Tag Archives: Washington D.C.

CAPS, D.C., and Beyond by Daniel Herschel

Throughout these closing weeks of my summer in DC, I have found that it is getting easier to lose focus. As the uncertainty of what comes next looms large ahead of me, I find myself seeking distraction to keep apprehensive feelings at bay. Luckily, CAPS has provided me with opportunities to reflect, and this has helped bring me back to focus. A reflect-in here, a email thread with our CAPS director Katie there, and I find big questions again being brought to the forefront of my mind.

Sometimes, when reflecting, it is easy for me to see the negative things. For example, I think that if I had been more organized, I would have done a great deal more of job searching earlier in the summer. At the same time, I think about how I wanted to try to dive into DC head-on as much as possible. Looking back, I think there were weeks where I did a great job of this. Other weeks, I was tired, or lazy, or just did not plan ahead well enough to do all that I wanted to do.

But I try to give myself some credit. DC was a huge change of pace for me, a completely different living and working experience than I had ever had before. I am happy for the things I did well, and I am trying to learn from the things I would like to do better. I already look back on the nights I stayed in or the weekends where I spent most of the day fretting over what to do instead of actually doing, and I somewhat disappointed. I wish that I had planned better, or had gone to bed earlier the night before so I wasn’t so tired after work, or had not worried so much about what something was going to cost. But I also remember going to the monuments, and museums, and jazz festivals, and happy hours, and networking events, and I am very happy that I chose to spend my summer in DC, despite how new and challenging it might have been.

The most helpful aid to experiencing DC to the fullest was my CAPS cohort. They gave me a community to be a part of outside of work that made DC seem much less imposing. Some of my greatest experiences in DC came out of time with the cohort. And it was not so much that I did not have to go do something alone (although this was quite nice). Rather, it was that I had people to share the experience with that made these adventures great. I cherish CAPS for providing me with a community of great people during my stay here, and I hope that wherever I go next, I can find a great community that I can take part in.

As I look forward to my future after CAPS, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the possibilities that seem open to me. I have tried my best while in DC to network with different people and to learn about the possibilities for a professional life here. And although I have found that there are plenty of unique and interesting fields of work in DC, my heart is not set on it completely. I still have a mind to go even further and explore opportunities to work abroad. I have started wrapping up networking and ramping up applications. I hope that whatever I do and wherever I go, it will be enriching and informing as my CAPS Fellowship has been!

The Importance of Knowledge by Jade Curless

After finally retreating home from our nation’s capital, I have finally been able to reflect on the significance of my CAPS experience and what it has taught me. After working at Venn Strategies this summer, I have gained numerous professional skills and an overall deeper understanding of how politics functions in the United States. Working at a governmental affairs firm has provided me with a much more in-depth view of how our government operates and how policy is a constant battle.

As a general research intern at Venn, I was able to work on a variety of issues. I did research on the devastating maternal mortality rate in the U.S., a crisis where black mothers die at a rate 3 to 4 times greater than their white counterparts despite the socioeconomic conditions. I also had an ongoing project where I researched the upcoming revisions of the Dietary Guidelines. I learned about the importance of limiting the influence of big food and pharmaceutical companies, ensuring a scientific-based Dietary Guidelines for the country. These experiences, and many more, taught me the importance of knowledge and the necessity to be aware. In this current political climate, there seems to be an abundance of problems but only a number of solutions. Being able to watch congressional committee and caucus meetings, I discovered how much influence the American people have. There are many congresspeople who are passionate about solving these social and economic issues, however, their voice is constrained when they don’t have adequate support from their constituents. Working in Washington did confirm my suspicion that big money influences a large amount of how our government functions; however, there are politicians, lobbyists, investigator generals, and many others that a ready to change this norm. For a government to be representative of the people, the people must be passionate about being represented. There is a reasonable mistrust between the people and the government, specifically for minority groups. And while I and many others are unable to fully understand those experiences, that doesn’t mean that this isn’t the time to fight for their platform. It is necessary that our country allows everyone to be represented and more importantly supports them to be their own advocates.

My sociology education has made me critical of our society, but my CAPS experience has made me realistic on how to shift these social structures. Working in such a political environment showed me the significance of being aware and knowledgeable of current issues. There are a lot of underlying barriers that make it difficult for everyone to be represented, but my internship taught me that there are a lot of people trying to change that. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and if we want things to change this upcoming 2020 election, then this tool needs to be as accessible as possible for everyone.

DC, Internews, and Beyond by Daniel Herschel

Trying to summarize my experiences in Washington, DC, so far this summer, despite the short time that I have been here, is a somewhat challenging task. I have learned a great deal of new information, whether it be at work or while experiencing the city. Much of this information I have taken at face value, trusting in the knowledge of those more experienced with DC than myself. But as I have begun to acclimate to DC life and met more and more people, I am beginning to process my early experiences and make my own connections. And in some cases, I am starting to challenge some of my initial assumptions and things I have been told.

My first few weeks at Internews were fairly quiet. I met with Jon, my supervisor, was given a desk space and laptop, was introduced to my coworkers who were in the office that day, and reviewed and started working on some of the projects that had been planned for me. But the rest of the office was preparing for RightsCon. All the members of the Global Technology Team, my team, were attending the annual conference that was being held in Tunisia the following week. The conference focuses on the intersection of human rights and technology with an international scope, and is attended well by representatives from Internews and other organizations like it.

To illuminate, Internews is an international independent media development nonprofit organization. Internews works with journalists, activists, and other organizations around the world. In many of these countries, the government, other actors, or external factors may exert control on what appears in the news or how accessible this information is to the public. Much of Internews is divided into regional teams, serving Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, and so on. My team, the Global Tech Team, works outside these traditional regional teams to provide more specialized services. We plan and implement projects that provide technical support to organizations in the countries we serve. This is critical because these citizens in these countries are more and more reliant on technology as it becomes more widely accessible.

