Chris' internship was ending, the developments he predicted were starting to occur.

     Another project to which Chris was assigned involved a possible nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan. In conjunction with a staff member from the legal department, Chris collected articles on the problem as part of a preliminary study. A meeting with the director was held at which the case was presented, and the decision was made to compile the necessary data. Due to the technical nature of nuclear weapons, the group concluded that the majority of the work should be done by experts outside of the center. Before contacting potential authors, Chris accompanied the director of the Center for the Prevention of Genocide and the legal assistant to a meeting with a congressman who had expressed interest in this matter. The representative agreed to write the introduction to the report. Next, Chris conducted research on scholars who could be approached to work on the project.

     One person whom Chris recruited has served as a senior associate at the Center for Non-proliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute, associate director of the Center for Defense Information, research director at Physicians for Social Responsibility, executive director of the Acronym Institute, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, and a senior researcher at Princeton University. Christopher also created an extensive contact list of potential contributors and a general report detailing all that had been achieved on the subject thus far. Toward the end of the internship, Chris met with the individual who was chosen to head the project. This person asked Chris to continue working on this report after returning to the United Kingdom in the fall. Chris noted: "I sincerely hope I will be able to contribute is some small way to preventing the use of nuclear weapons in south Asia. Our final aim, ambitious though it may be, is to have the report distributed to bookstores across the United States, India, and Pakistan and put together an expert panel for a televised discussion of the issue."

     In conclusion, Chris observed: "The Center taught me much about strategies for preventing genocide. In addition, my confidence in meetings and speaking on the phone increased exponentially as did my ability to write succinctly - for which I owe a debt of gratitude to the Washington Internship Program. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my colleagues at work and the open-minded, easy-going atmosphere that the director created in the office. By the end of the internship, my boss and I enjoyed a fine rapport, and he often requested and valued my opinions on various matters. In fact, I was offered a fellowship at the center if I return to America, and the director said he hopes to assist me in future job opportunities. All in all, I had a very productive summer."

WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA (WOLA) - Iraisa Mateo Montes de Oca

     With a Masters degree in law from the University Autonoma of Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Iraisa Mateo Montes de Oca was placed at an internship with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) where she worked from January through March doing research, administrative tasks, and advocacy for different countries in South and Central America. Iraisa concentrated on human rights, drug policy, environmental problems, immigration, and cultural differences. Iraisa attended special luncheon meetings with both WOLA and the Latin America Working Group (LAWG) where social issues were reviewed, including guerrilla forces in Colombia; lobbying work to end the embargo of Cuba; and the corruption trial of Arnoldo Aleman, former president of Nicaragua. At these meetings, various approaches to the matters were discussed and different solutions evaluated. Iraisa also went to a conference on Pluralistic Societies in Bolivia, which was jointly organized by George Washington University and WOLA. Panelists at this convocation addressed union movements in Bolivia, the impact of cocaine trade on Bolivian politics, and relations with the United States.

     Iraisa did some work on police reform in her own country, the Dominican Republic. She focused on attempts to stop assassinations among the civilian population and the violence associated with night "roundups" of individuals who are arrested or incarcerated without due legal process. Iraisa investigated economic policy in Brazil, articulating the positions held by Caucus members in relation to FTAA agreements (Free Trade Area of the Americas). Iraisa attended Congressional hearings on the War in Iraq and the buildup of nuclear weapons in North Korea. In addition, Iraisa conducted research that drew upon her own training in jurisprudence when assigned a project on sentences handed down by the Human Rights Inter-American Court - an organ of the Organization of American States (OAS) - in keeping with the Protocol of El Salvador (an international treaty dealing with cultural liberty throughout Latin America.

CINCO LANGUAGE PROGRAM

     In connection with the job-bank, Iraisa worked in the evening for a short time teaching Spanish to adults (twenty-three to thirty-five years of age) within a classroom setting that included group activities and linguistic exercises. Iraisa received some training to help her teach conversational courses, for which she was paid between $15 and $20 an hour. The CINCO Language Program is administered by the sister of another intern participating in the Washington Internship Program who is also from the Dominican Republic (Emy Rodriguez Rancier), and hence interns in our program from Korea were able to teach Korean at the institute in exchange for English classes in the evening to strengthen their language skills. Another former intern, Isabel Guisantes from Spain who did her internship at the Embassy of Mexico, was hired to teach English through CINCO to employees of the World Bank. In Iraisa's case, some administrative work was involved, too.

     In addition, the Washington Internship Program helped Iraisa find part-time work preparing bills for a psychiatrist, Dr. Leonard Vanderlinde, on weekends and evenings in Potomac, Maryland, for $10 an hour, as well as compiling packets, advertising materials, and mailings for the Washington Internship Program. In general, Iraisa had some difficulty bridging the gap between the standard of living in the Dominican Republic, where attorneys can earn the equivalent of $200 to $400 a month, and the United States, where the monthly rental for the room Iraisa found in Arlington, Virginia cost more than her salary back home in the Caribbean. Iraisa lived for a while at India House, a youth hostel in Takoma Park, Maryland, to keep costs down, and after the initial part of her internship, she worked mornings at WOLA in order to be free to pursue employment opportunities in the afternoon and evening, like distributing fliers for good causes. Iraisa originally hoped to stay a year in Washington, but only a semester proved financially feasible. In addition to the activities provided by the Washington Internship Program, Iraisa was able to visit relatives in Newark, New Jersey at the end of her internship. Iraisa worked valiantly in the face of economic problems, and to her credit she was able to continue at her internship and attend classes despite cultural adjustments to the anonymity of urban life in Washington and other facets of U.S. work patterns where impersonal advertising replaces family connections and other forms of nepotism that are common in folk societies and rural contexts. Iraisa's situation reminded all the interns that college education and associated internships are blessings that many U.S. citizens take for granted without realizing the hardships such opportunities may entail for people who come from poorer countries.

SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY - Eliza Talbot

     A student at Georgetown University, Eliza Talbot had the good fortune of being accepted for summer internships in the United States Senate working for both Edward Kennedy and John Kerry (Democrats from Massachusetts) - two of the most popular liberal senators who accept a large number of interns every year. Initially, Eliza decided to work for Senator Kennedy during June and part of July and then for Senator Kerry during the rest of July and August. Among the topics discussed in the Washington Internship Program seminar is the difference between working for more famous legislators versus offices with fewer staff members where interns need not compete for meaningful assignments. Eliza said about the beginning of her internship: "After a week in Senator Kennedy's office, a colleague turned to me and laughingly remarked: 'I feel like I'm pledging at a sorority or fraternity.' During my first day as an intern, I found myself volunteering to walk the Senator's pets - two Portuguese water dogs named Sunny and Splash, buying the Senator coffee in the morning, and delivering milk shakes he always has with lunch. However, I soon realized that the opportunities in this office were limitless, and I was responsible for requesting the work that interested me."

     As the weeks passed, Eliza answered phones, responded to constituent inquiries, drafted correspondence, and ran errands. Next, she started organizing information and conducting research on new bills, writing letters, and giving tours of the Capital. "The highlight of my time on Capitol Hill was attending committee hearings and writing memos for staff members. I attended a full Senate Armed Service Committee hearing on "lessons learned" during operation 'Enduring Freedom' in Afghanistan and 'Iraqi Freedom,' and I reviewed ongoing activities in the U.S. Central Command region. Two speakers who testified were Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and General Tommy Franks." Eliza also attended a subcommittee panel discussion on education reform. The hearing was titled "Food for Thought: How to Improve Child Nutrition Programs," and representatives who spoke came from Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services and the U.S. Public Health Service. In addition, a professor of pediatrics and behavioral nutrition at Boston University Medical School, the president of the American School Food Service Association, and the director of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) from Minnesota's Department of Health delivered testimony.

     Eliza concluded that her overall experience was: "exciting, challenging, and rewarding. I even enjoyed running errands for the senator because doing so allowed me to explore more places and learn about interactions on the Hill that are otherwise concealed from the public. The success of this internship depended on the large, dedicated staff employed in Kennedy's office. Although my interaction with the Senator himself was limited, my favorite events involved Kennedy speaking - to students, at hearings, and on the floor of the Senate. Even when he is not in the office, his presence is felt." Eliza decided that her internship with Senator Kennedy was going so well that she did not switch to a second internship with Senator Kerry. Instead, she worked for Kennedy from June 2 through July 31 and then enjoyed some time to herself at the end of the summer when the Senate was out of session.

DOUBLE R PRODUCTIONS - David William Clark

     A student majoring in communications and broadcasting at Towson University in Maryland, David Clark was first placed at an internship with Double R Productions - a full-service television company located at Dupont Circle in downtown Washington where David worked during the spring semester of 2003. This company specializes in training videos, documentaries, and public-service announcements. David describes his experience at Double R Productions as "half classroom and half work world." He further described his time there: "Not only was this internship a way to develop television skills, but I also learned a great deal about how a business runs. My internship included communications, TV, public relations, advertising, and marketing. During four mind-boggling months, the chairwoman of Double R and her hard-working staff helped me improve in all sorts of areas from organization and client interaction to computer skills."

     During David's first month on the job, he logged b-roll footage digitally, researched articles for upcoming video projects, and visited places like the World Bank and Women in Film and Video. He helped promote one of Double R's projects, Gospelrobics - a fitness show combining aerobics and gospel music - that was carried on many television stations. David conducted research for media-training sessions that teach representatives from corporate, government, and organizational sources how to handle questions from the press. David tracked down some of the worst cases the Secret Service has faced to serve as illustrations. "Around the end of the month, I helped at the Cultural Alliance Marketing Event held at Cada Vez restaurant in Cardozza. I worked with the director of the event as well as many people involved in Washington's cultural community - including visual, musical, theater arts, and freelance videographers. I shot footage dealing with pollution: exhaust from vehicle pipes, litter, and traffic."

     Dave noted: "February was an exciting month. I was assigned to work on a press release about Mercantile Bank's new training and orientation videos. Women in Film and Video sponsored a job-fair at Atlantic Video where I assisted staff and other interns who collected resumes and described our company. I also updated our contact database, which includes lawyers, lobbyists, and public-relations and government firms. Three of the interns and I worked on making a demo video dealing with internships for college students. The National Associations of Broadcasters (NAB) had us update some PSAs that Double R produced on topics ranging from breast cancer and missing children to volunteerism and physical fitness. Together with about ten other interns, I contributed creative ideas for the company's new postcard and brochure. The design chosen included the face of a cow underneath which is a description of the work done by this company."

     In March, Dave helped plan for a Lifestyle Expo that took place in April. This event involved religious organizations, particularly the African-American/Gospel community, which demonstrated healthy lifestyles in a biblical context. Dave sent his press releases to newspapers in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, and he went to Mercantile Bank's corporate offices in Baltimore to deliver the completed videos. "The other interns and I put together a new demo for Emily's List - a Democratic organization that raises funds to support women in politics who favor liberal causes," said David. In addition, David worked to find sound bytes (quotes from different speakers) and went on a film shoot. "We did two days of filming, some of which were at the Renaissance Hotel. I assisted the boom operator, played the role of grip, and documented on digital camera what occurred."

     In April, Dave worked on a "Howdy Neighbor" campaign. He helped film a spot connected with a new cooking show called Capitol Cuisine, in connection with which visits were planned to each embassy with a guest chef from the country in question. Dave was given a book by Dale Carnegie and a $300 bonus out of appreciation. In May, Double R Production began shooting for NAB public service announcements. The filming took place at Grace Digital Media studio. Dave escorted wives of congressmen and senators to the filming and timed them on reading the prompter.

MONTGOMERY COMMUNITY TELEVISION

     In April, David applied for and received a part-time position at Montgomery Community Television where he was hired to work as a teaching assistant. David was trained to teach all aspects of pre-production, production, and post-production. At the beginning, David went to this job one day a week while continuing his internship at Double R Productions.

ATLANTIC VIDEO

     Dave said of his first internship: "My experience with Double R gave me a foot in the door in terms of the television industry. It opened the future to me and provided new skills and connections. By far, this internship was the best I ever had outside of college. I am proud to say that I was an intern at Double R Productions." As proof of Dave's assessment, in May he interviewed for a paid summer internship at Atlantic Video. Although hundreds of other candidates applied from all over the country, Dave was chosen for one of only five positions. Dave successfully launched his career in a competitive field within one of the most difficult cities in the country in terms of breaking into television broadcasting. In effect, Dave Clark started at the top.

      At Atlantic Video, David helped out on two ESPN shows, logged b-roll footage, was trained on an Avid editor, and substituted for the receptionist during her lunch break. Atlantic is located on Massachusetts about a block from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop. "On my first day at Atlantic, I was introduced to the operations manager who said that when new interns begin, they have a chance to work on two sports talk-shows: Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption," said Dave. The first is a daily game-show starring Max Kellerman, who challenges the perspectives of sports columnists from top newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News, Denver Post, Boston Globe, and Chicago Sun-Times. The second program is a debate show ranging from sports to entertainment and featuring Washington Post columnists Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. For both of these programs, David operated the teleprompter.

     David was trained to use Avid Express, the main system for logging tapes, by one of Atlantic's best editors who served as a mentor for the new intern. "He showed me how to route cable, and I also had a chance to sit in with clients," David remembered. "One of the most fascinating was with staff from Feld Entertainment, the main production company that filmed commercials for Disney on Ice and Ringling Brothers. Atlantic seemed to be full of surprises, one of which was running into an old college professor of mine who served in the Creative Services Department." Another surprise occurred when David was offered a part-time paid job to fill in for the receptionist whenever she was on a break. "The pay was only $6.50 an hour, but it helped me worm my way into working part-time," David explained. "Probably the best surprise came from New York. Atlantic had moved into the number-one market. I applied for the position of production assistant and managed to get two phone interviews and a chance to meet with people in person at Atlantic in the Big Apple. Although I didn't get that job ultimately, it was great to say that New York interviewed me."

     David left Atlantic Video in the first week of August. Through Kelly Services Temp Agency, he was offered a paid job in the field of criminal investigations for First America in Rockville, Maryland. Although the position wasn't media-related, it entails work with different clients - an area in which David gained experience at his last two internships. Since David was hesitant to leave the Washington area, this position will keep him on the banks of the Potomac until the next job with his name on it comes along.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - Sana Shaikh

     A student from Boston University's School of Management, Sana Shaikh came to Washington in early February to do an internship until the end of April at the U.S. Department of Commerce within the International Trade Administration and Finance Division. As a research analyst, Sana worked with data from overseas posts dealing with payment terms for American exports, foreign banks and their United States counterparts, and overseas credit bureaus. Online, Sana used cyber portals like business.com and zagury.com where she looked for international financial contracts. She dealt with overseas cables sent to ITA and created a database of import/export statistics. Sana also worked independently at university libraries and IT labs. Her final project was over 250 pages in length - including colored diagrams, footnotes, and coding.

