The Great Debate

Living only a few blocks away from the Capitol Building makes for a short trip to see some of the most important congressional action in years. This past Friday night July 29th, after we finished with our seminar for the day I decided to make the short walk down the block to see the great debate on the debt ceiling, live in person. It was before six, so I stopped into the Senate office building across the street to grab a gallery pass. I made it over just in time to see the House pass the plan presented by John Boehner. I watched as many Republicans walked around the floor shaking hands and giving each other congratulatory nods. I also saw many House Democrats quickly leave the floor, clearly unhappy with the result. I stayed for another twenty minutes in order to watch any further debate. There were two representatives from Ohio that took the floor to give their one minute speeches. Then a Democrat from California was given the floor for the next sixty minutes. I stayed around to hear the main parts of his argument and then left to go check on the Senate.

I sat down in the Senate gallery to see only a hand full of Senators on the floor. Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were affixed in the middle of the room in deep conversation with their allies. I sat and watched for several minutes and contemplated leaving when all of a sudden Senators started coming through the doors. Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio, who had been on the floor the entire time I was there had gathered a small crew of Democrats around him and they were in feverish debate. Senator Feinstein had another group of Dems surrounding her talking back and forth. A very tall John Kerry came striding through the west doors. He seemed to have a presence about him and oddly enough he immediately started speaking to Republican senators. Most of the encounters included one senator coming up to another senator and grabbing them by the back of their upper arm then shaking hands. It was really odd how many times I saw this. It was almost ritualistic.

Finally, after hearing the role call two or three times the Senate was called to order and Senator Reid brought up the newest business. He was calling for a vote to table the recently passed bill from the House of Representatives. It was clear that this argument was split down party lines. After Reid made his arguments he yielded to Senator McConnell who argued about the validity of the bill to no avail. Finally, the arguments came to a close and the votes were tallied. The bill was to be tabled, meaning the Democrats had won with a simple majority. Immediately Senators began filing out while several stayed behind to discuss the possibilities for the next few days with their colleagues.

While my Friday was probably not what many would consider the most exciting it was definitely a really neat experience. I was able to see the proceedings of our Congress and see how the legislative process works first hand. It was really neat even though there was no resolution. The great debate continues.

JF

Gallaudet University

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to grab lunch with my mentor at a really cool, modern restaurant in Midtown. It was also a little ironic in some ways because my mentor has very close ties with Gallaudet University as a CODA (child of deaf adult(s)) and I was scheduled to accompany a delegation from Japan there for my internship the same day.

First of all, I had no idea that Gallaudet was a university specifically for the deaf--it was only something I heard mentioned in passing. I was pretty excited to go see what it would be like and see the delegates interact with students and staff. One of the delegates was particularly interested to go because she has deaf family members and in Japan there are not as many opportunities for the disabled to lead normal lives and contribute to society--I didn't realize it was the opposite in the US, but it truly is I learned.

While the round table was interesting (I learned every country has its own standard sign language--makes sense!), the tour of the campus was my favorite part of the day at Gallaudet. We had one of the students give the tour and a sign language translator accompany us. He was so animated and excited to meet the delegates and hear about the deaf culture in Japan! I particularly liked the story of a well-loved statue on campus of the first deaf student and teacher.

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet lived in Connecticut and when he passed his neighbor's house, he always saw a lonesome little girl playing in the yard while the other children played on the street and in the field. He became curious about Alice Cogswell and approached her one day. He put his top hat on the ground and wrote H-A-T by it three times, each time erasing the letters in the dirt and writing them again with his cane. He erased it a final time and then handed the cane to Alice. She wrote back, H-A-T. This is when Gallaudet realized that Alice was mentally capable and only lacked the means to communicate. He approached Alice's very wealthy father with a plan: to go to England and learn the techniques of their school for the deaf and bring them back to teach Alice. Dr. Cogswell agreed, but Gallaudet found that the English method for teaching the deaf was orally based (which he found counter-intuitive) and the school refused to share their methods with him. So, he went on to Paris where he discovered the French teaching deaf students how to sign. Striking a bargain with a professor at the French school, the professor taught him how to sign, while Gallaudet taught the professor English. The end result took 5 years and was translated from French, but well worth it. Upon seeing Alice, he taught her immediately how to sign her name, the significance of which she immediately understood.