So, as my Team prepared for their conference, work started a little slow. But, after they returned, we dove right in to work. I have weekly meetings with specific teams, check-ins with my supervisor, and optional meetings with other project groups with my own team or other teams. In the meantime, I work on programming solutions to the projects I have been given, to support finished, ongoing, and potential future projects.

More specifically, I am working to revise and restructure their SAFETAG program documentation, a program that provides resources to perform digital safety audits for media organizations. (These audits include asking questions like: how are we storing our interview notes, collected data, etc? Is it encrypted for our journalists’ safety? Is our website or application vulnerable to attack from bad actors (groups that we report on ranging from criminal organizations to our own government)? In addition to this, I have been working on analyzing internet usage metrics to determine when governments are shutting down, throttling, or censoring the internet in their country. And I have a few more projects I might work on depending on how far along we get during the summer.

But just in working on these projects, I have learned a lot. I have learned how many communities around the world struggle with internet shutdowns or censorship. I have learned that even in developing countries, more and more business is conducted relying on internet connection or smartphone usage. And I have learned that countries that shutdown internet do so knowing it will cost their economy millions of dollars, directly affecting the livelihood of most of their citizens. And yet they continue to do so, to silence activists, to attempt to curb protests or demonstrations, or to keep the rest of the world in the dark about a coup d’état or human rights violations carried out by the government or military.

I have learned that although we all want to help these countries with their difficulties, getting funding for projects is competitive. I have learned that international development can be messy, and that organizations like Internews have to be careful to think about consequences of running programs so that they do not escalate or make situations in certain countries worse.

I would say the most challenging and frustrating aspect of my work is that our organization addresses problems I have never had to deal with, in communities that I have never interacted with. And yet, I find myself spurred on because I am constantly reminded of the freedoms that I enjoy. The promise of the internet, of integration into an ever more connected world, has often been heralded as the Great Equalizer. But still there are obstacles to communication and access to information, and often to those in most need. And I am glad that I get to play a small part in trying to make it more equitable.

Beyond that, I have done the typical DC things. I visited the monuments, some the of the museums, walked past the White House. I have tried new restaurants and new kinds of food, gone to public events like Jazz in the Park and Jazzfest on the wharf, and visited Arlington National Cemetery. I am hoping to catch a few games of professional tennis at the Citi Open this coming weekend, if I can get tickets. One of the most interesting things I learned about DC, and on of the things I like the most, is that there is a great deal of work that is done here that is not done anywhere else. That includes the obvious ones like federal government and related fields like public policy, lobbying, government contract work, and international development, like Internews.

There are some drawbacks to having unique and interesting work, though. It gives one a whole lot to think about when they are trying to decide whether they want to stay in DC after their summer fellowship ends…

T-Minus One Semester: Differing Shades of Uncertainty by Emily Nelson

As I wrap up my last three weeks in Washington, D.C., I’m reflecting on the mounting ambiguity that’s slowly creeping into my life. Some of these forces have been expected; the events that directly preceded or have happened during my stay make for a rather tumultuous timeline. My grandmother passed away, my parents have moved, and I’m entering my last semester of undergrad after the conclusion of this fellowship. I guess it’s consolation that many of my peers are in the same position of uneasiness heading into the future, but it’s troubling nonetheless.

I am very thankful that I’ve been able to spend my summer in D.C. This area is a networking hotspot, and running into dignitaries or prominent government officials is no surprise. A few weeks ago, I attended an Interfaith Community work meeting for my organization. The director of Asian American Pacific Islander Initiatives at the White House was present, and I got to meet her through LSA’s Vice President of External Affairs. A few weeks prior, I attended a Phi Beta Kappa networking reception, where I reconnected with one of the PBK event coordinators, who I met my first weekend here during a volunteering gig.

Lincoln Memorial at Night

Those opportunities stem from my position at Lutheran Services in America, one of the largest nonprofit networks in the U.S. For its size and breadth, the office is surprisingly calm. It’s rare that you can find peace in this city, but for how close it is to the Supreme Court, Capitol, and Library of Congress (literally all down the street), it’s a hidden gem. During my time here, I’ve finished a few projects, most of which had a wide berth of creative freedom. I coded and formatted survey data in Excel and Powerpoint, wrote my first concept paper, researched all of the organizations within LSA’s CYF (Children, Youth and Families) network, read a lot of material, and made an email list for my supervisor.

Washington Monument at Night

Whether it was at my desk or at home, I’ve realized just how difficult it is to be motivated when surrounded by ambiguity. As a psychology person, I’ve learned this through lecture; as lived experience, it manifests so clearly. Especially when the due date is loose, my ability to be efficient is severely tested. If projects require a significant amount of creative thought and time, it’s incredibly easy to lose your sense of purpose and drown in the technicalities. As a result, work environment, location, and compensation are all factors I’m considering in life after Valpo, and I feel better informed to evaluate options.

DC CAPS cohort featuring Eric Maruyama

Though I’m actively (or attempting to be) determining post-grad possibilities, I’m trying to be present in the moment here. The opportunities, sights, and friends are just too good to miss. And if there’s anything I learned from study abroad, it’s to give myself and the world around me the current moment, because our time is finite.

Fourth of July Fireworks from Balcony

D.C. is More than Just Politics by Maddie Morehead

D.C. is lively and thriving. D.C. is friendly and beautiful. D.C. is jazzy and historic. D.C. is full of excitement and people from every walk of life with a different story or perspective worth sharing.

Being in a new city is a great excuse for friends to visit, and having a friend visit is a great excuse to explore the depths of said new city. A couple weeks ago, a friend that I met through my fall semester study abroad experience came to DC to visit me, and as any good friend would, I became a tourist with her.