     Sana noted that she "also had the opportunity to attend seminars, like one at All First Bank in Baltimore, Maryland where a former executive at the Export-Import Bank discussed world finance and disparate lending terms in different countries. "This lecture introduced me to a number of marketing and finance theories that I could apply to my project and reinforced ideologies that I had studied in business classes at B.U." Sana described her colleagues at work as "amiable" and "a good source of contacts concerning upcoming events in government departments." Sana was allowed to "telecommute" and work from home or other resource cites on occasions when she preferred not to go into the office. "This independent schedule was great for me, and I recommend it to anyone who has the self-discipline to operate in a productive manner without constant supervision." Sana continued: "My supervisor was a pleasure to work with due to his welcoming personality. He was open to a wide range of approaches and provided both direction and feedback without being intimidating." Sana particularly enjoyed working on topics dealing with Estonia and Djibouti - two countries with which she was not very familiar before coming to the Commerce Department. In total, Sana did research on 170 nations trading with the United States.

AMERICAN ADVERTISING FEDERATION - Ae-Jin Ho

     Ae-Jin Ho attends Seoul Women's University, and the Washington Internship Program placed her at the America Advertising Federation for the first of her internships over an eighteen-month period. Beginning in December of 2002 until May of 2003, Ae-Jin was an intern at the AAF - an organization representing more than 50,000 members nationwide and supporting all facets of the advertising profession. At the headquarters in Washington, D.C., Ae-Jin was an intern in the Education Services Department, which governs college chapters of the organization. Ae-Jin described AAF as an organization that "combines the strength of major corporations, advertising agencies, and media companies to form a unified force in the advertising industry." When a university chapter of the American Advertising Federation is formed on a campus college, AAF offers a sequence of courses in the field, including marketing, promotion, and advertising design. Ae-Jin was responsible for seeing that the colleges submitted dues and other required materials and then sending membership cards and packets. Ae-Jin entered information into a database and kept in touch with academic advisors to guide them in maintaining active programs.

     Ae-Jin also reviewed all applications to the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), kept track of equipment requested for presentations, and supervised reimbursements for travel expenses. AAF sponsors the Alpha Delta Sigma Honorary Society to encourage scholastic achievement in advertising studies, and each year hundreds of college students are nominated for induction into ADS. "I made sure that each student chosen was eligible for this honor and sent out certificates of membership," explained Ae-Jin. An AAF Internship Directory is published annually online, and the URL is distributed to all student members. This guide lists hundreds of internships throughout the country in all facets of advertising and marketing. Ae-Jin responded to orders for ten years of these volumes as well as NSAC winning-team plan books and videotapes; she also processed invoices and mailings. Ae-Jin said that her internship taught her "a great deal about advertising, communications, and marketing. I assisted with varied duties and provided administrative support for the office. I attended monthly meetings of the American Advertising Federation, and now I am better informed about business tides and trends." Following Ae-Jin's internship at the American Advertising Agency, she applied for a second internship at Amnesty International where she was promptly accepted. The new placement in an international human-rights organization constituted a good contrast to Ae-Jin's first placement in the advertising field within private industry.

INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP - Julia Hill

     A graduate from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, Julia Hill came to Washington in the fall of 2002 for a three-month internship at The World & I Magazine, which she did in the Culture Department from September through November. (This internship was described in last year's report.) Then, on November 19, Julia was placed in a second internship at the Institute for Educational Leadership where she worked until being hired as a full-time employee at a salary of over $29,000 with benefits. An independent umbrella organization, IEL is a nonprofit organization that presides over fourteen projects. Julia was placed at the Center for Workforce Development that seeks to strengthen ties among employees and create learning institutions within the workplace that can increase overall productivity and educate the nation's workers. A collaborative of nine organizations came together to support state and local policies promoting full access to high-quality services for youth with disabilities. At first, Julia conducted research on "best practices" that met the "Baldridge Criteria" listed in a new website. Julia recalled: "It was a daunting task, but I enjoyed working toward an end product that I knew could be helpful to so many people."

     At the completion of this project, a program associate left, and Julia was asked to work during a two-month trial period after which she would be hired permanently if her supervisor approved her performance. Following just one month, Julia was approached by her boss and offered the job on a full-time basis. As a program associate, Julia monitored and maintained information for the Center for Workforce Development. She provided graphics and editing assistance on reports and correspondence. Julia helped plan meetings, kept partners and subcontractors well informed, and updated a database. She prepared files and bibliographic materials for the director and senior associate. Julia processed information requests and helped with financial record-keeping. Julia described her experience as "fulfilling and enriching." "I had the opportunity to work with people from the United States Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Social Security Administration, to name just a few of the agencies with which I had contact. I dealt with individuals from all across the country and all walks of life. What was more important to me was the knowledge that I was really helping folks. Here at IEL I know that what I am doing makes a difference and is important work." Julia concluded: "So, thank you again, Dr. Bayer and the Washington Internship Program. In today's economy, getting a good job seems nearly impossible. Without your help and contacts, I might never have gotten this opportunity at an established institution like the Institution for Educational Leadership."

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS - Yasotharai Sivakumaran

     An Australian citizen studying economics and finance at the University of Texas, Yasotharai Sivakumaran also went to school in Singapore and Nepal before the Washington Internship Program placed her in the Department of International Affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers from May 29 through August 20. From June 13 through 27, Yaso went to Stockholm to deliver a paper on the Internet and digital communities at an international conference. She said of her internship: "NAM is located in a fabulous part of the city near Metro Center. Our department at the National Association of Manufacturers lobbies for bills in Congress that will help American manufacturing. A large part of the work I did this summer was related to boosting this sector of the economy. One of the most exciting things at NAM was going to Capitol Hill and encouraging passage of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. I tagged along with a boss from our department who is in charge of such issues, and we met with several people from the Commerce Department. The Chilean ambassador, Andres Bianchi, also stopped by to say a few words. The bill was finally passed by the Senate on July 31 after the House ratified it earlier that week. Trade agreements are interesting to me since I had studied this precise topic in class. This summer I acquired a more extensive, in-depth understanding of free trade, which convinced me that it is one of the most important issues in global economics today."

     The International Economic Affairs Department (IEA) holds trade forums every Friday morning. These off-the-record sessions are addressed by high-profile individuals in Washington politics, and the attendee list includes big-name companies like Bechtel, Dupont, and Dow Chemical. "These forums are extremely informative since they extend an insider's viewpoint on the main issues concerning economics and politics today," explained Yaso. "Among the many speakers we had the privilege of hearing were Jay Brandes, director of the Iraq Reconstruction Taskforce from the U.S. Commerce Department, who discussed how American companies were going to be affected by the current ban on licenses imposed on various companies. NAM-member companies were told how they could help in the rebuilding effort, and we were given information about recently awarded contracts, financing opportunities, and subcontracting. We also heard Stephen Jacobs, deputy assistant secretary for agreements compliance at the International Trade Administration of the Commerce Department, who talked about the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial in Cancun, Mexico. Despite some movement internally by the European Union in reforming its common agricultural policy, the EU showed little flexibility on key issues at the WTO talks in Geneva."

     "Since 1997, the United States lost one-third of its share of Chile's imports because Chilean customers began sourcing from countries with which Chile has Free Trade Agreements. NAM estimates that the lack of an FTA is costing U.S. exporters $1 billion in annual sales and twenty thousand potential jobs. An FTA with Singapore would set a valuable precedent for future FTAs with the developing countries of Southeast Asia where U.S. manufactured exports face average tariff rates of 30 percent. The Chile and Singapore FTAs are needed to level the international playing field and give U.S. exporters a fighting chance to expand sales abroad. Visiting the Hill and meeting with important people who were lobbying for these bills was an extremely valuable learning experience. We discussed the advantages of such agreements, and I applied what I had learned in class concerning trade on a large scale, which was most gratifying. I also attended a rally on the Hill held by the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Coalition for which NAM is a co-secretariat."

     Yaso wrote: "Working in Washington as an intern was a colossal eye-opener. This city is the political hub of the United States, and as the summer wore on I was increasingly exposed to the fundamental relationship between politics and economics. All my experience with economics thus was solely confined to the classroom. Interning with an organization that is crucially involved with the political and economic scene and that has a significant impact on issues directly affecting Americans was ground-breaking for me. One of my first work assignments entailed analyzing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the U.S. to China. I was asked to compare statistics from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) with figures reported by the United States. The U.S. numbers were laughably small although there was controversy about Chinese over-reporting of the same estimates. Firstly, investment in China is funneled through Hong Kong mainly because China is not yet an entirely open market. Due to the physical proximity, several U.S. companies channel investment in China through Hong Kong. The result is that U.S. companies don't report such transactions as investments in China while the Chinese do. In addition, some American companies that are located offshore and overseas invest in China but do not report their trade as coming from the United States. The Chinese, of course, count all business from such American subsidiaries. This discovery helped explain the disparities between the figures these countries cite."

     "Subsequently, I was asked to investigate the breakdown of imports from China to the U.S. over the past five years. As is clearly evident these days, China is now becoming the main market for investment and is hurting other countries in Asia, specifically the ASEAN countries consisting of Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. My assignment was to disaggregate the data into specific imports and concentrate on a few, such as higher-technology goods like electrical machinery consisting of automatic data process machines (computers). I also analyzed footwear, iron and steel, knit apparel, furniture, and bedding. The key was to discover whether imports from the ASEAN countries as a whole with regard to these imports had been declining over the past five years while imports from China for these same goods had been increasing. In brief, had there been a surge in imports from China or simply a displacement from one sector of Asia to the most important country - namely China? If a displacement had occurred, the U.S. domestic-goods market was not so much at risk as it would be if there had been a surge in imports. This study had further ramifications for unemployment levels, economic growth, and consequences for the Federal Reserve Board. It was interesting to learn, after developing some spreadsheets, that after the year 2000, imports from the ASEAN countries took a turn for the worse while imports from China to the U.S. continued to increase. What was more interesting was that in the wake of the Asian Financial crisis of 1997-1999, what should have followed as a recovery process for the region had not taken place largely because of the emergence of China as the newest market for investment.

     This internship has given me a fractal breakdown of the issues that concern the manufacturing sector of the American economy within an international context. I gained an improved understanding of world issues, and I developed as an economist; I also came to appreciate the need for statistics. The vice-president of our department needed help with quantitative analysis. I had to apply everything I learned in my Introduction to Econometrics class for the assignments he gave me. I ran multiple regression analyses for him using technological software and entered variables to develop a more usable model. My proficiency in econometrics garnered me much appreciation and was impressive to the people at work. This internship with NAM was one of the most useful experiences I ever had in relation to my major in economics. I honed my analytical skills, learned to research an issue thoroughly, and presented arguments in the most efficient manner."

  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - Rajbir Singh Datta

     A student from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who had visited India on more than five occasions, Rajbir Singh Datta was placed by the Washington Internship Program in the Asian Department of Amnesty International. Raj described his internship as follows:

     "My experience at Amnesty International could not have been more rewarding. From my first impression to the last, the summer was truly eye-opening. I went to numerous congressional and legislative briefings as well as Asian events at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. I met many interns who pushed me to do my best work along with congressmen, staffers, and leaders of non-governmental organizations - including the director of Amnesty."

     "On May 17, I arrived at Amnesty International, which is located only six blocks from the U.S. Capitol. As a seasoned grassroots activist, I was accustomed to disorganized, disheveled offices. Thankfully, this work environment was immaculate with two conferences rooms; the organization filled the entire fifth floor and some of the third. I received my informational packet, which focused on terrorist-attack prevention and preparedness. A note cautioned not to allow anyone through the back door unless I knew them personally; the front door was bombproof, and I was to report suspicious characters or activities within the building. This unusual warning was my first encounter with such precautions since the tragedies of September 11, 2001. It forced me to wonder what kind of person would target an internationally respected human-rights organization. It also told me that the organization values its employees and the work they do."

     "After the orientation for new interns, of whom there were around eleven in our group of newcomers, we were given a tour of the facilities, which were a lot bigger than I had expected. With various cubicles and offices, I soon realized that interns were the backbone of the organization; there are almost as many interns as paid staff. I then met with the advocacy director for Asia. He had attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School and was vaguely familiar with the organization where I worked the previous semester: the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. He was surprised to see an Indian affiliated with an extremely liberal and, as he called it, 'militant' institution. This man said he would write me a recommendation for graduate school depending upon my performance."

     "Everyone at Amnesty International operates on a first-name basis and invites interns to participate as part of the team. I enjoyed periodical brown-bag luncheons, which were information sessions used to supplement the internship experience. Many were devoted to Amnesty's programs for women, refugees, and regional programs. Amnesty International is currently pushing the United Nations to apply refugee-like status to internally displaced persons (IDPs); these individuals have lost their homes even though they have not crossed any borders. Some staff members spoke of their trip to Iraq and emphasized the growing number of IDPs and the failure of the occupying forces to combat the problem. Amnesty International also advocates for women's rights worldwide. In Juarez, Mexico, for example, five to six hundred women were murdered or 'disappeared.' Amnesty is fighting to outlaw the death penalty. The current emphasis is on the United States where some prisoners have been sentenced to death for crimes committed when they were under the age of eighteen. The U.S. is the first country on earth to execute youngsters of this age. I personally support the death penalty while the majority of Amnesty staff opposes it. Although I do not advocate capital punishment for children, I do agree with the death penalty for criminals who cannot be rehabilitated."

     "At one brown-bag lunch, Erin Corcoran, a staff attorney at the Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights, spoke on behalf of her organization. Kemba Smith and Opio Sokoni lectured at the brown-bag I enjoyed the most. The former is a single mother and national public speaker, advocate, and former non-violent convict who was sentenced to twenty-five years in federal prison for her boyfriend's part in drug trafficking and was subsequently granted clemency by former President Clinton in 2000. Mr. Sokoni is an activist attorney, writer, and consultant for the Drug Policy Alliance. These two individuals criticized the War on Drugs and advocated treatment. Coleman McCarthy, a professor from Georgetown University Law School, spoke to us about peace and conflict resolution."

     "Most interns at Amnesty International are foreign-relations majors who have traveled or lived abroad for extended periods of time. Since my major is different and I have traveled less, I needed to work much harder. During my first week, I conducted much Internet research on Asia and attended congressional briefings and other Asian events at a number of organizations in the D.C. area. Slowly, I started to get more meaningful work. After attending events and hearings, I wrote summaries so my boss would be well informed. I eventually drafted testimony for my supervisor to deliver at hearings conducted by the Congressional Human-Rights Caucus on the detention of a pro-democracy leader in Myanmar. The International Secretariat, the main office of Amnesty in London, requested a copy of my piece. Next I wrote a forty-page history of the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. I spent about a month on this assignment."

     "Much of my internship was devoted to the situation in Aceh, Indonesia where the government broke the ceasefire and declared martial law on May 19 - two days after I arrived in Washington. Conditions in Indonesia have been terrible ever since the East Timor Massacre in 1975. Aceh is located on the northeastern tip of the country where the people are fighting for independence. They have been labeled terrorists by the Indonesian military but not the United States. Schools have been burned and hundreds of civilians executed. A reporter, who was recently freed from forty days of detention in an Indonesian jail, reported that the military is suffering the most casualties and that the troops continue to commit human-rights-violations throughout the region. On May 30, I organized an emergency strategy meeting with twenty-five Indonesian experts and organizations. We used this meeting to plan the policies America should pursue in Indonesia, like cutting funding to the IMET program that provides military aid to Indonesia. Congress subsequently approved this policy with the help of Amnesty International, the East Timor Action Network (ETAN), many other organizations, and a personal visit from a widow whose husband was among twelve Americans murdered by the Indonesian military in Papua, New Guinea. I also helped organize two demonstrations in front of the Indonesian Embassy; we protested against killing civilians and other human-rights abuses."

