Blog: The CHCI Experience

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.

Based on Monday’s training on Good Public Policy: Grassroots Organizing and Electoral Politics, what do you think the role of grassroots organizing is in the political process of this country?

The role of grassroots politics in our country was clearly visible in the past presidential election where President Barack Obama’s campaign was driven by grassroots efforts.  A lot of movements are being driven by grassroots organizing in today’s world.  The role of grassroots organizing in the political process is everything.   Things must be built up from the bottom.  Once there is a stable base then there is somewhere to build from.  With grassroots being the base there is now something to build off of and grow from. In public policy grassroots is where a lot of ideas start and grow from.

What was your first week like working on Capitol Hill?

During the first week of my congressional internship I learned many things about DC, about our political system, about the district of the Congressman I am working with, and, most importantly, about myself. Firstly, I exercised my ability to adapt quickly to a new environment as I was given responsibilities that were accompanied with new expectations. While I have prior experience working with various community organizations and professional offices, I’m glad to be able to observe the unique dynamics of an office that operates under a strictly regulated process (as hearings, briefings, meetings, votes, and other functions adhere to a schedule) and simultaneously takes in stride the hectic environment of an extremely busy institution. That is, what was most interesting to me was how Capitol Hill is an epicenter that houses some of the world’s most influential people and deals with pressing matters, yet is also a place where constituents and everyday citizens can engage with their representatives. The highlight of my first week was being able to attend briefings on the Hill. I especially enjoyed those that covered topics that I was not previously informed about.

Week 2 Blog

Looking back on my first week on the Hill makes me excited for what’s to come. What shocked me most was the willingness of people to help you learn. I had this fear that people would look down on interns. However, instead of looking down on them, people are ready to help build you up. People are very willing to share their experiences and tips when you tell them you are an intern. This week I went to my first reception where I ready got a chance to experience DC culture. Even there people have the same helpful mentality. During my first week, my leadership skills have also been very useful. During our trip to a ropes course, I was able to hone these skills just a little further. When someone is in a leadership position the most important skill is your ability to listen. As you gather more information the answers to problems begin to be found. A leader is a problem solver and can only accomplish their goals if they are willing to listen to the team around them.

Highlights Of My First Week

The first week of Capitol Hill was one of the most intimidating days since arriving in Washington, DC. Congress was not in session but the office was extremely busy. I was quickly trained on the first day and began answering phones and reading constituent letters. At first, I received small responsibilities but pretty soon I was receiving larger assignments. The highlight since the first day was meeting Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and learning how friendly the office truly is. I plan on attending more briefings and speaking to the staff on specific topics that interest me. I look forward to continuing to work hard and learning more about the legislative process.

What was your first week like working on Capitol hill?

I feel like my first week can be summed up in one word: educational. In just one week, I have learned so much about legislation and the work that goes on behind it. I was able to get a hands-on experience by going to a hearing which discussed the Recovery Act and how it has affected the education system. There were many jobs saved and other jobs which were created. Success! I also was able to further the learning process of the education committee by doing some research for the education Legislative Assistant in my office. I enjoy being able to help in any way possible to learn as much as I can through this great opportunity provided by CHCI. I also was able to go to the House Financial Services Committee hearing where Mr. Bernanke was questioned on the financial system. After this hearing, I was able to meet Congressman Barney Frank. The best thing about this hearing was  seeing information about it later in the media. I could then say, “I was there”. It was a very exciting and eventful week to say the least. But, not only did I learn in the office I was also able to learn out of the office through the ropes course that we went to this week. I learned that even though the other interns and I know each other on a personal level we really didn’t know each other on the professional level. We don’t get to work together in a business environment much, but getting to know each other on this level was a great success in my opinion.

What was your first week like working on Capitol Hill? Give highlights in your testimonial.

My first week on Capital Hill has been exciting and fruitful. Working in Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen office has definitely been an arduous task. I have been asked to write letters, compile data, and even use my Spanish to translate the needs of our Spanish speaking constituents. Although the days have been long and tiresome, I have learned a great deal about how Congress functions on behalf of their constituencies. My Congresswoman is a very inspiring woman. She is very dedicated to representing her district and pays very close attention to all the work her office sets forth. The Congresswoman is very busy person. She serves her constituents while balancing her leadership role in the Foreign Affairs committee. Although she is a busy woman, she always takes time to personally get to know everyone she encounters. She is very affable and really takes care of her interns. I have only been on the Hill for two weeks and my Congresswoman has already introduced me to some inspiring people. My highlight of my first week on the Hill has to be getting to meet the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen took all of her interns to a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing and arranged a photo opportunity with the Secretary. It was such a great experience and I am very thankful to Congresswoman. Hopefully, I will continue to learn my way around the office and gain more professional skills and experience. If the first week is any indication of what is to come, then I should be in for a great experience.

Week two

Initially, I had trouble adjusting to the lifestyle and pace of Capitol Hill. At first, it was little intimidating to see everyone running around in such a frenzy. However, after I became acclimated to the D.C. lifestyle I quickly began accepting more tasks and challenges that my office gave me. From running errands to attending hearings and briefings, I can truly say that my first week on Capitol Hill was a great learning experience. Although I have only learned a miniscule amount about what it means to work on the hill, I feel as though I have learned volumes about politics, the legislative process, and how Capitol Hill operates on a day to day basis. I have had numerous highlights in my first week on the hill. From my first congressional reception, to my daily interactions with my congressman, I can not highlight a single instance that has trumped others. Using the ropes course as a catalyst, I feel I learned about leadership skills in the context of teamwork. Although I have participated in numerous ropes courses in the past, this one provided me with valuable leadership tools. I learned that to become a good leader, you need to be a great listener. I found the activity where we were required to work in pairs in order to draw a picture to be the most effective activity of the day.

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.

What did you learn about leadership and team work in your ropes course?

The line between failure and success is so fine that often a single extra effort is all that is needed to bring victory out of defeat. One of the things I learned from the ropes course about leadership was that at times a leader must make the hard decisions that no one else is willing to make. Emotions are very powerful and sometimes it is in the best interest of the team to step back from emotions in order to be able to make the wisest choices. I learned that excellence is not an act but a habit. A coach of mine once told me to “practice like you play every time” and the ropes course reiterated this point. I learned every individual has there own unique set of skills and success comes when we apply our individual skills towards a common goal. A good leader should put the needs of others before there own individual desires and a good leader inspires others with confidence.