We took a tour of “Black Broadway”, near Howard University, where tribute is payed to African American artists like Marvin Gaye, Chuck Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharpe , and Aretha Franklin. We learned about the fight it took to keep Go-Go alive – a genre that originated from The District, and joined our fellow tourists for lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a Black owned restaurant originating in 1958 known for keeping the community together and for the famous D.C. half smoke. It was over chili dogs that we shared conversation and heard the beautiful love story between the couple that joined us on the tour.

Mural from Black Broadway tour on U Street

We also took a food tour through Georgetown, an extremely gentrified area of The District, attracting foodies from all over. However, this gentrification was met with philanthropy through a bakery called Dog Tag Inc., dedicated to providing education through Georgetown University and employment for service-disabled veterans and their families. Not to mention that their cookies were absolutely delicious too.

Food tour in Georgetown

Not only are tours a great way to meet the people traveling through the streets of Washington, but Lyft and Uber rides also proved to be a great way to meet fellow visitors and locals of the DMV (District, Maryland, and Virginia).

I’ve met people from all over the U.S. and even the world, just by sitting in the back seat of their car. One man who came to the U.S. “looking for a gold coin on the sidewalk”, told my friend and I that our friendship was beautiful after telling him that we met while studying abroad. He proceeded to tell us to cherish it forever because people just don’t make meaningful relationships as easily when they get older. Another driver, a woman, gave me life advice on my way to the International Airport to welcome IREX Fellows from all over Africa to the U.S. She graduated high school at 16 years old and was very accomplished in her professional life. She told me that instead of trying to live around working, one should learn how to work around living. Advice that I will never forget.

Another man I met who was willing to share a new perspective with me was a security guard at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. He was generous enough to share his point of view of the art that he observes on a daily basis for hours on end. He gave me my own personal tour saying, “This artist is very particular about everything she does, even the lighting”. Without him, I never would have noticed how the shadows on the wall are really the center of the art and not the sculpture, or how the way you tilt your head could reveal a completely new piece. And now I’m going back to see him when the new exhibit comes out at the end of this month.

Artwork from National Museum of Women in the Arts by Ursula Von Ridingsvard

It’s through these experiences that I have been able to learn about and experience the real D.C. The lively, and thriving, and friendly D.C. These experiences bring joy to my little heart, which thrives off of meeting new people; hearing their stories; and learning things that are not taught in schools, whether it be life lessons or history. Everyone here has a story, and I will take every chance I can get to listen and learn.

Navigating the First Day by Jade Curless

Getting acclimated to Washington D.C. has been a much harder task than what I originally anticipated. Living in this city has pushed me to think more intentionally about my actions and how I process my environment. I’ve always viewed myself as an adaptable person, someone who is excited for change or the aspect for something new; however, the first week in this new setting did not go as planned.

On my first day of my internship I woke up early, partly because of the early eastern coast sunrise, but mostly because I couldn’t wait to start this new chapter in my life. After completing our morning ritual, my roommates and I headed for the metro train and were ready to take on our jobs in the city. We eventually all split off throughout D.C. to our job sites. Unfortunately for me, the next step of my morning was not my internship. When I arrived at what I thought was my internship, I regrettably discovered that the company’s address had not been updated online. After quickly searching through emails from my supervisor, I found an address in a company signature, clicked it, and entrusted apple maps to get me to work. Once I was able to redirect myself, hopping back on the metro, transferring trains, and taking a long walk to this new location, I came to another unfortunate realization. Apple maps had directed me across town in the middle of rush hour, when in actuality the new location for my internship was only a couple blocks from my original location. Being flustered with emotion, I tried to keep myself calm as I completed the walk of shame to my initial destination, a process that made me an hour late on my first day. As I sat on the train, angry at my phone for deceiving me, but even more angry at myself for not planning more thoroughly in advance, I tried to keep calm by reminding myself that I would now have something interesting to write in my blog post.

After I arrived to my first day a full hour late, exhausted and embarrassed, I had to quickly learn how to adapt to my semi-corporate job. Luckily I work with very kind, and hard-driven individuals who have been willing to help me learn from my mistakes, making this painful moment a learning point for me.

It’s okay to mess things up. You can still hold yourself to a high standard and make mistakes. When reflecting on my past experiences, I weighed the significance of the times I felt like things have gone wrong. Although its cheesy, I really do believe that you learn the most from your mistakes. However, this depends on how you process these mishaps. Typically I would describe myself as someone who is pretty self-critical – I am constantly rethinking choices that I have made and how I would change them now. This is not a productive way to live life. As I enter the adult world, I’m beginning to realize the importance of maximizing your time. If I ever want to be a positive ally for others in society, then I need to cut out the wasted time worrying about the past. Being an hour late to the first day of my internship is a very small mistake in the grand scheme of things, but this situation made me reflect on a larger problem. The biggest mistake you can make is questioning yourself and your choices when something goes wrong. In this small moment it was important that I didn’t stress over my setback, but instead focused on making my internship the best experience possible. I only have one summer in D.C., and if I want to maximize my time here then I need to accept the past and prepare for the future.

Midwestern Girl, Big City by Maddie Morehead

In the week and a half that I’ve been here, I’ve become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city streets. As I commute to work, I pass the men in the hard hats and yellow jackets hard at work, the woman who sits in her lawn chair on the sidewalk day in and day out watching the people pass on their way from their 9-5, the man selling the newspaper at the metro stop yelling good morning to the distracted daily commuters, and the bus that always threatens to run me over if I don’t cross the walkway quickly enough. Although for many people in D.C. this routine is just a part of their everyday, mundane lives, I find myself to be one of the only people smiling as I take in each and every little aspect of my morning commute. As I walk to work, I make a mental promise to myself, that I will never overlook the details and never take my daily commute in the bustling city for granted. As a Midwestern gal, born and raised, I can’t help but want to talk to each individual I pass and ask them about their story, and how they wound up in the city, or if they were raised here their whole lives.