     "I attended an all-day Kashmir Conference held at the Cannon House Office Building. Although India is responsible for the majority of abuses committed in Kashmir, Pakistan is also guilty of many atrocities perpetrated by representatives of its large militant Muslim population. I met the president and founder of the Council on Khalistan, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, who is a Sikh who has advocated an independent nation for the past eighteen years. We talked for a long time about the culture we share, his involvement with the Khalistan Movement, and the massacre of thousands of Sikhs during the 1980s by the Indian government. We also got together several times following the conference. Meeting Dr. Aulakh could not have come at a better time for me since I was already planning to live in India for a while in order to learn more about my cultural heritage and language."

     "Interning with Amnesty International changed my life. Before this summer, I harbored doubts about a career in politics, which has now become my goal. I still plan on attending medical school, but I also hope to start an interest group for Sikhs focusing on education and self-determination. I wish to earn a Ph.D. and run for Congress someday - perhaps by age thirty-five. This internship taught me a great deal about government relations. I learned that the game is only as rewarding as playing hard allows it to be. I met many dedicated public servants, some of whom offered to become mentors or foreign-policy advisors if I ever need them. I have also made connections with important people with whom I plan to keep in touch over the years."

PUBLIC FORUM INSTITUTE - David Steinberg

     A student from Yale University studying politics and economics, David Steinberg did an internship from June through August at the Public Forum Institute - a nonprofit, bipartisan institute involved in research, government relations, and colloquia organizing. David said: "I was hired in part because of my background in finance because PFI had begun talks with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation about a large project involving macroeconomics and small business. A three billion-dollar organization founded to "foster entrepreneurship in America," Kauffman recently dissolved its Washington office under new leadership and was looking to fill a vacuum and engage both the U.S.
government and general population in a National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship. One of my first responsibilities involved the review of documents that were then submitted to Senator Olympia Snowe and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship she chairs. I wrote several documents and reviewed the final materials with the president of the Public Forum Institute before PFI completed the final proposal. My initial research into the subject demonstrated that the data available from the U.S. Census on small businesses was very limited. How could any policy-maker tailor economic legislation to foster small businesses when the government has no way of measuring the impact of entrepreneurship on the economy? The white paper I drafted during my first week was presented to Senator Snow, and a seed was planted that may eventually grow into a Senate Task Force on Entrepreneurship and Small Business. Kauffman agreed to meet with the PFI president and leaders from the National Academy Science to discuss engaging this group in a new study on the data supported by my initial research. Kauffman will fund the work (at a cost of around one million dollars) as a first step. This process will be gradual, but I was fortunate to have been given a large staff to help me with the research and develop a basic long-term strategy."

     David continued: "Having people work for me presented tensions among the staff on the job. It was difficult being a 'boss' when I was technically only a fellow at the institute. The experience gave me new insight into some of the uglier aspects of office politics. I eventually ended my tenure as leader of the ENT initiative before leaving for Africa. I explained to one of the VPs that I would prefer that he take over since I felt resentment was growing, and the quality of work submitted to me was consequently dwindling. I was, in a sense, given significant authority without the powers and title I needed to enforce it." David had won a Richter Grant at Yale to study human rights and AIDS in development countries, so he traveled to Capetown, South Africa for two weeks where he worked with Doctors without Borders and anti-viral medication to slow the course of the disease.

     Upon David's return, he met with the head administrator at the Small Business Administration and the president of the American Business Conference. "Rudy Penner, head economist at the Urban Institute, pointed out flaws in my basic research," David recalled. The next week David met with John Reynolds, a professor at the London School of Business who heads the GEM Research Consortium - an international project on global entrepreneurship. "After discussing his research, I began to compose my own on the project that I eventually gave to the president of PFI, which will be used as reference over the next two years. The report is also being translated into a new portal to the PFI website as a supporting tool for the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship that is
soon to be launched," David added.

     David attended daily meetings in the office and participated in occasional conference calls as well as several strategic planning sessions. "These were probably the most beneficial and educational experiences I had, watching the early development of a project from the first contact with a client," David noted. "I was also involved in supporting other projects, specifically a national dialogue on health care, for which I researched the latest and most pressing issues and the steps needed to be taken by other think tanks and organizations to answer questions about health cost, coverage, and consumer engagement." During the last few weeks of the internship, David started working on a new "Tech Summit" where the issues of cyber security would be explored. "I had to become an expert on this topic in a few days and develop an action plan on what topics needed to be addressed and why. I then wrote a series of briefs about the four most important concerns with an emphasis on legal liability, international law, government leadership, and the relationship between the public and private sector. After another meeting, I changed my angle of vision and put special emphasis on leadership, questioning the potential of the Department of Homeland Security's new National Cyber Security Division (NCSD). Overall, I learned a great deal about U.S. fiscal policy, international law, and office dynamics." At the end of the internship, David was asked to continue working as a free-lance, paid consultant for the Public Policy Institute while back at Yale University the following year. Although David was overly committed academically and therefore could not accept the generous offer, he was pleased that he had been asked to assist in this capacity.

FLORENCE CRITTENTON SERVICES - Angela Davis

     A psychology major from West Virginia University in Morgantown, Angela Davis was placed at Florence Crittenton Services - a residential facility in Baltimore, Maryland for troubled teens, the majority of whom were poor and pregnant. "My internship at Florence Crittenton changed my life," declared Angela, who wrote an article about her internship for the Baltimore Sun and/or her hometown newspaper. "Florence Crittenton is a group home for teenagers who have been placed there by the Department of Juvenile Services or the Department of Social Services. These girls go there to help complete their education and grow as individuals and mothers. The facility offers an accredited classroom setting where all grades through the junior year of high school are taught so that graduates can return to the public-school system to finish their senior year. Pregnant adolescents take special classes in the fundamentals of motherhood, parenting skills, and other health-related matters. Florence Crittenton is dedicated to helping adolescents in crisis to develop into health, happy adults."

     Angela recalled: "The first two weeks of my internship were mainly dedicated to learning more about the agency, residents, and staff. I was given a two-week training course where I was introduced to the supervisors of all departments, including: education, finances, childcare, and admissions - all of which held joint weekly meetings in which I actively participated. I also went to meetings headed by the social-work department and attended by my supervisor (the clinical director), the admissions coordinator, and all social workers. Since I worked as part of the admissions team, I was expected to present statistical information to the group. I soon became more comfortable writing clinical reports and came to feel myself a part of the organization. At clinical meetings, residents were brought into a room with therapists and evaluated on their progress. Since I was also part of the activities team, I was able to help build self-esteem among the young women as they discussed their goals and strengths."

     Angela was given the histories of potential residents and asked to evaluate them and then present this information to the clinical director. Angela's findings were compiled into a clinical report that she presented to the staff in order to determine whether a candidate would be granted further interviews and ultimately admission. Once a girl was accepted at Florence Crittenton, Angela would make sure all paperwork was completed properly and talk with the social worker about the client. This process gave Angela a chance to interact with people outside the agency. Angela was put in charge of some parts of the interview, but mainly she observed the admissions coordinator and provided feedback on what she as an intern saw. Angela's insights provided additional perspectives that the more seasoned counselor might have overlooked. Once the girls were accepted into the facility, Angela took them on a tour of the buildings and escorted each resident to her new room where she helped the girl to settled in and have her first meal. "I would also introduce the new resident to other girls so she would feel comfortable and know other people after I left," Angela explained.

     A few weeks into the internship, Angela was asked to teach a class called "First Impressions" dealing with health, hygiene, beauty, and make-up. "It was my responsibility to show the teenagers how to take care of themselves," said Angela, who prepared weekly curriculum for presentations that would last at least an hour. "I put together videos and worksheets for the girls to help them grasp the material. Each week, the students opened up to me more and more, which I greatly appreciated because - as an undergraduate - I was not given a caseload of my own. Therefore, this interaction filled a void I felt in terms of working with clients. Overall, I learned from this class that I enjoy teaching and would one day like to become a professor."

     The activities department schedules a major portion of the girls' daily lives at FCS. Angela coordinated activities and again spoke with teens individually. "For seven weeks, some of the girls took part in a weekly class I taught on etiquette and beauty. At the end, they put on a fashion show and wore dresses brought to the facility by David's Bridal. It was wonderful to witness the transformation in these young women and work with them to build confidence and poise."

     The last part of Angela's internship consisted of a two-week research project on eating disorders. "My supervisor discovered that many staff members were poorly educated with regard to this topic, so she asked me to make a presentation on my research. This assignment was probably the most beneficial part of my internship because it gave me material to work with in future projects while providing an opportunity to improve my public-speaking skills in front of thirty-five professionals," Angela recounted. She answered questions following her lecture, which was supplemented by a ten-page report that Angela drafted and distributed to everyone who attended her eating-disorders training workshop. "I presented all of my findings, starting with the basic history of the disorder and followed by diagnosis, treatment, and tips on how to work with patients suffering from eating disorders. At first during the presentation, I was quite nervous, but after about ten minutes I realized how much I understood the subject and really enjoyed imparting the information. It was exciting for me to have been given this level of responsibility, and virtually everyone learned a lot from my research."

     "Overall, my internship experience was excellent," Angela concluded. The staff members and social workers proved to be good colleagues. In addition, the residents amazed me at how far they came despite the traumas they had faced in their young lives. I felt a special connection to the girls and hoped I had touched their hearts. Each of them will be missed. The most important aspect of the internship for me was the opportunity to work in a multicultural environment. Coming from West Virginia University, a predominantly Caucasian school, I had little exposure to black culture, which was the predominant population at Florence Crittenton. I was given a glimpse into a whole new world, and I appreciated the chance to work with a diverse group, including Latin-America girls and African-Americans." In the newspaper article Angela wrote, she advised that all college students take part in internships in order to test fields of study before committing themselves to a particular career.

TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES - Cory DeBias

     An I.T. major at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, Cory DeBias was placed in a paid internship at Technology and Management Services in Gaithersburg, Maryland (a suburb of Washington), and he lived in nearby Silver Spring. Cory wrote of his internship: "My experience working at TMS was one of the greatest in my life. Technology and Management Services is a mid-size company consisting of roughly two hundred employees and only a few branch offices. I enjoyed the work I was doing as well as the atmosphere. In all, this summer has been one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding of times." Cory worked in the Information Technology Department at TMS. This department has seven full-time staff members who share multiple duties and responsibilities. "My boss was a great, all-around guy," Cory remarked. "He works hard and has great leadership qualities that have begun to rub off on me over the past few months. The department is a very close-knit group both inside and outside the office, a situation I will always seek in the future when job-hunting now that I have enjoyed such camaraderie here. In fact, the entire office of one hundred employees in the Maryland location seems to get along and work well together."

     TMS contracts and sublets its business to many companies specializing in graphics, accounting, and information technology. Much of the work the company does is for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Labor. The IT Department works to fulfill these contracts as well as keep up with the technological needs of TMS itself. The department has two segments: the administrative and technical divisions. Cory was given jobs to complete on both sides of the fence. In connection with network administration, Cory worked with user-support for his entire internship. Whenever something went wrong with a computer, Cory was given a chance to fix it. He was able to diagnose and correct multiple problems ranging from viruses and broken hard drives to defective fans and configuration problems.

     The Department of Network Administration allowed Cory to build his own personal computer from the ground up. This challenge enabled Cory to examine the inside of a computer, study its parts, and learn how to add and remove parts of the system. He was given the opportunity to erase a number of hard drives and install numerous operating systems, including Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, 98, 95, and Microsoft Windows Server XP and 2000 as well as Linux and Windows NT Server. "This practice will be very helpful to me down the road when I have to go through this process again," said Cory. The configurations of each system are very different and can be confusing unless a person is shown what each component does.

     Cory worked with a variety of software packages and programs. His academic background in computers prepared him for most of the programs he encountered but not all. Cory learned many programs he had never used before, like Adobe PDF, Dreamweaver, Viseo, Maximizer, Deltek, Photoshop, Access, and Sequel Server. Cory's knowledge of computers and related software packages more then doubled in only a few months. "Not only was I introduced to these programs, but I was taught to use them efficiently and easily." Cory learned how to network, too, since all of the computers in the office are linked. He was taught the proper steps in creating a network, hooking it up, tasking within the network, and manipulating the components. These processes were very new to Cory, but after a few lessons he was able to run part of the network on his own. This united system allowed everyone in the office to share files, connect to servers, and get information that would otherwise be impossible to access.

     Lastly, Cory was able to work extensively with the McAfee antivirus. He learned the installation process, proper configurations, and effective usage. This experience will help Cory in the future to protect computers from infection. Despite significant administrative assignments, Cory was able to spend the majority of his time working within software development. "Web Design was my favorite work at TMS. I worked on numerous web pages for contracts as well as within the TMS Intranet (local network)." Cory put together websites for the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Labor. He single-handedly designed the TMS Softball web pages, photo galleries, and new TMS employee pages for the Intranet website. He also helped maintain a number of active websites like the Coal Power Website and the TERPS website (TMS Employee Portal System), which Cory designed using Microsoft Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop.

     Cory learned quite a bit about database maintenance and management. He worked with programs like Microsoft Viseo Studio to create flow-charts, data-flow diagrams, and both skeleton and screen-shot diagrams. He was given the opportunity to edit, add, and remove data from a number of applications. This process taught Cory how to gather and store data on a massive scale. Lastly, Cory was responsible for numerous research projects. When a contract required the IT Department to use a technology it had never handled in the past, Cory was required to research the process, develop a plan with step-by-step instructions, and fulfill the contract with the new information. Each of these processes had to be thoroughly documented for further use and analyzed in great detail.

     Monthly luncheons and get-togethers allowed staff to get out from behind their desks and share meals with people from the rest of the company. Cory also joined the TMS softball team, which plays once a week against other company teams. These athletic events allowed Cory to meet workers from other companies and discuss business-related topics as well as create relationships outside the office with fellow employees. "Being an athlete, I was able to showcase my talents and make a name for myself throughout the company for more than just my work in the office," Cory explained. After every game, the entire team went out to dinner. The IT Department had its own monthly luncheons separate from the TMS outings. The group played mini-golf, went bowling, and had a regular golf outing in August.

     "My internship covered every major area within the Information Technology field and went into great detail," said Cory. "The knowledge I gained as well as the friendships I formed enriched me both professionally and personally. In closing, I want to thank the Washington Internship Program for this spectacular summer. I learned more in a few months than I did in four years of college. I appreciate the effort that was made on my behalf. I was able to make a good impression, and I believe this company is going to hire me after graduation. I loved working with TMS, and I sincerely hope my work will continue beyond the internship deadline."