The statue is beautiful, depicting Gallaudet teaching Alice the letter "A" in American Sign Language. It was a moving experience to be at Gallaudet, learn about the journey of deaf education, and interact with deaf peers. One thing that the Dean said at the round table, that the battle is not to teach the deaf how to interact with the world, but it is to convince the world that the deaf can interact with the world, really affected me. After visiting Gallaudet, I realize they had educated me and opened my eyes to a reality where "disabled" is only a technical label and not a representative adjective.

KMB

Family and Museums

I was finally able to go see various exhibitions this past weekend. I walked through The Museum of American History, the National Gallery, and the Newseum. This was due to my family visiting and making me go out and explore in this heat.

I loved walking through the dresses of the numerous first ladies. Looking at the fashions that have occurred throughout the years. The shape and material of the dresses vary greatly. The accessories have also changed. Their shoes were smaller and looked tighter than the more recent shoes. Jewelry and personal belongings were more detailed and elaborate. But most significant to me was being so close to something that belonged to such important women like Eleanor Roosevelt.

Visiting the National Art Gallery was important because my parents were on a mission. They had gone to Italy and seen a collection of statues and the last one my parents had to see, the Capitoline Venus, was on loan to the National Art Gallery. This is the first time the Capitoline Venus has been on loan. My family and I also saw the only Leornado da Vinci painting in the United States, Ginevra de’ Benci. It was awe-inspiring to see this portrait. I have never seen a work of art of his until now.

Finally, we also spent a significant amount of time at the Newseum. Going from level to level, many exhibitions shocked me. One was the exhibition that holds various books that have historical value: Common Sense, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, and the Gutenberg’s Bible. Another exhibition is that of 9/11. Being in 5^th grade when the event occurred, watching the video they have on display emotionally reminded me of the truly historic event. The last exhibition was the Pulitzer Prize photos. Many of them moved me so much. Especially that featured above. It is saddening to see how children are starving to death. The picture above shows a Sudanese child. The United Nations has currently proclaimed that Somalia is in a state of hunger.

CFC

First Day With The Kids

I am lucky enough to work in at a non-profit that provides pre-k education and childcare to homeless children. I was getting very frustrated these last few weeks as I had gone to the other side of DC for a physical and a eventful trip to the courthouse to get my background check only to be told that I would be able to volunteer for 1 day in one of the classrooms. *blank face*

LUCKILY, after politely reminding my boss that I have a whole four weeks left and that since I mostly work from home, I would loooove to have more than just a day with the kids. Thank goodness it worked out and this week was my first time being with the kids. From 9 - 5 on Wednesday, I was a classroom assistant for a class filled with little four year olds eager to play outside and hop around the room. It had been a while since I had worked with children that young, but it is easily one of my best experiences of the summer.

I was a little nervous that the kids wouldn't really warm up to me that quickly but after a total of one minute in the room, one of the little girls told me her name and led me to the "reading corner" so I could read a book to her. The entire day was spent going over words and sounds, singing songs, and being the go-to person for tag. :)

It was the best time being able to actually spend time with the children and help them develop their own skills. More than half of the class will be leaving the program to go to kindergarten in a few weeks, so I felt a little tinge of sadness knowing they will be going into kindergarten, in both great and not-so-great elementary schools. I think I have a greater sense of urgency to respond to education reform because I am working with a group of children whose educational opportunities are shaped by their zip code.

Fortunately, I will be able to volunteer as many days as I want for the rest of my time here and I plan to be in classroom #6 on a regular basis!

- JT

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

After researching law schools day in and day out, I found an event called "Women in International Law Networking Breakfast." It seemed like it was screaming my name, so I did what every Glenn Fellow with enhanced networking skills might do, and I asked a charismatic lawyer from my organization if he knew any of the women on the panel. Ding-ding-ding! He knew two of the five! I was half surprised and half unfazed because he seems to know EVERYONE. Being the nice guy that he is, he e-mailed the two women to let them know I would be attending, and gave me a glowing recommendation which was touching since I know he's very busy.