My first week and a half at IREX has been crazy busy, but I have loved every minute of it. Getting to know my team of 25 that I will be working with. A team of 24 strong, independent women, and one very humble man — my supervisor. Everyone that I will be working with this summer has had some sort of experience abroad, and it is so very relieving to be able to work with a group of people that are as worldly minded as myself. Every one of my team members has a story about their experience and how they ended up at IREX, and each team member is so individually unique.

I’ve spent the first week and a half learning about what it is that I will be doing during my summer internship at IREX. My supervisor informed me that in two short weeks 700 young, carefully selected accomplished African leaders will be making their way to the U.S. in order to head to different institutes where they will be learning tangible skills that they will be able to take back with them to their home countries. After their time at these institutes, the young African leaders will head to Washington D.C. for a week long leadership summit with IREX. My job is to help place some of the leaders at different host sites for an additional, extended experience that 70 carefully selected leaders will be partaking in after the summit, and curating guides for the cities that they will be staying in. I will also be helping with some of the planning for the leadership summit that is to happen at the end of July.

This was a lot to take in in just my first week and a half, but I am more than ready for what lays ahead of me this summer, and I am already so excited to meet and be working with the individuals that will be traveling to the United States.

What I’ve learned in the past week and a half is that Washington D.C. is somewhat of an international hub for the United States of America. Walking around, I hear multitudes of languages, some I may not even be able to recognize. I may be biased as an intern at IREX, but it seems that the people here also just have a more international perspective than the inland United States where I was raised. The younger me inside who has always desired to travel and meet many people with unique stories and experiences is all giddy inside as my adventure here in the United States Capitol and IREX begins. Always looking to learn more about the world around me, I can’t wait to see what adventure awaits.

Welcome to Washington D.C. by Emily Nelson

Thank God for seats on the metro, and good riddance to those who stand on the left side of the escalator during the morning rush. Being from Japan, courtesy on public transportation is a must, and it’s helped be more cognizant of the culture in D.C. To be clear, there are numerous cultures, whether ethnic,organizational, or linguistic, in D.C. due to the diversity. Instead of being a tourist (as I was eight years ago), I’m an intern, and am gifted with 10 weeks instead of one. This gives me a lot more time to explore what this place has to offer, and I am living for it.

I start my day at 7:30, waking to the constant hiss of the air conditioner. After dressing business casual and gathering my bearings, I take the elevator 10 floors down to the lobby. 9 stops on the Metro later, I get off at Capitol South, walking by the Capitol, Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court to reach the United Methodist Building. My grandmother, a devout Christian and affiliated with the Church, was born in 1923, the very year this building was constructed.

While Lutheran Services in America (LSA) oversees 300+ member organizations, the central office is quite cozy, with around 10 or so individuals working at any given time. Ms. Sheila, my supervisor, resides down the hall from me in her new office. She bought me lunch twice last week (!) and allows for quite a bit of flexibility with this internship. I’ve organized the email list by topic, highlighting member organizations that focus on children, youth, and families; read extensively about LSA and watched hours of webinars; and attended a Congressional briefing on the Chafee Act, which supports foster youth aging out of care. I understand that my big project will be a paper about the purpose of LSA, though there will be other assignments along the way. I have a standard office desk of black plexiglass, rolling chair, and provided laptop. Everyone here is very welcoming, especially Anita, a former intern who now does a lot of philanthropy work for LSA. She always asks how I’m doing and gives me advice about the surrounding area.

The living quarters are quite nice; we even have our own balcony and access to a swimming pool, gym, local market, barber/salon, dry cleaner, and entertainment center. I must say that I am so excited to explore this entire area, and there isn’t enough time in the summer (or even a year, I’d argue) to do it all. On the downside, this is an expensive place, and the minimum wage of $13.25, soon to be $14, reflects that. All of my sightseeing list is made of free events and entertainment. Last weekend, I cleaned up Theodore Roosevelt Island as a part of National Trails Day with Phi Beta Kappa. After picking up litter for around 3 hours, our group went to the Georgetown Waterfront to enjoy beer samples and shared nachos, courtesy of Dan, one of the main Phi Beta contacts. I may have been the youngest person there, not even done with undergrad, but I certainly felt welcome. Travis, who works in intelligence (!), gave me recommendations on the Smithsonian exhibits and educated me about the Teddy Roosevelt memorials we walked by.

So while D.C. can be an incredibly stressful place, there is enough compassion to ground you. 10 days post-arrival, here’s to a great Friday!

Fake It ‘Til You Make It

I’m incredibly grateful to Venn Strategies and all I learned there this summer!

Sitting at my desk on my last day at Venn

Finishing up my time as a CAPS Fellow has been a blur. I finished up my last day, packed up my apartment, and caught a 7am flight to Boston to meet my family. Now I’m back home in Wisconsin for a lengthy six days before blasting off to study abroad in Costa Rica for the semester. All that being said, time to reflect has been scarce. I’m still coming to terms with everything I learned throughout my CAPS experience but I’ve definitely seen myself grow as a person, both personally and in my career aspirations.