CORPORATION COUNSEL, GENERAL LITIGATION DIVISION - Su-Min Hyeon

     A student from Sang Ji University in South Korea, Su-Min Hyeon was the first intern from overseas ever accepted at the office of the Corporation Counsel (the equivalent of the District Attorney's office, but since Washington, D.C. is not technically a state, this title is used instead). According to the D.C. legal codes, the Corporation Counsel is charged with conducting "all law business of the District of Columbia and suits instituted by and against the government thereof." Su-Min was placed by the Washington Internship Program in the General Litigation Division, which is part of the Office of Torts and Equity at the Corporation Counsel. In addition, this unit is divided into four functionally equivalent litigating sections and a claims department. The General Litigation Division represents the District of Columbia, its agencies and employees, in civil claims and lawsuits, including injury cases, filed in both federal and local courts. These lawsuits range from simple slip and fall claims to complex constitutional cases. Su-Min came to Washington in late January to work for up to eighteen months.

     Although Su-Min's English was not prefect, she participated in the English advanced conversation course offered by the Washington Internship Program two evenings a week (as well as the program's regular weekly seminar), and in the course of living in Washington, her language skills improved. Although initially Su-Min assisted with clerical tasks, she became the assistant to a paralegal and then to one of the attorneys working there and thus gradually took on more challenging assignments at the O.C.C. Law Library. Su-Min learned to follow the anatomy of each case and make a contribution to its outcome. Su-Min attended hearings at the Superior and Federal Court, went to the offices of the civil and criminal clerks' office to get documents about each case, delivered documents to the appropriate judges, filed answers to complaints, and helped analyze the difference between legal conclusions and facts. She applied statutory provisions to each case, scheduled witness conference, and acquired proper certification when witnesses were police officers. Su-Min participated in witness conferences, scheduled depositions, requested court reporters, conducted relevant legal research, and participated in mediation. She sent letters and faxes to lawyers or other government agencies in the course of processing different cases. Su-Min was also trained to use Lexis Nexis computer programs, which she described as "an electronic law encyclopedia"; and she filed interrogatories for each case.

     Su-Min observed many differences between the legal systems and "office cultures" in the United States verses Korea. The hierarchical divisions in Asia that separate upper and lower classes, for example, are unlike the American reality where "everyone is given equal opportunities," according to Su-Min. The accessibility of supervisors in Washington also differs from the work situation in Korea where submissive postures separate upper level professionals from lower-level workers. On the other hand, paying for drinks at the water-fountain was a shock for Su-Min. After six months of work, Su-Min decided to apply for further legal training at Georgetown University to enhance her qualifications.

CITY MUSEUM OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

     In conjunction with the job-bank operated by the Washington Internship Program, Su-Min found a part-time paid position on weekends at Washington's new City Museum in the Carnegie Library on K Street, N.W. For two weekends in late June, Su-Min attended orientation sessions where she was introduced to the museum even before it opened and trained to work in the gift shop. Su-Min was offered a starting salary of nine dollars an hour.

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER - Vanessa M. Oddo

     Vanessa Oddo was one of two interns from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts who were placed this summer at internships with the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. Quite a number of individuals from Smith participate in our program every year because Smith offers a Praxis Grant of $2,500 for students placed by the Washington Internship Program. Vanessa worked at the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network (MACGN) from May 19 to July 24 where she became certified in the general and research portion of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), which taught and tested Vanessa in connection with patient privacy and other aspects of professional healthcare. Vanessa was also invited to participate in Cancer Survivor Day at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center where she distributed information about MACGN, answered questions about cancer-related genetics, learned about other services available for cancer victims in the Baltimore area, and listened to a number of inspirational patients discuss their experiences. Vanessa helped represent the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network at the Well-Net Employee Fair.

     Vanessa's main responsibility was in connection with a research study titled: Inheritance of Colon Cancer: a Sibling Pair Study, which targets brothers and sisters over twenty years of age who have both been diagnosed with colon cancer. This study hopes to identify the inherited dimension of colon cancer. Vanessa provided assistance in coordinating a recruitment plan. She conducted extensive research on regional resources, organizations, and events, and located potential media contacts. She collected advertising information from local newspapers and other methods of community outreach. In addition, she developed promotional resources like business cards and fliers. In the process, Vanessa became familiar with the pedigree nomenclature, medical records, and terminology associated with the field. She helped design a physician database so that doctors would receive targeted mailings as would other service providers across the Mid-Atlantic region.

     Vanessa reviewed the MACGN website to check all program links and provide updated URLS. She assisted with data entry concerning follow-up for individuals enrolled in the registry. Vanessa participated in weekly case conferences at the Cancer Risk Assessment Program. She presented an interesting case from the colon-cancer clinic, updated fellow professionals on the status of various projects, and learned about recent findings in medical journals. She reviewed supplementary cancer genetics articles along with ones she was assigned to read. Vanessa worked with the principal investigator on researching literature for minority recruitment. "At weekly meetings with the principal investigator, several people (including me) brainstormed about new ways to recruit potential patients for the registry," Vanessa noted. She also helped prepare the fall newsletter that is distributed to both patients and physicians. In cooperation with another intern, Vanessa researched and co-authored a lengthy article on the basics of cancer genetics, which will be printed in the upcoming publication of Cancer Genetics News. This piece summarized what Vanessa learned throughout the summer from lectures, readings, and meetings. Vanessa also designed a table listing the known cancer genes and related information.

     Vanessa attended daily epidemiological lectures dealing with myths about clinical trials and HIV infection, among other topics. She learned a great deal about launching medical studies and the government approval process connected with research grants. Even letters, posters, and pictures must be approved by the IRB (review board) before being used to recruit patients. "I also learned a great deal about the inner workings of genetic counseling because I was allowed to sit in on four such sessions involving both colon and breast cancer. Now I know the appropriate steps to be taken if a patient is notified that he or she has tested positive for a particular cancer gene," Vanessa explained. "I was able to immerse myself in a professional environment and had the privilege of assisting women who are dedicated to the cause of cancer research. This experience is extremely valuable for someone like me who plans to enter the medical field as a clinician, and this internship also gave me the chance to evaluate the possibility of taking an alternative professional route."

     Vanessa's supervisors awarded her an A for her work and wrote that she "was an excellent intern. Her flexibility and willingness to work on multiple projects was clearly an asset. She was able to accomplish a lot of work during the time she was with us, and we would be happy to invite Vanessa to return to our program." Likewise they commented: "Vanessa is very organized and independent with superb interpersonal skills. She is a quick learner who incorporates new information quickly. She behaves most professionally with co-workers, and she adapted well to a fairly diverse group of individuals with different roles."

     With a cousin living in Baltimore, Vanessa decided to reside in Linthicum, Maryland - not far from her internship - and then commute to Washington on a weekly basis for class at Georgetown University. Vanessa concluded: "In addition to the internship itself, I thoroughly enjoyed Baltimore, which features a wide range of entertainment and educational facilities, including the aquarium, the inner harbor, and various cultural festivals." Vanessa appreciated spending time in both Washington and Baltimore - two cities that are about an hour apart by car or Metro transit. "As an intern, I truly gained considerable knowledge both personally and professionally. In only ten weeks, I had a tremendous learning experience that will certainly be helpful to me in my future endeavors."

CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM JEFFERSON (LOUSIANA DEMOCRAT, NEW ORLEANS 2ND DISTRICT) - Julia Unger

     A student from the London School of Economics and Politics in England and a Masters level candidate at Smith College in North Hampton, Massachusetts, Julia Unger completed two summer internships: at the House of Representatives and the Senate. The first placement, with Louisiana's Congressman Bill Jefferson's Washington, D.C. office, was in the Cannon House Office Building where Julia worked from June 23 until the end of July. "During the six weeks that I was an intern for Congressman Jefferson, I was able to attend many superb talks on Capitol Hill," said Julia. "The lecture series was sponsored by the Twenty-First Century Democrats, and a list of impressive leaders discussed their experience as young Democrats in the modern era. I heard Representative Betty McCollum from Minnesota, Congressman Elijah Cummings from Maryland, Representative Maxine Waters from California, Senator Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts, Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr., from Illinois, Representative Linda Sanchez from California, Congressman Tim Bishop from New York, and Senator Mark Dayton. A number of presidential candidates for the 2004 elections also spoke about the meaning of being a Democrat: Representative Dennis Kucinich from Ohio, Senator John Edwards from North Carolina, and the Reverend Al Sharpton were among the speakers.

     In addition, on July 15 Julia attended a press conference in which Congressman Dennis Kucinich discussed sixteen controversial words about Iraq's attempt to procure nuclear materials that President George Bush failed to remove from his State of the Union address dealing with reasons for the Iraq War. Ray McGovern, who has been working at the Central Intelligence Agency for twenty-seven years, also briefed the vice president and secretaries of state and defense about this matter. Andrew Wilkie, who had just resigned from ONA in protest over "the way intelligence was used to justify Australia's support for the war on Iraq," spoke too. "Furthermore, I was able to attend a House briefing on the "School Readiness Act of 2003 (HR 2210)," said Julia, "which included an overview by Julie Fernandes and presentations by Sarah Greene, executive director of the National Head Start Association; Reverend Eliezer Valentin-Castanon, program director of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church; and Hilary Helton, director of the Washington Bureau of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). In addition, I attended a Brazil on the Hill 2003 lecture, which covered Brazil and the U.S. in the FTAA. Speakers included Representative Phil English and Congressman Kevin Brady, both co-chairs of the Brazil Caucus; Ambassador Rubens Barbosa; Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Regina Vargo; Assistant USTR for the Americas, and Christian Lohbauer, international relations manager for the Sao Paulo Industry Federation (FIESP). This event was particularly interesting since I wish to pursue a career that involves international trade negotiations and agreements."

     Julia was asked to write a memo for the congressman on the FCC ruling regarding diversity in media broadcasting. Tax Counsel David Morgan assigned this project to Julia after he proof read some of the constituent-response letters she had drafted. The memo required considerable research into the 2004 Commerce, Justice, and State Appropriations Bill; the FCC Media Ownership Bill (HR2052); the Project Diversity in Media Act (HR2462); the Media Act of 2003 (HR2212); and the Radio and Concert Industries Act of 2003 (HR1763/S.221). Julia provided background information on all this legislation, including names of the people who introduced them and the bills' current status. She summarized the changes that each of these bills would make in the FCC ruling. Julia described the rulings' four amendments to the current media ownership rules. The changes entail a local media ownership limit, local radio multiple ownership limits, local TV multiple ownership limits, and national TV ownership limits. In the memo, Julia recommended that the congressman co-sponsor all five pieces of legislation that respond to the FCC Bill.

     Julia drafted constituent letters, in the process of which she researched topics like the Assault Weapons Ban (H.R.2038), which makes permanent the "Assault Weapons" ban that is supposed to expire in September of 2004. The Clear Skies Act of 2003 amends the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution through cap and trade programs that establish new emissions limitations and trading programs. The Equal Rights Amendment (H.J.Res.37) establishes Constitutional protection for equal treatment under the law regardless of gender. The Federal Parole Reinstatement Act (HR 5296) reinstates federal parole. The Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2003 (HR 80) amends the federal code to outlaw crimes committed against a person because of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. In addition, the bill provides federal assistance to state and local programs that try to deter juveniles from committing hate crimes. The resolutions introduced in both the House and Senate respond to the new FCC regulations (H.Res218 and S. Res 159, and HR2052 and S1046). The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund (HR1102) provides for the development of safe and affordable housing for low-income families. Other reforms amend the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. Reform of the Federal Civilian Personnel System increases flexibility and competitiveness in human-resource management.

SENATOR MARY LANDRIEU (DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISIANA)

     Julia Unger's second internship, with Senator Mary Landrieu in the Hart Senate House Office Building, lasted for three weeks. "This placement was particularly interesting," said Julia, "because I got to work one-on-one with the mail staffer. I assisted him with a variety of administrative duties. Unfortunately, this internship took place during the August recess so many people were out of the office and, thus, less work needed to be done. However, given the relaxed atmosphere, I was able to hear about other workers' experiences on the Hill and ask career questions, the answers to which I found reassuring. Overall, my experience on the Hill was quite memorable. I especially appreciated being able to work in both the House and Senate, which gave me a comparative understanding of these two bodies. I made many contacts in the two offices, and I want to thank the Washington Internship Program for helping to grant me these related internships."

     Julia shared an apartment on 17th Street, N.W. with another intern from Smith College, Esther Choi, for whom the Washington Internship Program was able to procure a $3,200 paid internship, called "Research Experience for Undergraduates," at Howard University. (Ordinarily, this internship also entails free housing at Howard, but Esther also won a Praxis Grant, which Smith College provides for nearly all interns who participate in the Washington Internship Program, so the cost of housing did not seem daunting. The $2,400 scholarship from Smith covers the cost of the program for U.S. interns (and students from English-speaking countries). Esther also obtained a part-time paid job-bank position at the Sushi-To-Go Restaurant.

     MARKETBRIDGE - Kara Gibson

     A student from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, Kara Gibson was placed at a consulting firm called Marketbridge. "I had the opportunity to participate fully in company sales and work with vice presidents, associates, and business analysts," Kara noted. "The work I finished can now be seen on company websites as well as in my personal discoveries and improved skills. Although I worked at Marketbridge for only two months, I am amazed when I look at the projects I completed and the knowledge I gained. Marketbridge fulfilled my hopes for the summer. I wanted to experience first-hand a job in marketing and be exposed to consulting - a field I had never considered as a career but one that now interests me greatly as a choice after college. The fast pace at Marketbridge fit my work-style preferences. Marketbridge guarantees companies good solutions and quick responses. The short time-frame in terms of turnaround allowed me to participate in eight different projects during my internship."

     · I worked with Siemens Medical to improve its website before the company merged with a smaller business that had been purchased. I helped prepare the PowerPoint presentation that would be delivered to company executives.
· Along with two other interns, I planned a presentation for my boss and the vice president of marketing regarding updates and new additions for the MarketBridge web-page. Next, we changed the web-page and contacted the design company to receive price estimates.

      · I analyzed data and created slides for Siemens Medical. I reviewed surveys and extracted the most telling aspects of the questionnaires' results.
· I served as campaign coordinator for two web seminars. I gathered names for database lists, sent out thousands of E-mail invitations, and tracked the progress and viewing logs of all invitees. I scheduled meetings, send out passwords and confirmations, and helped with technical difficulties throughout the seminars.
· My web expertise was used externally so MarketBridge could help other companies with their web seminars. I assisted in planning Pitney Bowes' "webinar" on July 30, and by myself I handled the logistics of an entire webinar for Federal Express.
· I worked with British Telecom to streamline its database and helped create a new portion of its website dealing with flexible schedules. The website will be launched soon. The work I did - copywriting, editing, and formatting - will be on www.BT.com.
· I managed internal marketing for MarketBridge by tracking brainsharks (on-demand presentations) viewed at our website, updated the company database in terms of potential clients, and notified employees about new marketing information.

     "The variety within my job allowed me to see what I liked and disliked about business and consulting. My boss made sure that my work was relevant and worthwhile for me as well as the firm. I felt challenged and learned a great deal," Kara remarked. Most memorable for Kara was a visit to Stamford, Connecticut in order to meet with Pitney Bowes. Kara flew in for the day, at company expense, to consult with the vice president of corporate marketing. Kara was the only intern at Marketbridge to be sent on a business trip. She participated in meetings throughout the day, and prior to the trip Kara was well briefed on the goals she was expected to achieve with this client.