On my way to the breakfast, I was preparing myself to meet Yale Law after Harvard Law after Stanford Law graduate, but it was a pleasantly surprising mix. There were, of course, the obligatory Ivies, but everyone had a different and interesting story. I was most struck by the passion that the women on the panel expressed for their jobs. How often does someone truly love their job?

One of the women had volunteered in Mauritania leading gender and development work through the Peace Corps. After this, she attended NYU Law and now works at Physicians for Human Rights. Her story was especially inspiring to me because of how bold she was. Before accepting her offer with the Peace Corps, she was also accepted into law school for that year. After days of feeling up in the air, she let her gut lead her into a meaningful two years of bettering women's lives in Mauritania.

This story hit home for me because I've actually gone through the entire Peace Corps application and am a few finger prints away from being able to serve (if I am brave enough). I've gone back and forth a lot wondering if it would stunt my career growth potential, but the women on the panel all seemed to encourage risk-taking, and as Mr. Aronowitz said, "taking the winding path over the straight path." My only concern, then, would be the differing views people have of the Peace Corps, but that's "a whole 'nother can of worms."

Overall, the women reiterated the importance of risk-taking, necessity of learning languages, and how critical it is to be passionate about one's work. This panel was brilliant, inspiring, and so cognitively diverse that it may very well be the highlight of my D.C. experience thus far.

Thanks for reading, friends.

SHF

Politico Presents: Jobs of the Future

A couple days ago I went to a forum on job creation at the W Hotel near the White House. It was organized by the Politico and featured three panels. Here are my notes.

The first panel was with Don Graves, President Obama’s Executive Director for the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. He was first asked about the high unemployment situation and what can be done with unwanted employees. He mentioned selling confidence in the market will lead to job creation. He then emphasized the Better Buildings Initiative, which would reduce energy, provide constructional training and provide more incentive for investment. Training would encompass those in school, as well as the unemployed. He provided an example of the 10,000 engineer project because there are jobs in that field; however, many are unqualified for them. In terms of a time frame of effectiveness, Graves said the training programs would be for the long term and that in the present, faster programs and more on the job training are needed. The Job Council’s focus is now and its strategy is for increased foreign direct investment and insourcing. Graves closed by stressing the need to help small businesses by allowing them to go public and acquire more opportunities.

The Second Panel included: Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Representative Mike Mulvaney (R-SC) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX). The question of compromising was addressed to the Congressmen and why there is such trouble in achieving it. Shaheen said the goal is clear but the difficult question is the “how.” There was consensus that each side needs to give in order for agreement to be reached; however, there was differences in regards to what the most important issue was. Representative Brady maintained that the most important issue now, is a potential credit downgrade and loss of confidence. Senator Casey believes the most important issue to the public is job creation and dealing with the high unemployment rates. Brady then argued that dealing with the debt issue would aid in creating jobs and moving along the economy.

The Congressmen were then asked for specific actions they would take in aiding job creation. Senator Casey said that we should be tougher with China on their currency and establish greater incentives and rewards for hiring firms. Senator Shaheen had the idea of an infrastructure bank, and Representative Mulvaney said we need to establish a balanced budget, as well as have less government spending because when that is the case, historically businesses spend more.

Finally, the Congressmen spoke about closing corporate tax loopholes. They mentioned that it is not as easy as it would seem. This is because of the opposition from both sides and also, because some are very beneficial, such as tax breaks for owning large amounts of capital which creates more jobs.

The last panel featured policy experts Glenn Hubbard, Dean of Columbia Business School and Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Hubbard was critical of the administration, saying the sole blame cannot be put on them; however, their unsustainable fiscal patterns have made the current situation worse. Bernstein was less critical, and both agreed that we need more aggressive investment strategies. Bernstein mentioned we are missing the risk taking or “animal spirit” in this economy. Both also agreed that startup barriers need to be removed because they can give a struggling economy such as ours a huge boost.

DR

2 Talks, 2 Parties, 2 Views

Dozens of talks and debates are hosted across the city on a weekly basis. Two of the talks I have attend were on a similar topic, but dealt with it in very different ways. Both talks discussed voting and voting turnout numbers in the United States. The first talk claimed voter turnout figures were far too low and saw voting as a civic duty. The second talk claimed that there are in fact far too many people vote in the Untied States and saw voting as one of many ways to satisfy civic duty.