When I started at Venn, I knew I felt like I was in way over my head. I didn’t have a firm grip on what I was doing and at times I was drowning trying to learn everything at once. I felt incredibly unprepared about the work I was doing and thought everyone around me had it all together. After all, I was the intern and this was their actual job. I was turning in memos on topics I knew nothing about (ever heard of the Railway Securities Alliance? Neither had I until I started at Venn). I felt like a fraud—like at any moment my boss would come over and ask me what I was doing there. I adopted a sort of “fake it ‘til you make it’ attitude and it actually worked. After a few weeks I started to understand the rhythm of the company and started working on some projects I really enjoyed. I even made a work friend—something I thought only existed on sitcoms (Shout out to Nina—I miss our lunch break Sephora runs ☺). As I got more comfortable with my position my work also improved. I was able to step out of my comfort zone by participating in client meetings and offering feedback. My confidence grew and I felt more and more comfortable with the work I was doing and proud of the projects I finished.
Over the course of the summer I also learned a lot about the ins and outs of lobbying—it’s really not what it looks like on Scandal. It is more focused on building relationships and having ongoing conversations, finding people in government and showing them why they should care about the issue you are bringing forth. The work moves both extremely slow and extremely quickly. The bureaucracy of government means it can take years to get bills passed but client demands sometimes mean working around the clock to get results. Overall, lobbying is about making a difference. It’s about changing current policies to make them better for constituents and interest groups. I definitely came into the summer a little jaded about what the work would look like. Instead, I met clients passionate about policies that had a huge impact on themselves, their businesses, and their customers. The job of a lobbyist—or anyone working in policy really—is to make sure that people can have their voices heard.

That isn’t to say it all became easy—it isn’t. I didn’t always agree with the policies clients wanted change and I didn’t always agree with the means used to achieve it. When I started to get frustrated, I did my best to take a step back and focus on the larger vision of what I was doing. I was helping support a group that wanted to make their ideas and goals known to their elected officials. And that, I think, is pretty fulfilling.

The Summit of the Summer

700 fellows. 48 sub Saharan African countries. 3 days. 1 incredible experience. To say that the past two weeks working at IREX has been an adventure, would be an understatement. On July 29, all of the 2018 Mandela Washington Fellows from 27 institutes across the country descended onto downtown Washington DC for the annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit to close their fellowship experience.

Keynote speaker, Masai Ujiri, speaking at the Summit

This summer, my internship working with the YALI (Young African Leader Initiative) team involved pouring over spreadsheets, looking through passports and tax back forms, and running errands all over the city. While I learned tons from my co workers, especially with technical skills in excel and salesforce, I eagerly awaited getting to meet our fellows in person. Last Sunday, all of the YALI team packed our bags and moved into the Omni Shoreham Hotel, where the Summit was to take place. The days were long and tiring starting at 7 am everyday and not ending until the late evening. After welcoming the fellows Sunday afternoon into the night, we started Monday with the opening plenary followed by keynote speaker, Masai Ujiri, President of the NBA team, the Toronto Raptors. Masai is Nigerian and connected well with the fellows. He spoke of how the press often boast that he is the only African to ever reach the highest position in professional sports in North America. Masai saw this differently, he saw this as a place of improvement, because he should not be the only one. That theme kept on throughout the summit, that people under cut the value of Africa, and the importance of Pan Africanism and the potential for countries to work together.

Between ushering fellows through the maze of the old Omni hotel, I got to time keep and microphone run which allowed me to sit in on several sessions. The session that by far stuck out to me the most was the ignite talks. Select fellows were chosen to stand up in front of their peers and tell their stories. These fellows had overcome great struggles such as persecution from Albinism, being a refugee in a war torn country, becoming blind at a young age, and trying to raise a family in poverty. Here were people from all different countries that were only between the ages of 25 and 35 that had already lived through so much, but here they were in Washington DC, having the power to tell their stories.

After several other incredible sessions from a panel on empowering women to a congressional panel with Senator Chris Coons and other representatives, the final activity was the talent show, Wednesday night. This was my favorite part. Fellows dressed up in their traditional dress and preformed, ending in an all out dance party. It was a great way to end a jam packed three days.

Fellow YALI intern, Camille, and I in front of the #mymandelalegacy pledges

The theme for the Summit was “Living Mandela’s Legacy”, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. We asked that everyone make a pledge on their personal Mandela Legacy. For me, my Mandela Legacy is to take all I have learned this summer through the CAPS program and to continue to work to invest in people at Valpo and as I hopefully continue to work in international development for many years to come. One of Nelson Mandela’s most famous quotes is “It always seems impossible, until it is done.” And while my internship is nearly done, there is still so much to do.

Meeting People with Passion

Last summer at the end of my internship my coworker told me her favorite quote, “One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested”- E.M. Forster. But as a I packed 28 boxes filled with cell phones, insurance cards, and hundreds of papers, to be sent to universities across the country earlier this week, I could not help from thinking that maybe 40 interested people may actually be useful. In all seriousness though, that quote has really stuck with me over the past year as I traveled abroad to Namibia and now as I have begun my CAPS placement at IREX in Washington DC.

IREX is an international nonprofit that focuses on development. In the past I have worked with several very small NGOS, often with a local staff of 2-3 people. IREX though has a staff of over 400 world wide and 178 locally, so when I walked into the skyscraper in the heart of the DC business district, I knew this was going to be a very different experience than any others that I have had before. I immediately questioned how these people can be maximizing the work they do, but I quickly found that the larger the organization, the larger the possibilities for great impact.

IREX’s moto is “investing in people, inspiring change.” Over my time at Valpo, I have taken several classes that discuss the dangers of the white savior complex and unhelpful outside intervention. It is for this reason that instead of infringing on other countries, IREX finds local people with passion and invests in them so that their dreams can be achieved. This summer, I am working on the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders which is a program part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This program brings 700 African leaders (who were selected from over 40,000 applications) from every sub Saharan African country to the United States for a six-week program at some of the country’s top universities. Following this, they all convene in a summit in DC so that ideas and opportunities can be shared. Following the summit 100 of them are chosen to participate in a professional development experience (PDE) at local NGOs, businesses, and government offices all over the country. Clearly, planning and implementing requires an immense amount of logistics and coordination. It is my job to help specifically with PDEs and helping to plan the summit. So far, my team of 16 has been incredible and it is great to see how much each of them care about all the fellows, even though often it can get overwhelming.