     During the internship, Kara worked on many computer programs, including: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and a web seminar called WebEx. She did research on the Internet, sent thousands of E-mails using Group Mail software, and updated databases. Kara produced several PowerPoint slides (and slide decks) that were used in a presentation for executives at British Telecom. She drafted copy and proofread articles that were added to the website Marketbridge maintains. The biggest challenge Kara faced was formulating and designing a flexible website for British Telecom. In the process, Kara learned about many Fortune 500 companies and the tactics they employ.

     "My stay at MarketBridge was short, but the list of what I have taken away from the internship is impressive. I learned the importance of communication. Whether telling people the amount of work I have (too much or not enough), clarifying expectations, or interacting with clients, explaining myself clearly and completely is critical. Managing time is important as well as estimating how long each task will take. I gained a new appreciation for precise work. MarketBridge operates in a team-oriented environment, and everyone relies on the next person's part of a project to complete the entire operation. To prevent later mistakes, all jobs must be done accurately," Kara noted.

     "MarketBridge was an amazing place to spend the summer. The work I did stimulated curiosity and creativity. I developed a healthy work ethic and felt that I had truly become a company asset. Proof of my success was the fact that my supervisor asked if I could stay longer when my internship came to a close. The staff members were patient and willing to teach me. In sum, I learned so much this summer, met many brilliant people, and discovered consulting. I greatly appreciate the opportunity I was given and the knowledge I gleaned. I am definitely considering coming back to Marketbridge next summer since I was invited to return in a paid capacity. Even though I experienced a lot already, this company still has more to teach me."

CHORAL ARTS SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON - Kristen Lee Dorff

     A student from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Kristen Dorff was placed at the Choral Arts Society of Washington where she worked from May 19 to August 15. The bulk of Kristen's time was spent in the Community and Education Programs Department, which is divided into: arts ACCESS, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Choral Tribute, Partnership in the High Schools, and Singers For All Seasons. Kristen helped establish criteria for analyzing all these programs and prepared reports on potential arts-education initiatives in the future - in connection with which Kristen studied eighteen different musical organizations. Through arts ACCESS, the Choral Arts Society brings music to students in four inner-city elementary schools: Slowe, Langdon, Thomson, and Orr. "This program is what drew me to the Choral Arts Society in the first place," explained Kristen, "and I found it an honor to participate in its planning and execution. Although I arrived in mid-May, I was still able to attend two of the year-end Community Fairs as well as one artist visit to the schools. What I saw there deeply impressed me. These students are taught their curriculum through the arts."

     Another of Kristen's projects involved acquiring materials and assembling "Treasure Chests" - boxes presented to each class containing world instruments, journals for each youngster, storybooks, music, and other materials. "Preparing the Treasure Chests helped me make contacts in the music community and learn the names of manufacturers and what is considered a reasonable price for such supplies. I could usually convince Rhythm Band Instruments to give us a discount," said Kristen, "even after I was told 'no' the first time I called." Kristen scheduled visits of artists to the different schools, worked on artists' lesson plans, contributed to the fall newsletter, and made preparations for teacher training in September. She also participated in the Partnership in the High Schools program by organizing a pizza party for teachers where improving the curricula could be discussed. "After attending this meeting, I prepared a report summarizing our findings," noted Kristen, who also assisted in creating student study guides for the 2003-2004 concert season. "I became the liaison person dealing with writers, designers, and publishing companies and then arranged for photos and music to be reproduced within the guides. This experience improved my organizational skills and taught me much about the legal system in connection with printing various types of materials."

     The MLK Choral Tribute, which takes place every January, requires considerable effort from every department in the organization. Kristen recruited members for the Honorary Committee, on which sit ambassadors, D.C. Councilmen, and members of the Black Congressional Caucus. "I helped recruit many Steering Committee members, including my own father," added Kristen, who attended the Steering Committee meeting in early July. In conjunction with Singers For All Seasons (a small chorus that visits community organizations throughout Washington), Kristen helped bring the joy of music to people who could not attend concerts in the Kennedy Center and other theaters. Kristen prepared "gig" sheets for chorus members, detailing information about the concert and how to get there, and she scheduled a number of performances.

     In the Development Department, Kristen worked on fundraising and conducted research to identify possible donors. She also created a scrapbook highlighting past benefit chairs for each event. For the Artistic Department, Kristen spent a couple of days in the Music Library with the chorus manager, and she tabulated results from a survey given to chorus members after the last out-of-town concert. Kristen's most challenging experience took place when her supervisor resigned to become a teacher in North Carolina; the new director could not start until September, so Kristen was left to function as the acting director of Community and Education Programs for the last month of her internship! In conclusion, Kristen wrote of her wonderful three-month internship: "It was a character-building experience, and I learned things I could not have acquired anywhere else, which I know will prepare me to manage my own choral program someday. I now feel much stronger as a person and a teacher."

OFFICE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRIES - Sheeena Rathore

     "Throughout my years at Texas A&M University, I knew I wanted to be an intern during the summer before my senior year," recalls Sheena Rathore. "I applied to the Washington Internship Program and, to my surprise, I was accepted. Originally, I was placed at AFLAC in neighboring Maryland, but when I arrived in D.C. at the end of May, I quickly discovered that this internship in the field of insurance was not the right choice for me. So I discussed my concerns with the director of the Washington Internship Program and, to me delight, she quickly found me a different placement that met my goals precisely. My internship was in the United States Department of Commerce within the International Trade Administration. At ITA, I worked closely with the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. After the terrorist attacks of September of 2001, tourism yielded less profits than in previous years. Revenue from this source dwindled, and much work remained to be done in order to bring back visitors to America. Therefore, the U.S. Congress granted this department $50 million for advertising and to promote tourism."

     "My focus in this department was on Canada. I analyzed statistics from 1998 to 2001 dealing with how many Canadian travelers came to the United States and what kind of activities they did while here. I created and updated tables for uploading onto the OTTI website. My director was head of the Trade Policy Council, so I attended those meetings with her. I learned all about the new visa waiver program that is to be instituted soon. I also wrote an analysis of the U.S.-citizen outbound market for the year 2002. I discussed the tragedy of September 11 and its impact upon this market. Since the attack, the economy has become more stable, and I documented these changes as well in my paper. I researched travel to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East."
"During my time in D.C. I lived at the WISH (Washington Intern Student Housing) where I met interesting people with whom I know I will keep in touch. My experience in Washington has been worth every penny. I learned more than I ever dreamed I would, and I could not have asked for a better internship. If there is one bit of advice I can give to anyone in college, it is to do an internship in Washington, D.C. The city alone has so much to offer, and you will never be bored."

CONGRESSMAN JOHN CULBERSON (REPUBLICAN, TEXAS DISTRICT #7) -
Andrew Edelman

A student from Princeton University in New Jersey, Andrew Edelman worked at a summer internship from June through August in the United States House of Representatives for Texas Congressman John Culberson, whose district covers much of West Houston and whose office is located in the Longworth House Office Building. Andrew lives in Texas but not within Culberson's territory. "My summer was jam-packed with events," said Andrew. "I was welcomed into the office and given an array of substantive and interesting assignments. While seeing my fair share of mail sorting and copying, I also had the opportunity to conduct Capitol tours, write letters to constituents, attend hearing and lectures, speak with many Congressmen, research bills, run errands throughout the Capital, and do Excel-based analysis of legislation. In all, my work engendered in me a deep respect for politics and exposed the inner workings of American democracy. During my free time, I explored a plethora of museums, monuments, restaurants, and D.C. sites. I highly recommend a summer internship in Washington, especially one in Congress, and I consider the Washington Internship Program to be a valuable resource in attaining such a position."

     Andrew heard Secretary Colin Powell speak to Congressional interns on the House Floor, Donald Rumsfeld address Princeton students at the Pentagon, Senator Bill Frist (Tennessee Republican) lecture Princeton students in the Capitol, and Senator John Edwards (North Carolina Democrat) talk in the Russell Senate Office Building, after which Andrew took a picture with him and then met Senator Hilary Clinton (New York Democrat) in the elevator. Through a friend in President Bush's strategy office, Andrew enjoyed a tour of the White House West Wing, and he also visited the Supreme Court and the Smithsonian's American History Museum. "I especially appreciated the Presidential Exhibit in the Museum of Natural Science; Arlington Cemetery and the home of Robert E. Lee, which housed Union soldiers during the Civil War; JFK's gravesite; Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes' Tomb, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the changing of the guard; and a Saturday in the Senate Gallery after a portion of the Medicare bill was passed," said Andrew, who also saw a broadcast of the show Crossfire (the episode where Tucker Carville presented Hillary Clinton with a shoe).

     Andrew attended a hearing on Afghanistan of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a House Appropriations Committee markup where he helped Congressman Culberson. Andrew visited the International Monetary Fund when attending a briefing conducted by one of its staffers. He saw the Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, and Vietnam Memorials and played Frisbee on the Ellipse as Marine One passed overhead and dropped off the president at the White House. "Two other Marine aircraft flew around the monument with the president's helicopter but then split, running patterns N.E. and N.W. for security reasons," Andrew noticed. On other days in Washington, Andrew met the chief justice of the D.C. Superior Court and spoke with him for about an hour; visited the International Spy Museum; and drafted letters to a constituent worried about obscenity in the media, specifically dirty lyrics in music, and to a High School Odyssey of the Mind leader about funding for summer projects. With regard to the former, Andrew explained current FTC regulations and relevant bills. He conducted an analysis for the Congressman of Texas v. Lawrenceville in connection with some freedom-of- religion legislation and also analyzed the VA-HUD Bill for the legislative assistant who was in charge of this issue. Lastly, Andrew quantified the percentage of money to be appropriated for Texas transportation in comparison to funding given to other states.

EMBASSY OF MEXICO - Noel Martinez

     A student from Virginia Polytechnic and State University in Blacksburg, Noel Martinez was fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian when he applied to the Washington Internship Program. Noel had also spent time in Venezuela and traveled throughout Europe, so he was thrilled when he was accepted for a summer internship at Mexican Embassy within the Agriculture and Trade Secretariat. A Washingtonian, Noel worked at the embassy from June 16 to August 20. He recalled his first day as follows:

     "The ride on the Metro was different. However, the line, the station, and the train itself were all routine. Being a native of Washington, D.C., I had ridden the Metro innumerable times to destinations throughout the District, yet this time the ride was very different. My disposition on the first day of an internship at the Embassy of Mexico was one of eagerness and tense excitement. I knew what my responsibilities might entail and what would be expected of me. I felt highly motivated as if this job were my first. In essence, it really was my first field-oriented professional workplace. When I exited the Metro on that day in mid June, I was filled with awe at the fact that I would be working at an embassy located in the famed "Golden Triangle" District of Washington. Flanked by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the embassy welcomed me through various diplomats and dignitaries. A kind woman introduced herself as my supervisor. As I passed through the ground-floor security check, I remember feeling intimidated. I thought my Spanish was good; however, I had not counted on the sort of linguistic deterioration that accompanies sporadic dialogue at home compounded by a lack of daily discourse. The supervisor and I moved to one of many conference rooms (each ministry had its own) and began to chat. After we ran out of small talk, I was taken to the seventh floor of the embassy. The elevator was every bit as elegant as the entryway and façade of this edifice. Surrounded by golden panels and mirrors, I let my thoughts wander to the many people who must have checked their ties or adjusted hair while ascending to meetings or conferences in this building. The elevator doors opened to reveal a floor bustling with work and animated conversations. I was shown around and introduced to many people, including those who worked for the Agriculture/Trade Secretariat, the Economic Secretariat, and a contingent from the NAFTA Secretariat. I also met various other interns. I was stunned when the tour ended in a private office: "This is your desk, Mr. Martinez," said my supervisor. I was astonished at the fact that I was granted such an impressive workspace and instantly committed myself to work hard."

     Noel's responsibilities at the embassy were quite varied. He conducted research on NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), agricultural matters, and trade issues between Mexico and the U.S. He provided support for trade missions to Mexico as well as Mexican participation in the international trade convention titled "Fresh Produce Marketing Association Summit 2003" (PMA). "Even from the very start, the level of confidence invested in me was great," Noel noted. "For example, on my very first day I was asked to draft a research abstract on various programs offered by International Financial Institutions and institutions of higher learning to encourage agricultural micro-economies in rural Mexico. Furthermore, this abstract would be submitted to the Consejero (a consultant for the Minister) in preparation for a meeting with the World Bank. My report needed to be presented in both Spanish and English. This challenging assignment became a wonderful benchmark for what was asked of me at the embassy."

     Noel concluded: "Overall, my internship at the Embassy of Mexico was truly memorable and illuminating. I was asked to stretch my limits, and I succeeded at doing so. I absorbed all the practical lessons taught in this stimulating environment. Most important of all, I had a wonderful time.

UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - Lewen (Laura) Pei

     A student at the University of Michigan, Laura Pei was one of just two summer interns working in the Asian Affairs Department of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce where her internship lasted from May 2 to August 29. Laura hoped that the language courses she had been taking in Japanese would prove helpful. On May 13, Laura assisted with one of the biggest events of the year: South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun came to meet with the chief operating officer of the Chamber of Commerce, among other corporate leaders. Laura helped with the preparations for guests, VIPs, and press. She assisted with a wide range of details ranging from filing forms and arranging for the luncheon's caterer to working with the Secret Service, planning the seating, requesting various speeches, and completing arrival and departure logistics. Laura recalled: "During the event, everything ran smoothly except the registration, which was a mini-disaster; the name tags got mixed up, but we finally straightened out the matter. It was very exciting to see the South Korean president and Chamber of Commerce leaders interacting with top executives from major companies."

     Laura also contributed to plans that were made for lectures delivered by the Chinese and Singapore ambassadors, and she conducted research on target companies. Laura worked on the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) and U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. Although these bills had already been signed by the presidents of both countries, Congressional approval was still required. Laura lobbied Republican and Democratic leaders, encouraging them to vote for the bills. The Asian Department collaborated with the Western Hemisphere Department to work on the campaign. Articles and other documents were prepared to support the case for unrestricted commerce, and these arguments were presented at Congressional briefings. Organizations like the Automotive Trade Policy Council, Motion Picture Association of America, and a number of big corporations: Boeing, Microsoft, Dell, American Express, AOL Time Warner, etc., came out in favor of passage as did smaller businesses that could profit from a free global marketplace.

     Laura observed: "It was an eye-opening experience for me to go with my boss to all the hearings on Capitol Hill as well as rallies and press conferences. I learned that treaties of this sort don't pass overnight; a lot of hard work in the form of research, strategy, tactics, and education paves the way for public acceptance." Overall, Laura was delighted with the internship she chose. "I'm glad I had this opportunity to broaden my horizons and increase the chances of launching my career in the field of financial policy."

WOMEN'S FOREIGN POLICY GROUP - Christi Langoni

     A student from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, Christi Langoni was placed at the Women's Foreign Policy Group - in large part because Christi had supplemented her academic studies with a trip to Europe in the past. Christi made the most of her internship from early July until mid August, and she lived at George Washington University in the Aston. "After six weeks in Washington and working for this nonprofit organization, my communication, editing, and programming skills along with my political ideology developed tremendously. I used to be relatively closed-minded, but now I have been introduced to a wide range of ideas," explained Christi. The Women's Foreign Policy Group believes that in a world with a growing number of conflicts and hot spots, people must ensure that female voices are heard and women leaders fully engaged in finding new approaches and solutions. "Through an independent, nonpartisan, educational organization that promotes global engagement and leadership, visibility, and participation in international affairs, my quest to interact with women in other countries flourished," said Christi. "The internship gave me numerous opportunities to participate in political debates."

