Our Fellowships in DC

Blanca Davila | UT Brownsville
Internship: Achieving The Dream
Summer highlights: Living with a group of students that are passionate and courageous. I learned so much from them (every day). The Make Progress Summit (Amazing!), public policy class with Dr. Arbuckle and Dr. Swerdlow, The White House tour, Capitol night tour, Pentagon tour, presentations on education and immigration (two of my top interests), Jazz in the Garden, Smithsonian museums, all of our morning breakfasts (<3), kayaking on the Potomac, visiting the Capitol at random times of the day and night, and every time I ate Chipotle.
My favorite day/experience was: There were so many! I have to say it was having a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education and discussing educational and workforce opportunities for youth at risk in Brownsville, Texas.
I was so excited I was able to meet: Former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and founder of The Archer Center Bill Archer, CEO and President of Achieving the Dream William E. Trueheart, CEO and President of Excelencia in Education Sarita Brown, former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, Senior US Senator Elizabeth Warren, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Mayor of Ithaca, New York Svante Myrick, Secretary of the Department of Education Arne Duncan, Secretary of the Department of Labor Thomas Perez, and many other Senators/Congress people/leaders.
One thing I learned/best piece of advice: When women succeed, America succeeds! #makeprogress
My summer experience in four pictures:

 

 


Tharani Devi Krishnakumar | UT Arlington 
Internship: Greenpeace
Summer Highlights: Living with fellow Archers, Enlightening sessions with Dr. Swerdlow & Dr. Arbuckle, Capitol tour, Pentagon tour, White House tour, chance to sit in the Vice President's desk, published a research blog in Greenpeace website, Senate hearings, visit to museums, biking, hiking, New York trip, Ethiopian food,  first time subway ride in US. first time piggy back ride (thanks to Raye), first time roller coaster ride (thanks to Benedicta), first time independence day celebrations in USA, my birthday celebrations (thanks to everyone), first time in Washington D.C (thanks to the Archer Center)

My favorite day/experience was: The day when I stepped into United Nations Development Programme's office for a meeting with the director of the UNDP Representation Office, Mr. William K. Davis in Washington to discuss my career options in UN. It was like a dream coming true!

I was so excited I was able to meet: Congressman Archer, Sally Katzen, United Nation Staffs, Greenpeace interim Executive Director Mike Clark, Greenpeace Executive Director Annie Leonard, many Senators/ Congressmen/ Congresswomen, White House staff, dynamic leaders and passionate people. 

One thing I learned/best piece of advice: Learning: There is honor, pride and satisfaction in serving the society. Throughout the summer, many leaders encouraged us to do public service. I am proud to be a social worker and an environmentalist.

Advice: Come with an open mind. Make use of every opportunity that come along your way and venture out in search of others. Plan your trips, meetings, conferences and events in advance. Make use of the time fruitfully. Finally, enjoy to the max! 

My summer experience in four pictures:

 

Sara Polk | UT El Paso 
Internship: The Office of Congressman Beto O'Rourke (TX-16, El Paso)
Summer highlights: Being able to walk by the "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" signs throughout the Capitol Building; getting to attend the National Association of Social Workers national conference; getting to listen to my Story Corps. interview in the Library of Congress; going to the Congressional Baseball Game; and getting to be at the Supreme Court for the Hobby Lobby decision and having a photo of me from the protest show up in the National Journal.
My favorite day/experience was: The Make Progress Summit. The inspiration that comes from being in such a large group of energetic, like-minded individuals is infectious!
I was so excited I was able to meet: The man, the legend, Stephen Colbert;  fellow social workers from around the country at the NASW national conference; the workers and other interns in the TX-16 office; and my fellow Archers, some of the most interesting and dynamic individuals I have ever met in my life.
One thing I learned/best piece of advice: "Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
My summer experience in four pictures:

Amy Wieczorek | UT Houston
Internship: Health Communications Intern at National Women's Health Network

Summer highlights: being at the Supreme Court on Hobby Lobby decision day, the Make Progress Summit, public policy class with Dr. Arbuckle and Dr. Swerdlow, Capitol night tour, White House tour, Jazz on the Green, Smithsonian museums, "family time" in the kitchen, trying all the different kinds of milkshakes in town, kayaking on the Potomac, midnight walks to the Capitol.

My favorite day/experience was: Advocates for Youth "Advocacy Day" when I was trained on how to advocate for policy on the Hill, met with Representatives, and was successfully able to convince them to be a co-sponsor of bill S.372 Real Education for Healthy Youth Act

I was so excited I was able to meet: President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and many other Senators/Congress people/leaders

One thing I learned or best piece of advice/quote: "In order to be successful you need good ideas, good leadership, good approaches, good policies, and good actions. You need to have vertical ideas, horizontal vision, spiral approach, and a global concern." USAID worker at the CSIS "50 years of Global Health" event
My summer experience in four pictures: