Limer Batista: Blogs

Walmart Shadowing Day

The shadowing day at Walmart was very effective because it provided us with a first-hand experience of the lobbying industry. The staff was very welcoming in letting us be part of their day. Working closely with my mentor at Walmart, my perception about the company changed, I could understand that their culture is committed to the betterment of our society. My mentor gave me great advice on having a strategy to achieve my goals. Working on the Hill and being part of the shadowing day at Walmart has made my experience in Washington remarkable, and it has made evident the intertwined relationship between the government, advocacy groups and the corporate world.

Easter Recess on the Hill

Being in the Washington, DC area I thought it would be hard to get away from the right wing, left wing, or tea-bag politics that characterizes a work day on the Hill, but I found it incredibly entertaining to see how the city comes to life with its promising cultural events. There is no better formula to re-energize than to explore something new and then take a time for yourself. During Easter recess, I enjoyed my time at the Tidal Basin with the flowering Cherry Blossoms, long walks by the Potomac River and DC’s thriving Eastern Market. These new experiences made my recess really valuable and I’m eager to see what the next weeks will bring for me.

Healthcare Reform

Health insurance reform has been a dream for many Americans for almost a century. On Sunday March 21, 2010, the House of Representatives ended a year long debate by passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with a vote of 219-212. Being at the gallery the moments in which the debate was going on and when they proceeded to vote was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. I noticed how confident each side of the chamber was during the arguments and the voting because they remained patient and quiet, until the yays reached 215 and the Democrats cheerfully yelled “one more vote.” Feeling the energy that invaded the room, I felt the excitement and wanted to be part of it. Contrary to the joy at the other end of the room, the conservative side stood aghast to the historic moment they were witnessing. The anger in their words turned the floor into what I called a “high school classroom.” The yelling going back and forth was something I never expected, but it represented the discontent of some members of Congress. While I was enjoying the moment, I couldn’t help thinking of the many people who will finally be protected under this new law. Although our country is still divided in approval of the reform, I think that once more detailed information is made public; people will be able to understand what encompasses this legislation. The skepticism about this reform stems from the fear of uncertainty that many people have because they don’t have access to accurate information from the government, and I agree on their concerns because people are not used to having a trustworthy relationship with the government. This is the administration’s opportunity to change that by ensuring that the accurate information is available for all people.

If I were the director of the census

Every 10 years the census attempts to paint a picture of the United States. If I were the director of the census I would devise a form that could yield more information about the American people. I would keep the current form, but would enhance it with questions about the literacy level, occupation and a set of questions about the community that will allow policy makers to target the issues that are affecting that area. Additionally, questions that let the people rate the services provided by the public sector in that community such as safety, education, maintenance and health services. I feel that given the security provided by the framework of the census, these questions will provide accurate information about a community, its members, and the access to the resources that pertain them. This information will facilitate the development of programs at the state level and will guarantee that the allocation of money is going to the right people.

Most exciting/challenging moment

The most challenging moment working at Senator Stabenow’s office was managing the requests of the different staffers. I found myself doing four projects and the deadlines only made the work more stressful. With patience and dedication I was able to finish, and at the end of the week, I was proud to receive excellent feedback from my peers. As far as the most exciting moment in my internship, I think every day is exciting on Capitol Hill, whether you attend briefings or help at the front desk, there is always something that will spark your day. Since I have to pick a moment, I will go for the hearing I attended on the Department of Energy’s budget. Present at the hearing were the Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu and Senators Murray, Dorgan, Landrieu, Alexander, Bennett and Tester. It was very interesting to be in the same room with that many influential people.

Grassroots organizers

Grassroots organizers in America are responsible for stirring change in our community.  They understand the needs of the people and they work to bring the people together around those needs.  Community organizers teach people how to work with their own resources and they make sure the community can voice their concerns effectively so they can have their needs satisfied.  In other words, community organizers are vital to the American political process because they unite and motivate the people to demand power.

First week on Capitol Hill

My first week on Capitol Hill was definitely something I will always remember. During my first day at my placement, I was sent out on a scavenger hunt of the Capitol building by myself. They gave me a list of 20 places I had to go and to bring proof that I had been there. I managed to tour the Capitol building, the House office buildings and the Senate office buildings in three hours. It was intimidating, but I have to admit that completing the task was fun and I’m glad I did it because now I know my way around. In addition to my “solo tour” I can say that another highlight of my first week was receiving a record number of constituents calling to support an issue and by the end of the week the senator responded to the needs that she was being asked for. That really made my first week memorable because it was like a front row ticket to the democratic process. The ropes course was very effective at putting us in unrealistic situations that brought out the best in us. The part in which we were blindfolded and had to identify different objects was something I thought we were not going to do. In this activity we were able to listen to each other and by that we became better leaders and better followers. I believe that is the most important trait a leader can posses: to know when to lead and when to follow.

Importance of Latino leaders

After going through orientation week at CHCI, I’ve come to understand how significant the work of Latino leaders is in contributing to the development of other Latinos and furthermore of our country.  Being the fastest growing minority, we have the task to educate other people about the issues that affect our communities and the best ways to approach it.  This will be our major challenge in terms of leadership, to be effective translators of the needs of our community and to ensure those needs are answered.