     One of Christi's duties was to help coordinate programs and guest speakers to talk about foreign relations with the United States and other countries. Christi served as a program assistant for two briefings: "U.S. Policy towards Burma" and "An Iranian Perspective on U.S.-Iran Relations." These programs brought different ranking officials, citizens, ambassadors, students, professionals, and interns together to learn more about problems the United States faces with these countries. Maureen Aung-Thwin, director of the Burma Project and Southeast Asia Initiative, and Dr. Azar Nafisi, a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, spoke about ways in which their countries are affected by notions of democracy, freedom of choice, and Western culture. Christi helped recruit membership, draft correspondence, and disseminate the annual WFPG Membership Directory. She contacted members, updated information, and assisted with outreach, editing, and research.

     "Secretary of State Colin Powell said: 'Women's issues affect not only women; they have profound implications for all humankind. Women's issues are human-rights issues. We as a world community cannot even begin to tackle the array of problems and challenges confronting us without the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of life,'" said Christi by way of quotation.

BROADBAND SOLUTIONS GROUP; RUSSIAN CABLE TELEVISION - Polina Kozak

     A graduate of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, Polina Kozak is a Russian citizen who is perfectly bilingual in English and Russian. Therefore, Polina was placed at Broadband Solutions Group, a consulting firm that serves Russian Cable Television as one of its major clients, along with a second internship at the Elliot School for International Affairs within George Washington University where Polina conducted research on counter-terrorism for Dr. Jerrold Post. Polina held down two job-bank positions to make money, and she also found ample time to enjoy the cultural wealth of Washington. Polina describes her experience as follows: "Coming to Washington, D.C. was a big gamble for me. Having finished college, I still had no idea what I wanted to do. My work experience, for the most part, had been confined to restaurants, but I hoped for more with a major in Russian and minor in international studies. Washington was the place to be for me, but I didn't know where to start my job search, so I decided to resort to the help and resources of the Washington Internship Program. This choice turned out to be the best thing I could have done with my vague ideas on career options and lack of knowledge about the nation's capital."

     "The first month after college was nerve-wracking. My finances were limited and my plans unfocused. Shortly after graduation, I drove to Washington where I became familiar with the city and its surroundings. I stayed in a hostel on K Street next to all the monuments, and every day, besides looking through the Washington Post classified section, I'd go to the National Mall and visit one of the Smithsonian Museums. Having spent four years in rural Pennsylvania, I craved the rich culture of Washington. I felt as though I were back at home in Saint Petersburg, Russia."

     "Soon I moved to Fairfax County, Virginia into a quiet suburban neighborhood in Vienna. My search for an internship was not going well. All the places to which I initially applied failed to make offers. I was desperately trying to figure out what other organizations would be interested in my qualifications when Dr. Bayer suggested a placement connected with Russian television. Immediately after submitting my resume and cover letter, I received a response from my future supervisor. I was a little concerned that I knew nothing about television, but fortunately Mr. Mathison was also a professor at George Mason University in the Telecommunications Department. He suggested I learn about the cable industry while working on his firm's Russian TV project. In the beginning of June I started my internship at the Broadband Solutions Group."

     "At work, I was given multiple responsibilities. I studied the TV industry while researching the market for Russian shows in the Washington metro area and across the United States. I became familiar with U.S. Census-Bureau data sets that were extremely helpful in mapping out target audiences for Russian television. In the course of the internship, I gained valuable experience working with Excel programs and MapPoint software. I learned to analyze data using both applications and apply marketing criteria to the research. For a month I collected information on demographics, geographic concentration of target groups, the Russian World channel that Broadband Solutions represents, and viewing preferences as well as cultural characteristics of various audiences. I transformed all this information into a PowerPoint presentation that could be given to cable operators who would then decide whether the Russian channel had the market and quality to be carried by the cable company. I finished this presentation, and my internship supervisor took it with him to Los Angeles. Next I created maps that showed concentrations of Russians in L.A. where I discovered, to my surprise, that the densest area was in the Beverly Hills vicinity. Actually, Russian demographics in the U.S. held other surprises. For example, I learned that people of Russian ancestry earn the highest average income among all groups in America. When my supervisor returned from California, he informed me that my presentation had made a positive impression on cable operators who were now interested in the Russian channel."

     "I also created a PowerPoint presentation on TV marketing and advertising for Mr. Mathison's college class. In the process, I studied the subject myself and then presented it in a format that would be helpful to students. Mr. Mathison used my material in its entirety. In order to familiarize myself with television, I visited two local stations: MHz - the nation's only noncommercial, independent network with international content, and Fairfax Cable Access Corporation, a nonprofit public-access channel. The MHz Network was already broadcasting Russian World several hours a day. In August, viewing time for the Russian network was extended to six hours a day in primetime, a groundbreaking event for a year-old channel. As part of the public-relations campaign, the president of Russian World held a press conference at the National Press Club (to which all students at the Washington Internship Program were invited, coincidentally, through another P.R. firm that was publicizing the event and where other interns in our program were working). I supplied MHz Networks with some of the information I'd collected about Russians. Earlier, I visited the MHz studio and participated in the recording of a concert," reported Polina. Duplain Associates, the public-relations firm that publicized the press conferences for Russian World at the Reagan Building and National Press Club, later hired another intern from the Washington Internship Program - this time a Russian literature and language major with a minor in English from Kyoungpook National University in South Korea - to continue promoting Russian World beginning in the fall and throughout the upcoming year.

     Polina stated: "By visiting the Fairfax Open-Access studio, I gained a wealth of knowledge about nonprofit TV. I loved the concept that anyone can come to the station, take inexpensive classes on different aspects of television, create one's own show or series, and air it on local television. In one of the classes I took at FCAC, I learned legal matters associated with sponsorship of nonprofit channels that helped me understand advertising strategies that Russian World could pursue. In another class, I studied the skills necessary to become a production assistant: how to operate a professional camera, arrange lighting and sound design, communicate on the set, etc. I wish I had more time to volunteer at the station, to practice my new skills, and receive certification as a production assistant. I am glad that I discovered public-access television. The knowledge I gained there dramatically expanded the range of my skills," said Polina.

     In addition to the projects already described, Polina established contacts with Russians in the Washington area in order to identify places where they congregate. This information helped with future grassroots promotion of Russian World. Polina noted: "This part of my work turned out to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the internship. I have been living in the United States for four years, during which time I met only a few other Russians in Florida and Pennsylvania. I was starved for communication with people like me with whom I could share the émigré experience. During a few months in Washington, I met more Russians than in all the rest of the time I spent in the States. Initially, Mr. Mathison gave me names of several people to contact, and from there my network of acquaintances expanded dramatically."
"Toward the end of my time in D.C., I discovered a Russian discussion group that met every week to practice Russian while talking over pressing topics. I took advantage of this opportunity to meet people with similar interests in Russian-American relations. This group also provided valuable information on Russian events in the city. Inspired by the group, I went to see the play Love in Exile about Lenin's affair in Paris."

ELLIOT SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

     In addition to working with Russian Cable Television through Broadband Solutions, Polina was placed by the Washington Internship Program at the Elliot School for International Affairs. "I was lucky to have been assigned to Dr. Jerrold Post, a renowned professor at George Washington University who directs the Political-Psychology Program," said Polina, who was asked to draft a chapter on "Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism" for the U.S. Air Force Counter-proliferation Center. "At first, I was overwhelmed by the seriousness of my assignment and the responsibility entrusted to me. When I and three other interns from the Washington Internship Program first met with Dr. Post and his assistant, it was as though these experts spoke different languages that we had never heard. I had no idea what was signified by acronyms like WMD, CBRN, LTTE, or ETA. By the time I began writing the chapter, however, I knew a great deal about these threats."

     "Dr. Post helped me by providing an initial set of books and papers to familiarize myself with the topic. Among my arsenal of reading matter were Dr. Post's speeches before governmental and international bodies, his books, unpublished research on various scholars, and best-selling works by specialists in the field. Working with primary and secondary sources helped introduce me to a small circle of academic writers working in this important area. Under Dr. Post's supervision, I surprised myself when I was finally able to write the chapter combining the knowledge I gained from my reading and analytical conversations with Dr. Post. I am looking forward to seeing my work within a book being published by the Air Force Counter-proliferation Center where the chapter I wrote will bear my name."

     "In the beginning of summer, I didn't know what I would be doing in the fall. I had been accepted into graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but I couldn't afford to pay out-of-state tuition. I thought that the Washington Internship Program would provide me with a chance to do rewarding, useful work in my field before taking a job that would pay the bills. However, the outcome of my internships surpassed my wildest expectations. Not only was I able to gain valuable marketable skills at my jobs, meet interesting people, and create new career perspectives, but I also found time to earn money, and I received a scholarship to attend graduate school as a direct result of the internships! As I was trying to make plans for the fall, I called U.N.C. to defer my acceptance into graduate school for a year. When I told the program administrator in the Center for Slavic and Eastern European Studies that I was with the Washington Internship Program, doing research for Russian television and writing a chapter on Terrorism with Dr. Post, I was offered a full scholarship. I could not believe it!"

CENTER FOR APPLIED LINGUISTICS

     Four days a week, Polina worked part-time as a Russian consultant at the Center for Applied Linguistics where she reviewed test materials for a Russian comprehension examination. "Not only did I get to meet other Russians, but I learned a lot about creating standardized tests. With the Graduate Record Exams still fresh in my mind, I understood the level of difficulty required in advanced testing and the deceptive nature of most preparation books that provide instructions for finding key-words or opening and closing sentences to locate the right answer. Working on Russian exams made me a better test-taker, and I had an opportunity to use my linguistic skills in a professional field," said Polina.

UNO CHICAGO BAR AND GRILL

     On weekends, this enterprising young woman supplemented her two internships with a second part-time paid job at a local branch of the UNO restaurant where she had previously worked for two years in Pennsylvania. This position, together with Polina's job during the week at the Center for Applied Linguistics, fit well with her two internships - both of which were flexible enough, in terms of the hours when meetings and research took place, to accommodate employment with fixed hours.

     Polina looks back on three months in D.C. that she thoroughly enjoyed. "I enriched my resume and took a step into my future. I am leaving Washington with wonderful memories of playing baseball on the National Mall with the Washington Internship Program, the Gothic outline of Georgetown University - where our classes met - etched against the evening sky during our cruise along the Potomac River, splashes of water in Busch Gardens from the internship program's weekend retreat in Virginia as well as a glimpse of the simple life we all saw in historic Colonial Williamsburg, sounds of outdoor jazz music, and the Fourth of July fireworks that I viewed from the steps of the Capitol Building."

CONGRESSMAN DENNIS CARDOZA (DEMOCRAT, CALIFORNIA) - Sarah Marquess

     A student at George Washington University in the District of Columbia, Sarah Marquess completed three internships from May through September. The first (during May and June) was a full-time position with freshman Democratic Congressman Dennis Cardoza from California's 18th District - the same area previously represented by Congressman Gary Condit, which covers Merced, Modesto, and Stockton. As a resident of Palo Alta, California, Sarah was familiar with Cardoza's constituency. Working with seven staffers in the Cannon House Office Building, Sarah reflected: "I didn't mind the small size of the office; as the only intern, I was able to work with everyone and was given a wide variety of jobs."

     "My responsibilities included opening and sorting mail, catching faxes off the machine and routing them to appropriate staff members, going through national and local papers for pertinent news clips, running letters to different offices for signatures, and lots of Xeroxing. Although some of my fellow interns (I lived in a house at WISH - Washington Intern Student Housing - with seventeen others) complained about such tasks, I was happy to pitch in with all types of assignments. In addition, I attended briefings by legislative assistants and wrote memos on what was said. I went to briefings on alternative energy options, the pharmaceutical industry, and Raoul Wallenberg. I drafted responses to constituent inquiries concerning issues ranging from the AMBER Alert system for finding kidnapped children and digital copyright laws to highway construction and flag burning." Sarah also conducted research for background reports on proposed legislation and biographies of House and Senate leaders. She gave tours of the United States Capitol and thus learned much about the history of Washington. Sarah kept in touch with the staff at the three district offices by sending requests for information and doing projects for them. She also attended the intern lecture series, in connection with which she heard talks by consumer advocate Ralph Nader and Senator Trent Lott.

     "My experience changed about three weeks into the internship when the executive assistant left," Sarah reported. "Because the office was unable to hire a new staff assistant immediately, I was asked to fill the gap." For the remainder of the internship, Sarah performed most of the duties this person did previously as well as continuing with intern assignments. "Being a staff assistant meant opening the office in the morning, sitting up front and answering phones, and basically being the first person encountered by anyone trying to contact the congressman. I had the opportunity to become a real asset to the office rather than just an intern. I learned an incredible amount about Congress, and these insights were put to good use at my subsequent internships with lobbying groups. For example, when my supervisor at these new internships asked me to draft a letter to senators on the Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I drew upon my congressional experience and targeted the legislative assistants who would actually do the work. Being directly involved in the business of Congress - whether working behind the scenes or being present on the House floor when a vote was taken - was fascinating. I was able to put together an impressive portfolio of my professional writing, and Congressman Cardoza wrote me a letter of recommendation. I know that this experience will lead to good things for me because it already has. Once I had the words 'congressional intern' on my resume, I was offered two internships within a few days. I was thrilled to have this congressional opportunity and know it will be of great significance for whatever I do in the future."

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

     From July through mid September, Sarah worked as an intern on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday within the national headquarters of Defenders of Wildlife - a large, well-established organization that has been working for half a century on behalf of endangered animals. "By working there, I was able to see how a big interest group operates," said Sarah, who was based in the Habitat Division on a campaign called "Habitat and Highways." Habitat loss is the biggest threat facing most endangered species, and building roads fragments and degrades land where animals are accustomed to living. Habitat and Highways tries to minimize the direct environmental impact of new roads by controlling urban sprawl and locating highway construction in places where endangered species are less likely to by killed by automobile traffic.

     Sarah worked primarily on the content of the campaign's website (www.defenders.org/habitat/highways). One of her first jobs was to go through the website and find dead links or missing content. Later, Sarah located relevant articles, research papers, studies, and books, which she summarized and added to the library section. She updated and added new links to the page devoted to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Sarah wrote a "By the Numbers" sheet that presented the case for smart transportation choices through the use of statistics. Other Internet-related assignments Sarah was given included compiling a list of environmental statements of intent from the Federal Register and writing about workshops and conferences devoted to ecological transportation issues.

     Sarah also created a page on "Roads to Watch." Her supervisor gave Sarah a list of eleven proposed highways that would have a negative impact on wildlife, and Sarah found all information available and then wrote a web-page on each project. She chronicled the name of each road, what states would be affected, the project lead, all participating agencies, non-government organizations that are involved, descriptions of the projects and environmental concerns, the status of the project, a list of project contacts, related websites, on-line articles from different media sources, maps and photographs of the affected area, and suggestions for how concerned readers can take action to prevent or alter construction of the road. This web-page will help motivate citizens to become involved in the fight to save local wildlife. The Roads to Watch page also provides specific instructions on drafting petitions for congressmen and writing letters-to-the-editor in order to save fragile ecosystems. Sarah helped coordinate a congressional briefing that she also attended. In addition, Sarah organized various "literature drops" on Congress where her experience on Capitol Hill was directly applicable.