IREX alumni Faten Ghriss and I after IREX’s 50 anniversary alumni panel

This week IREX is celebrating its 50-year anniversary and with that they had a large celebration and brought back several alumni of their programs. While a good part of my job involves sitting in front of a computer screen for most of the day, getting to listen to the panel of four alumni talk about what they had achieved because of the work of IREX was inspiring. The first guest was Mohammad Al Abdallah, Executive Director to the Syria Justice & Accountability Centre. Once a prisoner in Syria, he spoke out against the injustices of their government and IREX stepped in and helped him conceptualize his organization. Secondly there was Alice Sayo, Founder of Nasaruni Academy for Maasai Girls, Kenya, a school that empowers girls to stay in school and avoid being married off at a young age. The third Alumni was Aferdita Saracini Kelmendi the General Manager of RTV21 in Kosovo and Macedonia who spoke out against the government almost 20 years ago in favor of freedom of speech. Lastly there was the youngest panelist, Faten Ghriss, the Co-Founder of Young Tunisian Coders Academy, which empowers youth to work in the tech industry in Tunisia. These people each were all from widely different backgrounds, with very different struggles which just showed to me the scope and reach that one organization can have. Each one of these people was filled with passion for their cause and and just needed a little help to be agents of change.

While working takes up a majority of my time, I still have found time to explore the city, which has an overwhelming number of free events and someone waiting at every metro stop to talk politics. From attending the Pride parade to walking around Arlington cemetery on Memorial Day, to going to the congressional baseball game last night, I must say that the DC cohort (there are only two of us) has been crushing it.

Jesse, our roommate Katie, and I at the Pride Parade

While I am for sure still learning the ropes at both IREX and navigating the metro, I have already had such an incredible time here. I am beyond excited for the many adventures yet to come in the next two months as I continue to meet and work with people with passion, while I work to figure out a passion of my own.

LET’S GO CAPS

Caroline and I posing outside of an office cheering on the Caps!

C-A-P-S LET’S GO CAPS! This was the constant refrain around DC and outside Capital One Arena last Thursday night as fellow CAPS member Caroline and I watched the Capitals bring home the Stanley Cup. It was incredible to see the energy and watch the city come alive around the event. D.C. is an amazing city, vibrant and overflowing with political energy and I have really enjoyed my time here so far.

The cheering refrain was also a constant reminder of my CAPS internship and the reason I’m able to have these experiences this summer. I’m interning with Venn Strategies, a government relations and public affairs firm in the heart of Washington, D.C. I just finished up my third week and it has been a whirlwind. I am a part of two client teams based around tax and infrastructure, two things I knew very little about before arriving here. It’s been humbling to realize how many things I don’t know. At Valpo, I think of myself as a fairly intelligent and capable person and I really dislike asking for help. At Venn, I’m learning that being smart can mean asking for help, and that double checking to make sure I’m doing a project correctly means not looking bad if I finish it and it has been done wrong. My coworkers have been incredibly helpful and willing to teach me about things I’m still not sure of. I’ve really appreciated their patience as I learn the basics of writing policy memos for clients and over hearings on topics from railways to tax structure.

One of the best experiences I’ve had so far was participating in the Center for Reproductive Right’s State Summit. CRR is a client of Venn’s and I helped to organize the materials and prepare for the summit. The night before the event I attended a reception where I got to meet Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.) and several other important players in the reproductive rights field. The reception took place on the roof of the Newseum with a gorgeous view of the Capitol and surrounding area.

At the CRR reception on top of the Newseum

The next day I attended the summit as an assistant to my coworker managing the event. I got a firsthand look at everything that goes on behind the scenes to put on a large event (this summit was for 200 people!) I have a new respect for anyone who has ever stuffed folders or made name tags after seeing how much work it takes. When we had gotten everything under control, I was able to participate in the summit and listen to panels on maternal mortality and non-profit cooperation and alliances. CRR hosts this summit every year to empower state leaders in the reproductive justice movement. Their hard work is really inspiring and gave me a lot of hope for the future. Watching the news and looking at social media, sometimes the world seems like an incredibly negative place. However, as I watched these strong women encourage and support one another, I felt empowered and was reminded that I too am able to make a difference. It was a really interesting day and seeing it all come together helped me to understand the importance of the work that I’m doing here.

All together, I’m definitely achieving the goal I set for myself of understanding what lobbying looks like. While I had a general idea at the beginning of the summer, I was aware that I had probably watched too much Scandal to have an honest picture. My coworkers have showed me, through taking me to meetings and explaining goals and plans to me, how cooperation and honesty (not blackmail) can help make real policy changes happen for their clients. I’m having a blast here in D.C. so far, and can’t wait to see how much I learn and grow over the next seven weeks.

Home and the Yellow Man

I have never been a fan of change. Until college, I lived in the same house my entire life. I’ve gone to the same church since I was a toddler. I attended the same school from preschool to eighth grade. And my taste in food hasn’t changed since I was eight (corn dogs continue to be a staple in my diet).

My girls and me pretending we’re not crying.

So when I had to move (a whopping two hours away) to Valpo, you can probably imagine my feelings on the topic. You know that Yellow Man on Google Street-View Maps that you drag and drop to different places? Have you ever noticed how much that Yellow Man squirms when you move him? That’s how I felt about college. Squirmy.

Going to Valpo meant removing myself from a safely content life of friends and family and faith, and dropping into a Street View I didn’t recognize and didn’t particularly want to get to know. In that place in my heart hollowed of friends and comfort, fears began to fester. I thought these were fears of being disliked, of not finding a group or club or place where I felt comfortable to be myself, of not feeling free to figure out what kind of person I wanted to be.

But, like most things people fear, I was really just afraid of what I didn’t know. And once I stopped confining college inside that dark rigid space of the unknown, Valpo became home to me. I got to spend four beautiful years at Valpo, full of music and love and lifelong friends. Moreover, Valpo provided me with amazing opportunities that shaped me and allowed me to start paving a path of purpose for myself.

You might think I used this photo for my last blog, but it’s different, I promise. Stop judging me.