NATIONAL COALITION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

     Sarah worked on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the National Coalition for Students with Disabilities from July through mid September. (The report on this internship will be forthcoming.)

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRUCKSTOP OPERATORS - Douglas A. Wright II

     Douglas Wright - a graduate of Utica College in Syracuse, New York - was placed in a paid internship within the Government Affairs Department of the National Association of Truck-Stop Operators (NATSO) located in Alexandria, Virginia but only minutes from Capitol Hill. Doug worked from early March through the end of May. NATSO is a trade association representing America's travel plazas and truck-stops - an industry that earns $62 billion per year. Douglas' internship at NATSO led to a full-time paid position in the Government-Affairs Department of a similar trade association in Alexandria less than a month after the end of his placement.

     Doug recalls: "I spent the first week of my internship getting acquainted with NATSO's mission and staff, after which I took it upon myself to update an online membership database that NATSO uses not only as a reference but also to comply with FEC regulations. Within a week, I had streamlined the database and reduced its size by over 50 percent by reducing duplicates and outdated entries." NATSO hired an intern in early spring to prepare for an annual government-affairs conference it hosts in May. Doug made appointments for approximately two hundred NATSO members to meet with senators and congressmen while in Washington. "The director of Government Affairs later told me that I made more appointments with the actual members of Congress than any NATSO employee ever achieved in the past," Doug noted.

     Douglas also had the opportunity to attend Congressional hearings both on his own and accompanied by fellow employees. "Going alone was intimidating at first because I was responsible for taking notes and passing along the information to NATSO in order to let the industry know what issues it would be facing. I spent days visiting numerous Senate and House offices so that now I know the congressional buildings quite well. I also had the privilege of meeting several senators and congressman." In addition, during Doug's first staff meeting at NATSO, he offered to assist any employee who needed help; therefore, Doug was able to work in a wide range of departments within the association. "I was given my own office, a direct phone line, a computer, and occasional lunches paid for by NATSO - whether I had a quick sandwich or ate at a five-star restaurant with a company CEO. All the employees treated me like I was one of them, with only an occasional joke about my being an intern. I was paid a stipend of $300 per week. The experience I had at NATSO enabled me to land several interviews at other trade associations, and less than a month after leaving NATSO I accepted a full-time job at another association in Alexandria within their government-affairs department. I still meet with NATSO employees for occasional lunches even though I have to pay my own way now."
Douglas lived in nearby housing provided within Alexandria by the Washington Internship Program through its association with the Institute for Experiential Learning. "IEL was very accommodating, considering that I requested a place to stay only three days before my internship was scheduled to start. I became good friends with many people there, some of whom came from Sweden. I spent my first weekend sightseeing in D.C. with one of my roommates. It was a beautiful day, and we walked from one place to another, spending hours on the National Mall and in downtown D.C. Five months later, I'm still in Washington doing well. I never tire of seeing the monuments and sights of this fascinating city. The Smithsonian museums can be entire day-trips, and the temporary displays change often. Once you learn how to ride the Metro, it becomes a convenient, effective way to travel." Like all Washington Internship Program alumni who settle in the Washington area, Douglas is welcome to come hear guest speakers, accompany the program on trips, meet new interns from the Washington area or abroad, and use our individual editing services. For graduates looking to launch careers, the example set by Douglas Wright illustrates how an internship can pave the way to a permanent job. The townhouses and apartments at WISH (Washington Intern Students Housing) have no limit on the amount of time an individual can stay, so if an internship turns into a continuing job, former interns need not move to another location if they wish to stay indefinitely.

UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS - Alina Neventsel

     A Canadian citizen who was originally from Russia - and then Israel, Alina Neventsel is pursuing a bachelor of law degree at the University of Windsor now that she has completed her undergraduate work in political science at York University. A young woman who speaks Russian, German, Hebrew, and English, Alina was a perfect candidate for an internship at the Civil Rights Commission (Eastern Regional Office) because of her legal training as well as exposure to religious and ethnic persecution. The USCCR consists of lawyers, sociologists, and administrative staff, and Alina helped them all with research, legal consultation, and outstanding past projects. "My work at the Commission amounted to a much bigger professional experience than I had anticipated," Alina admitted. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was established by Congress in 1957 and re-created in 1983 as an independent bipartisan agency that was formed in response to the Civil Rights Movement. It is the government body responsible for investigating civil-rights violations by various organizations in the public and private sector. Among its charges are the need to explore complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. The commission collects information relating to discrimination and denial of equal protection under the law, which is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution irrespective of color, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, etc. It also examines federal laws to insure that prejudicial treatment is not inherent in such legislation. The USCCR submits reports, findings, and recommendations to Congress and the President; it also oversees state advisory committees. The interns in this office conduct fact-finding missions and data collection that eventually become the basis for a range of reports. In addition, the Civil Rights Commission produces literature, which informs the public and explains laws that exist to protect folks from unfair treatment.

      Alina explained: "On the surface, USCCR's charge appears crucially important to America and the administration of justice. Unfortunately, the commission has suffered the wrath of partisan administrations, power-hungry congressmen, and internal conflicts, all of which interfered with its work for years. The agency's budget has been reduced annually, so quality researchers and lawyers left as a result of limited funds. Some of the commission's legitimacy problems stem from presidential disdain and lack of direct enforcement powers. The USCCR studies matters, but only private civil-rights organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) take these issues to the highest courts in the land. Despite the influence the USCCR has with lawmakers, civil rights often take a backseat to the economy or security questions stemming from unrest in the Middle East. Nevertheless, the reports issued by the Civil Rights Commission illustrate that civil liberties in America are not confined to the minds of academics but are part of the daily rights enjoyed by average citizens."

     In July, the Commission issued a long-awaited publication by the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia State Advisory Committees in the aftermath of September 11, which provided evidence of the growing need for civil-rights enforcement. The report highlights numerous violations of civil rights by police and federal forces in pursuit of a phantom terrorist. Racial profiling, arrests without warrants, inhumane interrogations, and privacy violations were all cited in the report. The federal agencies involved blame Administration pressure for results and security. Strategic consultants named in the report offered alternative ways to track down foreign and local terrorist cells. As in the case of John Muhammad and John Lee Malvo, terrorists often fail to wear turbans or speak with an accent. The report provides an important perspective on the negative impact of the Patriot Act on civil rights in the United States. This report served as a red flag for the Executive branch of government in terms of its investigative methods. It also emphasized the need for high standards and due process in the administration of justice.

     Alina further analyzed the situation as follows: "A lack of compliance greets some of the work of the Civil Rights Commission. For example, a ten-year check-up report shows a pattern of noncompliance among many federal agencies. For instance, the Department of Agriculture has done little to improve its civil-rights record. Similarly, the Department of the Interior does not dedicate adequate resources for civil-rights initiatives like diversity education, which has gone unsupported. Although some government bodies - like the Environmental Protection Agency - were embarrassed by the original report and changed their policies accordingly, others ignored the recommendations by finding bureaucratic loopholes."

     As an intern, Alina was assigned projects that entailed legal research and analysis. "I undertook several tasks that produced tremendous professional and personal development. I analyzed yet-to-be released data on the state of human rights in the United States and reviewed statistical information on the efficacy of agencies in dealing with civil rights. I created a template proposal for the Connecticut Human-Rights Commission that included an overview of its performance. The proposal pointed out a decrease in budget and lack of properly skilled staff as reasons for its lengthy case-resolution schedule. My evaluation of one state's experience could be used as a model for assessing commissions in other states. One of the most interesting assignments I was given during this internship was a background paper I was asked to write on the impact of the Women's Movement on the labor market and employment opportunities. I reviewed policies, laws, and feminist practices in various professional fields as compared with Canadian experiences in the workplace."

     "My findings pointed to an inherent historical difference between the two movements. U.S. feminism focused on issues like voting, abortion, and equal educational opportunities whereas the Canadian Women's Movement was active in the areas of labor, financial benefits, and lesbian matters. Canada's inherent conservatism was evident in the "Persons Case" that through the appeal to the Privy Council in London, England established that women were persons under the law. This decision was criticized by some Canadian judges who did not believe such distinctions should be made. The equal-access initiatives like affirmative action were nonexistent in Canada. The voices of change in the U.S. were always prominent, and their strength energized the Canadian movement. Issues like equal pay and employment opportunities for women at the highest levels of professional and business life were targeted in both countries but had much more support in the U.S. than Canada. This paper allowed me to examine these comparisons in a historical context and make observations about equal access in terms of employment."

     Alina discussed another piece of work she undertook this summer. "The most complicated and time-consuming project assigned to me involved a report on 'Limited English Proficient Students in the State of Maine.' I updated the aspects of the report dealing with legislation, funding, compliance, and anti-immigrant sentiment in certain parts of Maine. This challenging job demanded considerable time and energy on my part. I needed to study Main's education budget and provide a breakdown of subsidies by category in addition to considering federal funding by investigating various Title VII (currently the title III No Child Left Behind Act) LEP education grants. It was exciting to see the increase in ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers and diversity training subsidized by the state. There is still room for such programs to grow, especially in rural areas, but the efforts expended by lawmakers in Maine is encouraging."

     In conclusion, Alina reflected: "My internship with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was an amazing event that expanded my horizons both personally and professionally. The challenges and tribulations of my internship were lessons that allowed me to improve my analytic skills, writing techniques, and research tools by using legal databases like WestLaw, Lexus/Nexus, and law libraries. Finally, the most important skill I acquired was expertise in the U.S. legal system. I believe this internship was a life-changing event, which I expect to bring with me into the next stage of my life."

TRADE INFORMATION CENTER - Lawrence Rocco Skrzysowski

     A student from Temple University, Lawrence Skrzysowski was placed in the United States Department of Commerce within the International Trade Administration (ITA) where he worked in the Trade Information Center from late May until early August. Larry remembers: "On the morning of May 24 when I set out from my home in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, I was very nervous during the five-hour drive. Here I was, just twenty years old, on the road to my dreams: to work in our nation's capital. I started my internship on May 27, the day after Labor Day, by reporting to the ITA located across the street from the Commerce Department in the Ronald Regan Building. I was awestruck by the magnificent architecture and could not believe where I would be working for the next three months." Lawrence was assigned to the Trade Information Center (TIC), which provides export assistance to U.S. businesses promoting products or services overseas as well as country-specific counseling to businesses contemplating transactions in an international market.

     "The work I did at the Trade Information Center was unbelievable! I soon began assisting staff with correspondence and information development. Before long, I had enough expertise to help phone and on-line clients with a wide range of subjects. I was also impressed with the companies I handled. On a weekly basis, I worked with two to nine-page tariff requests for firms like Tiffany & Company, Donna Karan of New York (DKNY), Caterpillar, and Anheuser-Busch. I attended U.S. trade summits throughout the internship with many international trade specialists. For example, I went to a U.S. and India Trade Summit at the Regis Hotel and a U.S. / Brazil Economic and Political Forum in downtown D.C. The best was the U.S. and Africa Trade Show held at the Washington Hilton. Such meetings were especially fulfilling because I worked hand in hand for many weeks with the Trade Information Center's Senior Economist, Dr. Abdul Shaikh, on his Power-Point presentation that he delivered at this trade forum. I did much of the actual research and prepared the slides that were shown during the talk attended by President George W. Bush, who also spoke there."

     Larry remarked: "Everyone with whom I worked made me feel at home even though this time was my first visit to Washington, which was a little scary, but the environment in which I operated was so comfortable. All the staff members were kind, helpful, and compassionate, and because of this support I excelled. My internship coordinator and the director of the Trade Information Center were first-class mentors, and I feel lucky to have met them. I loved getting up every morning and going to work at TIC." Lawrence worked full-time Monday through Thursday in order to have Fridays free, along with Saturdays and Sundays, to explore the city. During these long weekends, he visited the White House, U.S. Capitol, the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials as well as Arlington National Cemetery and countless branches of the Smithsonian Institution. "My favorites were the Air and Space Museum and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum." In addition, Lawrence took advantage of some of the best golf courses in Virginia and Maryland since this sport is one of his hobbies. Larry also went to Camden Yards to watch a baseball game. "I don't know where all the time went this summer. I'll always remember attending the fireworks on the Fourth of July or the time my boss treated me to lunch at the Willard Hotel. I won't soon forget the skills I learned, the contacts I made, or the friends I met. For me, the summer of 2003 will forever be an important chapter in my life that I will share with people repeatedly. It was the summer when a young man from a rural town, the grandson of Italian and Polish immigrants, ventured off into the unknown and then drove back home with memories to last a lifetime."

EMBASSY OF CHILE - Cynthia J. Rubio

      A student from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, Cynthia Rubio holds dual citizenship - from the United States and Peru - plus she has lived in Spain as well as Chile in the past. Being bilingual in Spanish and English, Cynthia will be returning next year to South America in order to study in Chile, so an internship at the Embassy of Chile represented a perfect placement for her. Cynthia first worked in the embassy's cultural department where she assisted the cultural attaché in creating a lengthy PowerPoint presentation with illustrative visuals that her supervisor could use when speaking about the country. "Although I consulted nearly every day about minor details, I was given immense freedom to find the important factors for every subject," Cynthia explained. "In addition, constant feedback helped me assess exactly what my boss wanted to include in her talk so I could choose the right slides." The deputy chief of missions and the ambassador worked closely with Cynthia, and they requested certain revisions after the first viewing of Cynthia's work in the conference room. The slide show and accompanying remarks were well received. The ambassador added a section himself on Chile's economy among other unique facts about the country.

     On a regular basis, Cynthia helped another intern sort mail and respond to correspondence. For example, Cynthia produced a page that would accompany all responses in the future; this note instructed writers how to request further information about the culture of Chile. Cynthia also translated two documents for the political department - one concerning the Red Cross, and the second was an agreement between the United States and Chile. When suggestions were solicited during a farewell luncheon where two staff members asked how interns could be better utilized, Cynthia and other interns prepared a list of steps the embassy should follow to improve internships.

     One evening Cynthia attended an event at which a video was shown about Chile in the twentieth century, which showed Cynthia how the embassy interacts with the Chilean community in Washington. Toward the end of the internship, she was sent by the political department to a number of Congressional hearings on Capitol Hill. "Overall, I really enjoyed my diplomatic internship where I learned a lot about conducting research and working with others," Cynthia noted. Her internship was scheduled to last from July 1 to August 15 in keeping with Cynthia's academic semester and other plans.

BLACK ICE SECURITY SERVICES, INC. - Michael Ancuta

     An article published in the Washington Post on July 29 on the front page of the "Metro Section" described some of the more unique placements in the Washington Internship Program. The title of the piece was: "Unafraid to Get their Hands Dirty; Not all Young Workers Are Behind Desks in Air-Conditioned Comfort," and the reporter interviewed many people in our program. A student from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, Michael Ancuta certainly had two of the most unusual placements. Michael was placed at a firm specializing in executive protection, body-guard work, forensics, and both audio-visual and private-site security. Mike wrote: "My internship was not what I expected. It was one of the best experiences I have had in life so far. I was fortunate to have interned with Black Ice Security Services, Inc. What made my internship so interesting was the fact that it was 'hands on,' and I did not sit behind a desk all day looking at a computer screen. I actually went through unarmed and armed security training. I qualified with a 9mm Berretta."

     Mike described more informal aspects of his training at Black Ice Security: "One of the guys with whom I worked took me out before I actually had the armed training to help me adjust to shooting a semi-automatic pistol. The first time, I did pretty well. My colleague complimented me on my sight alignment. I actually did better that day than when qualifying because later I was trying too hard. I also went out with my boss, an ex-Navy Seal, and he taught me how to shoot a 38 Special. He demonstrated correct techniques and gave me good tips. Another man from work was participating in a kickboxing class, and he invited me to come along one evening. I observing for a while and then signed up for classes. Such instruction would be useful if I ever needed to resort to self-defense. So far, I obtained a white belt (in the course of two months)."

FREEDOM BAIL BONDING

     Black Ice Security has a sister company, Freedom Bail Bonding, in connection with which Mike was involved in "going out and picking up skips" (people for whom the bonding company had provided bail but who failed to show up for court). Michael accompanied employees of Freedom Bail Bonding to arrest these individuals and then bring them back to the office. The owner of the company would subsequently decide whether to put them in jail or work out payment agreements. "It was interesting work and good experience for me," Mike remarked. "There was only one occasion when I felt a bit nervous about the situation we faced. Since I was an intern and not a registered private investigator, I could not conduct actual research on a case. However, I was allowed to pursue computer research. With the aid of various tools and programs, I learned how to locate a person with relatively little information. I was also taught to conduct effective court research. I collected data that had been gathered and worded it in a comprehensive report that would be presented to a client or used to locate fugitives. One staff member showed me how to use the computer in the Fairfax County Courthouse to conduct research there."

     Michael was assigned two major projects to complete during his internship. First, he was asked to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual for security teams in the field to use as a guide when different situations developed. These SOPs ranged from bomb threats and fires to thefts. "This work took me quite some time because I was unfamiliar with the subject and had to do much research," said Mike. The second project involved a course for security training and an outline that would detail the requirements for establishing a qualified training school. Michael studied the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which set minimum requirements, and ensured that Black Ice Security would exceed those standards. Mike was taught to perform some legal processes, like serving subpoenas. He also helped start a retail store to be called Cop Shop, Inc. Articles of incorporation were written, a tax identification number was provided, and appropriate paper work was filled out with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. "My responsibility was to set up the retail store officially," noted Mike. "I spent a lot of time in City Hall checking codes and filling out different forms and permits my boss had to sign. I also contacted another company to visit the site and measure for a sign. In order to put up one, I had to make arrangements for builders as well as electrical and sign permits. I learned much about starting a business."

     Since Michael didn't have a private investigator or personal protection licenses, he was unable to conduct surveillance or provide bodyguard services. "We talked about sending me to get the requisite training, but time was too short to complete these courses. Nevertheless, this internship was a great experience for me. I enjoyed it enormously because I was able to participate in so many different aspects of the company. I 'got down and dirty' talking with attorneys, setting up a business, writing invoices, and filing cases. Every few days my duties would change. I was fortunate that this paid internship turned into a job. At the end of the internship I was hired as a full-time employee. Now I have the additional time to get the training I couldn't begin while I was an intern."

     Immediately following Mike's internship, Black Ice Security sent him to receive the training he would need as a full-time employee with the firm. On Mike's first day of training, which was a Monday, he received instruction on advance work for government officials or celebrities who are scheduled to visit particular sites. Manuals Mike was given to read explained the duties of a personal protection specialist (PPS). After the first day of training, Mike was assigned to a detail (field protection for a client). "Before we did the advance work, we practiced formations - which basically involve how to deal correctly with a principal and evacuate him if necessary," Mike explained. "On Tuesday, we went out on the detail in the morning. It was quit interesting. We wore suits and ear-pieces for communication. We looked quite obvious, so people on the street stared at us and then asked questions about the famous person we were guarding. After the detail, our instructor gave us a debriefing to convey what we did right and wrong. For the rest of the day, we worked on medical certification. On Wednesday we learned how to handcuff a prisoner properly. At the end of the day, we got sprayed with OC - a strong form of pepper spray. This part of the training wasn't mush fun, but the pain caused by the chemical wasn't as bad as we were warned that it would be. I felt like my face was on fire, and we couldn't open our eyes for twenty minutes.

     On Thursday we were taught more about advance work, and on Friday we learned how to use a baton and disarm a criminal. We also reviewed the advanced handgun course for which we would qualify. I learned to search cars for bombs. On Friday we went to the range and were taught to shoot as part of the advanced handgun course. It was difficult and exciting at the same time. We had to run through scenarios with our instructor at our side. We were asked to throw down the instructor or push him to the side and then shoot from different angles. After the course, we did our final detail and were debriefed upon its completion. The final detail was more difficult because the principal changed the schedule and we visited places that were not on the schedule. We had to act quickly and get an advance team to the new destination, which needed to be thoroughly inspected. I had a great time throughout the week. I absorbed a lot of information that will quite useful to me in upcoming months."

CONGRESSMAN LEONARD BOSWELL (DEMOCRAT; PELLA, IOWA) - Brent Dieleman

     An environmental-studies major who graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, Brent Dieleman split his summer between an internship in Congress with Representative Leonard Boswell, where Brent could deal with theoretical matters like environmental policy, and a more practical placement at the Solid Waste Association of North Africa (SWANA) where the logistics of waste management and conservation were applied. From early June through August, Brent worked on Capitol Hill for his Democratic Congressman from Pella, Iowa in the Longworth House Office Building. "What I appreciated most about working in the Congressman's office was the fact that I was treated like a regular member of the staff and was progressively given greater responsibilities," said Brent. "Like most interns, I started out learning about responses to constituent mail, which I helped log and code. I distinguished between personal correspondence that warrants an answer and mass mailings where the sender did not write the letter and may not have read all of it either," noted Brent. In addition, Brent spent some time at the front desk greeting visitors, lobbyists, diplomats, and other guests. "I was thrilled to have been allowed to make the first impression on people who came to see the congressman. As his representative, I made a point of dressing and acting in a professional manner. Greeting folks and answering phones helped me perfect my communication skills, which I had improved while working for the Dordt College Advancement Office," explained Brent.

     Another task Brent was assigned was leading tours of the Capitol after learning pertinent historical information through training sessions at the Capitol Historical Society. Brent took visitors to the Old Supreme Court chamber, the Rotunda, and the Old House of Representatives. "It was a tremendous honor to take care of people on behalf of the congressman and give them a warm welcome to Washington," explained Brent, who enjoyed this aspect of his internship above all others. He also conducted legislative research in conjunction with the House Research Service and the Library of Congress. "In addition, I was assigned by the chief of staff to prepare an internal position paper for the congressman based on his voting record. This project is still in progress," noted Brent. Another task Brent was given involved keeping the staff informed about issues back in the district and in Washington. Regarding state news, Brent prepared and distributed clips from local newspapers. For national updates, he reviewed copies of the Congressional Quarterly (CQ), The Hill, and Roll Call. Overall, "this internship helped me grow professionally and confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in public service," Brent concluded.

SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (SWANA)

     Brent was among the interns interviewed by a reporter from the Washington Post in connection with his unusual combination of an internship in the House of Representatives and this placement at the Solid Waste Association of North America - a position Brent requested at the time he applied to the Washington Internship Program. Brent worked Mondays, Thursdays, and half of Wednesdays at SWANA, where he was paid a stipend of a few hundred dollars per month, and on Tuesdays, Fridays, and the other half of the day on Wednesdays he reported to Congress not far from where he lived on C Street, N.W. in the Capitol-Hill area rented through the Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH). The juxtaposition of these two different internships made for an interesting summer on Brent's part. "I had a unique experience combining an internship in the private sector at SWANA with a public-sector placement in Congressman Boswell's office, " said Brent. "These two internships not only supplemented my education but complemented each other. I appreciate working at SWANA where I am treated like a regular member of the staff and given worthwhile projects."

     The first project Brent undertook, under the technical programs director, was to develop duty profiles for each of SWANA's seven certifications. He conducted research on the Internet to find comparable job descriptions along with help from SWANA's staff. The rough drafts Brent wrote were submitted to the certification board for review, after which Brent received feedback so he could put the final touches on his work. The purpose of these profiles was to ensure that SWANA's training courses accurately cover the material necessary for a person in the field to do his or her job successfully. Once the certification board accepted the profiles, Brent compared them with the training manuals for each course. Brent designed seven duty profiles for: recycling, landfill, transfer station, construction and demolition, municipal solid waste (MSW) management, and composting and collection managers. Brent also worked closely with SWANA's program managers to develop and implement SWANA's specialty symposia and technical division programs. He drafted letters to speakers who would be coming to the conferences, reviewed abstracts, and determined timeliness. Brent coordinated mailings to moderators, created various databases, and followed up with people who missed deadlines for submitting time-sensitive materials. He invited people to speak at the upcoming Landfill Gas Conference. In addition, Brent attended legislative hearings with SWANA staff members, attended certification conferences in the Washington area, and went to certification board meetings.

RADIO FREE EUROPE - Sterling Wright

     An older student who studied at Pennsylvania State University, Sterling Wright had been out of college for nearly ten years when she decided to change careers. In the past, Sterling worked as a writer and producer for film and television. Later, she became interested in international affairs and intelligence analysis. Consequently, the Washington Internship Program placed Sterling in two related internships that bridged the gap between her previous training and future aspirations. Sterling remarked: "Turning to the Washington Internship Program was the best decision I could have possibly made!" At Radio Free Europe, Sterling applied her media experience to this journalism internship, which focused on the European theater in the context of national and global news. Sterling explained: "I would recommend an internship with this organization to anyone. Designated as a writer and producer for Radio Free Europe, I was responsible for covering international affairs in the Washington area. Based on live coverage of events and interviews, I wrote radio news copy and produced audio clips for broadcast in foreign markets. I also drafted feature articles for publication in both print and web formats. By the end of the internship, I had a dozen attributed and internationally published clips in my portfolio! In addition, I wrote press releases for guest-speaker events that addressed issues of civil society, human rights, and international relations throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus."

DR. JERROLD POST, COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERT

     Sterling moved to the Washington, D.C. area because this city is a center for international affairs and intelligence work. The other internship arranged for Sterling by the Washington Internship Program was as a research assistant working for Dr. Jerrold Post, director of the Political Psychology Program at the Elliot School for International Affairs. Dr. Post was developing a project that examined the effects of radical Islamic sermons on terrorist recruitment in the Middle East and South-East Asia. Sterling studied Islamic leaders and tracked their sermons. The internship also afforded Sterling the opportunity to attend Dr. Post's graduate course in Terrorist Psychology at George Washington University. "Both internships provided me with excellent experience and insight into the field of political analysis. Ultimately, my placements led to a dynamic, full-time position as a foreign media analyst in support of Department of Defense objectives. The Washington Internship Program made changing careers possible for me. Now that I have started down a new professional path, I will begin pursuing a Masters degree program in international security and technology at Georgetown University. It is unlikely that I would have made this transition so seamlessly without the opportunities and training provided to me through both these internships, which Dr. Bayer attentively and enthusiastically arranged for me."

     Sterling concluded: "Washington is an amazing place filled with bright, passionate individuals who come to the capital in order to make a difference in the world. Having been in this city for more than a year, I rarely leave my house without bumping into someone who is doing something amazing! Washington is a great place; it is young, smart, vibrant, and lovely in its natural features and cultural attractions. It is hard to live here and not feel inspired." Sterling brought a wealth of experience to the Washington Internship Program where she helped work on placements for a period of time during the busiest season in the spring. Sterling was able to coach and encourage younger interns trying to decide which types of placements would be best for them, and Sterling assisted other Washington Internship Program staff in counseling students to make the right choices. She shared her own background, sensitivity, and poise with young people exploring different options.

INTERNATIONAL ANTICOUNTERFEITING COALITION - Susan Lu

     A student from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, Susan Lu was placed in two economic-related internships to which she devoted her time from late June until early September. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Susan worked at the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition. "My time at the Coalition was interesting, to say the least," concluded Susan. "I started this internship with little understanding of the scope and influence counterfeiting wields, but now I am well aware of the damage done by imitation goods and currency. I learned so much during my time at this internship, and the knowledge I gained will influence the rest of my life." On the first day of Susan's internship, she was asked to conduct online research covering international news articles about seizures made of counterfeit goods. Susan used Lexis Nexis and Internet search engines to fulfill this assignment. "The difficult part was to identify relevant stories listing specific raids and the seizure of fake items as well as who was arrested," Susan explained. She made a table, using Excel, that listed sources and all other pertinent facts. The president of IACC used the results of Susan's three-month analysis to show government officials the extent of global counterfeiting. "In the course of this work, I learned that counterfeit goods are not limited to Asia or imitation designer items. Counterfeit seizures occur everyday throughout the world, and such dishonest practices extend to fake pharmaceutical products and artificial food. This activity causes serious harm to the public because many phony products cause bodily harm or illness. In addition, terrorist groups have been found to be involved in producing and selling counterfeit goods."

     During Susan's internship, she worked to raise public awareness of the counterfeiting problem. "For instance, during one segment of an Oprah Winfrey talk-show, Oprah made a remark about a counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbag that an audience member was holding, and the guest responded that her bag was fake, but 'wasn't it a great fake?' Remarks of this type trivialize the problem and illustrate the level of popular ignorance regarding the matter. Given the large audience that views this program, our office was concerned about Oprah promoting counterfeit goods. Therefore, after I found the contact information for reaching Oprah, one of the attorneys drafted a letter telling Oprah about the harm caused by the purchase of fake goods and asking her to share these facts with viewers."

     In addition to office work, Susan accompanied the president of her organization to meetings and hearings where he testified. "I was responsible for putting together the PowerPoint presentation on intellectual-property theft that was delivered to a group of Taiwanese government officials. Another time, my table of counterfeit seizures was used to illustrate the amount of counterfeit products in the world today. When speaking to a panel of judges from Southeast Asia who came to America on a weeklong trip sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, I was asked to research U.S. court cases to be discussed. I had to find cases involving famous trademarks and infringement laws as well as trace appeals and reversal of rulings. Just the other day, a reporter from the New York Times met with the president of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, and my report was used to demonstrate the extent of worldwide counterfeiting," said Susan.

     On July 16, the president of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition testified before the House of Representatives' Committee on International Relations regarding terrorist links to counterfeiting. The hearing was titled "International/Global Intellectual Property Theft: Links to Terrorism and Terrorist Organizations." Susan helped prepare for this event, and on the day of the hearing she accompanied witnesses to the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing lasted over two hours and included testimony by the secretary general of Interpol and other key figures. Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (Republican from Illinois) presided, and journalists from television, radio, and print news were in attendance. The next day, Susan gathered media coverage of the hearing. The IACC president had appeared o