In some ways, I consider the CAPS program to be a final opportunity from Valpo, a last point in the right vocational direction. Here, I’ve been able to work in many different areas of marketing and communications. Under my supervisors’ leadership (read more about how great they are in my last blog), I’ve worked on social media, event planning, content writing, proofreading, campaign tracking and analysis, website updates, and template building. This internship has both shown me what it looks like to work in marketing and communications and has helped cultivate in me the skills needed to succeed in the field.

This summer, DC has become a kind of extension of Valpo, a temporary home, once again full of (jazz) music, (roommate) love, and lifelong friends. And once again, I feel like I’m dangling over a hazy future, waiting to be dropped right in. But this time, I feel much more at peace (much like the newly updated Yellow Man. At this point, I’m not sure how squirmy the Yellow Man used to be, but for the sake of the analogy, we’re running with it). Sure, I’m scared, but Valpo and DC and LSA have shown me the opportunities to be had from traveling outside my comfort zone. They have taught me to trust in God’s plan for my life, have helped me develop my sense of self and purpose, and have given me more beautiful places to call home. I don’t think I could have hoped for anything quite as good as that.

Who is (not) my Neighbor?

The Sunday of Independence Day weekend, I woke up bright and early to attend a worship service at a new church in my neighborhood. Previous weekends, you could find me at what I would consider to be a “popular church”- a well-attended, multi-satellite, free donuts before service kind of congregation located in a theater. You can picture it, can’t you? I’d chosen this welcoming community for the past weeks because I enjoyed the company of a friend who went there. The only inconvenience about this arrangement was that the church was located quite far from where we were living to the point where we had to take a train and walk a significant distance to get there. I had been wanting to support a local congregation for some time, so when my friend went out of town for the weekend I decided to do so then. I spotted a local United Methodist Church one night while roaming the area and had decided that this would be my place.

In the sanctuary singing, “Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you…”

Upon arrival, I quickly noticed that this too was a unique community. For one, it was located atop a gas station. Quaint, I thought. What left even more of an impression on me, however, was how eager the church was to extend hospitality to its guests. Walking up to the entrance that Google maps led me to believe existed (sigh), I was guided all along a street that eventually led right up to the door of the church by clear signs that anticipated my history of getting lost (“not all who wander are lost” anyone?). Once I entered, I was greeted by a nice woman who read me like a book. She asked, “You must be new! Are you visiting for the Summer? Perhaps for an internship?”. Coming from a church background where I often offered the hospitality, I was just as eager to be on the receiving end of such warmth in her welcome.

After getting situated in the sanctuary where there were predictably less people in-attendance due to the holiday weekend, I felt good about this decision. There was a different kind of comfort from that which I experienced at the familiar, contemporary-styled church I’d become used to. This comfort was a feeling of being where I needed to be at that moment.

The service began and a man stepped to the pulpit. He announced himself as the guest preacher for this weekend while the home-pastor was away on vacation. The title of the sermon flashed on the projector screen. It read, “Who is My Neighbor?”. I was curious how this message would be similar or different from previous ones I’ve heard in my PK (pastors kid) lifespan. I was not disappointed.

After setting the context of the Biblical narrative as told by Jesus in Luke 10, he changed the direction of the familiar question. He asked, ‘who is not your neighbor?’. Go ahead and read it again, I’ll wait. He explained that the depth of the question as posed to Jesus, who is my neighbor?, is often lost on us as we are quick to answer with a generic response like ‘everyone’. The answer we offer is often so encompassing that its effect is empty. By saying everyone, we actually mean no one because the intentionality and responsibility that should come with that response to who we should specifically be showing care and concern towards is lost. It is hard to admit, but if we are being honest we’ll realize that we do forget about people and sometimes those are the ones who need to be remembered most.

Continue reading →

Kick Back, Eat a Spongepop

Last week marked my halfway point with the CAPS program and Lutheran Services in America (LSA). My first month in DC has been, quite simply, a whirlwind. From jazz nights to weekend markets, from baseball games on warm nights to shady lunches by the Capitol, my time here has been moving at an uneven pace, creeping along at some moments but mostly leaping forward in bounds. It’s been exhausting and wonderful. But it wasn’t until this last weekend, when I spent some time away from DC, that I understood what has been making my summer here so special.

I spent my holiday weekend in Houston (a city where the Fourth isn’t so much unique and glamorous as it is a slightly bigger show of Texas’ daily patriotism), and as I told my boyfriend story after story about LSA and DC, I realized a truth that applies to most great experiences: the people I’ve come to know here are what have made my summer so meaningful.

And so, reflecting on my first month in DC, I thought I would talk about a few of those people who have so positively impacted my time here.

Izzat

One of the first things you realize as a recent college graduate in DC is that good food costs good money. Heck, even bad food is expensive. Goodbye, reasonable Midwestern prices.

Nura and I with delish Spongepops from Izzat’s cart.

So when the man who owns the hot dog cart outside your work sells good food for $4 and then gives it to you half off, you know you’ve made a friend. More important than cheap food though, Izzat has extended to Nura and me unbelievable kindness and friendship. He talks to us about his family, gives us free ice cream after someone (Nura) drops hers 2 minutes after buying it, and teaches us words in Arabic, his native language. In a city where everything is fast paced and everyone is tuning the world out with earbuds, people like Izzat who take the time to have real conversations are immense blessings.

My Bosses

At first, I was intimidated by the fact I’d be doing work for four different staff members in two departments. I could easily picture becoming inundated with work, trying to please everyone but not knowing how to prioritize my assignments.

Me with violets Tania got me. They’re dead now. RIP Myrtle

But while prioritizing work has been a challenge at times due to my own inexperience with working under multiple supervisors, everyone has been incredibly helpful and communicative. They understand when I’m struggling or have questions. They encourage me when I’m insecure about my performance and give me solid advice for future work. They are what every intern hopes her supervisors will be like, though most rarely have the time or interest in being so present and supportive. So, thank you Natalie, Tania, Liliana, and Caleb. You’ve helped me grow professionally (and physically, thanks to Natalie’s Alpine chocolate).

Bill Clinton

Okay, I had to include him. You would do the same thing if he ambled into the Eastern Market while you were picking peaches (all right, Nura was picking peaches. I was sitting on a curb waiting for Nura to be done picking peaches).

The most overshared photo I’ve ever been a part of.

It was a pleasure, Mr. President.

Katie & Kathryn

These two make up an integral part of my core friend group in DC. Though they’re both CAPS fellows (check out Kathryn’s blog), I hadn’t met them until this summer. And after a month with Kathryn and Katie, I don’t know how I got through 4 years at Valpo without knowing them.

They have taken me on all my favorite adventures here, including nighttime monument walks, cheese and wine parties in the backyards of bookstores, and a midday meet-up with our good friend Mr. Clinton.

Kathryn and I watching the Cubs beat the Nats.

Aside from being my fellow adventurers, they have been amazing friends. Kathryn keeps me grounded when I get dramatic about things like late trains and bad weather. Katie gets me out of bed when I want to spend the day watching Mad Men. Both are amazing cooks (also contributing to my physical growth). I’m constantly thankful for these two and their friendships that I know will last long past August.

Nura

The star of many of my stories, Nura is my roommate, fellow LSA intern, and Valpo student body president (shameless brag). Before coming to DC, I would tell people at Valpo about my internship, and when I would mention that Nura was my roommate, there was always a resounding, “She is so cool.” And over the past month, I’ve come to realize what an understatement that is.

As I’ve gotten to know Nura (check out her blog too), I’ve been waiting for some dip in her character, some flaw that would make her a little more human. And besides being clumsy with food, I’ve found nothing. She has a beautiful heart, a sharp mind, an ambitious and humble spirit, and a true compassion for others. She’s also hilarious, an avid 2000s R&B fan, and political nut (seriously, she’s like a walking Facebook for the Who’s Who of Capitol Hill).

Thank you, Nura, for being the quintessential example of how bad experiences can be made funny and how good experiences can be made phenomenal when you’re with the right people.

Katie, Nura, and I looking fly.

I can’t wait for what the second half of the summer holds.

The “Firsts” of Many

This week marks one month living and interning in our nation’s capitol. Each day begins with me walking wide-eyed up Capitol Hill as government buildings and monuments peep through the trees on my daily commute. I’m so grateful to be participating in such a fellowship where I live and work in intentional community.

CAPS Fellows Kathryn Fogleman and Katie Wilson

Being the first of my suite-mates to arrive in the city set in-motion a series of ‘firsts’; my first train ride, first wrong stop on the way home (not all Metro lines are created equal), first to realize our door can lock on its own (it’s not a loss if you learn?) and my first fire alarm scare (if it’s not right when you’re ready for bed, did it really happen?).

Running into Former President Bill Clinton at the Eastern Market while picking peaches (!!)

With those kind of experiences also came the first time I saw the view from our terrace at dusk, my first Metro card and ride paid for by a generous stranger, and being greeted by the kind man passing out newspapers each morning. It has not been overwhelming as much as it has been full. Full of small successes like locating the trash chute on our floor opposed to walking downstairs (we’re on the 10^th floor), stunning views (the Lincoln Memorial has to be seen at night), and surprises like no other (there are some very important people walking around DC).

Amidst this grand adventure of living and interning in a new city where I want to share with others the excitement that I’m feeling and document the moments I’m witnessing; our nation is also experiencing moments that require pause. In the past few weeks, my roommates and I could not help but stop while in the thick of our plans to discuss the news updates we’ve received of some of the worst accidents and acts of violence we’ve seen in recent history. Waking up to CNN News updates our iPhones, we’ve started our days receiving first word of events that rock us to our core. There are far too many incidents hitting us at once to brush them off as a loss like any other. This particular series of misfortune is turning into a season of grief that doesn’t allow time for healing before it strikes again. I’m glad to have my suite-mates to talk with and process these events together as we feel strongly about them. It is only natural to feel emotions of anger, horror, disgust; those feelings are warranted. However, I cannot help but feel that they are not an end in themselves; that we are not moved to merely feel, but moved to do. Our response to such news should be more than just reactions, they need to be actions.

Once such incidents have gotten our attention and we’ve been provoked by the devastating actions of others, we too must seek attention to shine light on the good that is being done around us.

If we stand for love, or justice, or hope, we should be as diligent as those opposed in seeking to represent these values in the world.

What I’ve experienced interning at LSA this past month has been a glimpse of such values in action. Lutheran Services

Visiting LSA member, Lutheran Social Services in Falls Church, Virginia for a day of service organized by former CAPS Fellow, Caleb Rollins

in America is an inspiring place to work because it is made up of people whose actions directly support those doing good work throughout the United States. As the Member Engagement and Advocacy Intern, I am learning how LSA seeks to best serve their members, and by extension, those most vulnerable in their communities. With over 300 organizations throughout the country, their presence as health and human service providers is wide-spread and far-reaching. Through advocacy, LSA takes stances on issues that matter to those they affect to promote and propel a voice for good in a place like DC where big decisions are being made. The people here truly care about the well being of others and nothing proves this more than their actions day in and out to create the change they wish to see in the lives of those they serve. Now that’s newsworthy.

There are many things in this world that we have no control over. What we can control are the actions we take and the impact they make. This first month has been a reminder to me that I should not hesitate to do good wherever I go. Good does not just have to be reactionary or in response to harm- it can also be proactive and purposeful. As I begin my second month with this wonderful community at LSA and in this city of opportunity, I will not forget to add among my plans to do good.

Institute for Leadership and Service Blog

Preparing students for lives of leadership and service.