Ralph Nadar’s nonprofit organization hosted “Debating Taboos: Mandatory Voting: Patriotic or Unpatriotic,” the first talk. Norman Ornstein argued that mandatory voting laws would be patriotic, and Fred Smith argued the negative. For almost two hours the two men went back and forth, discussing mandatory voting laws across the globe with an emphasis on Australia. In the end, I found Ornstein’s arguments more eloquent, but Smith’s arguments rang truer to me. However both debaters took for granted the fact that an increase in voter turnout would be a good thing.

The CATO Institute, a libertarian organization, hosted the second talk, which was a discussion about a recently published book titled The Ethics of Voting. The author introduced his book and elaborated on some of the points made in his book. The book argues that it is perfectly fine for a person to not vote and that in many instances it is in fact the moral thing to do. The author used common sense to attack commonsense to establish his conclusions and attack the basic and accepted premise of the first talk.

In a city where politics consumes the lives of most of its citizens, it was interesting to hear to very different points of view on voting.

KMS

Where it all Happens

Today I was fortunate enough to experience a truly passionate moment in Washington politics. Anyone who is interested can go and get passes from their Senators that allow them to sit in on sessions of the House and Senate. No one ever knows for sure what exactly will be occurring during the moments they are observing Congress, but I never would have expected today's events. Some of the other Glenn fellows and I were sitting in the Senate guest balcony, when Senator John Kerry walked onto the floor. Senator Kerry then proceeded to give an impassioned speech about the Cut, Cap, Balance Amendment to the US Constitution that has been dominating national news for the past few days. Senator Kerry is avidly against the proposed amendment, and clearly laid out what he viewed as the amendment's failings. The Glenn fellows and I were quite excited to watch this former presidential candidate debate an issue that is so prominent in today's news.

However, Senator Kerry was only the beginning of our fascinating foray into the workings of the Senate. As Senator Kerry spoke, Majority Leader Harry Reid walked into the room and stood at his desk, clearly waiting to speak. Senator Kerry yielded some time to Senator Reid, who then proceeded to display a level of passion that cannot be properly conveyed through a television screen. Senator Reid spoke softly, yet sternly. He bluntly declared that the legislation to which Senator Kerry had been referring was perhaps the worst piece of legislation ever to come before the Senate. He claimed that the legislation was shoddily thrown together, and that it was a purely political move. Senator Reid then exclaimed that he refused to waste anyone’s time by forcing them to debate such a law until Saturday. We will vote this amendment down tomorrow, the Senator proclaimed. Then, just as suddenly as he had appeared, Senator Reid left the floor. Senator Kerry chuckled a bit, and then said that he clearly did not even need to finish his speech.

Completely unbeknownst to us, we had walked into a game-changing moment in the proposed amendment’s life. I cannot explain how incredible it was to watch political leaders I had seen on TV for years discussing issues about which I had been hearing for months. CSPAN really just cannot properly convey the mood! If you leave DC without having sat in on sessions of the House and Senate, you have not truly experienced Washington DC.

RC

Newseum and National Geographic Museum

As you may have guessed by the title, this weekend I went and saw the Newseum and the National Geographic Museum. Neither is among the museums or places to visit when you first hear about DC, but these under the radar sites are definitely worth a trip.

The Newseum is close to the mall and the Capitol, right along Pennsylvania Ave. It is pricey, more than $20; however, the ticket is valid for two days. There is a lot to see so you can certainly get your money’s worth. In the basement, or concourse level as they call it, there is part of the Berlin Wall. You are allowed to touch it and it is very cool to get to touch such an important piece of history. Also on the concourse are the pictures of the year. Words can’t really do them justice, so that is a must see if you go. On the ground floor, there is a theatre which shows a short 4D movie about different ways the news was told throughout history. Level 2 is mostly geared towards interactive family activities. Level 3 has a cool map that shows levels of freedom of the press in every country and it also has a section about TV and radio news. Other highlights are a 9/11 gallery with front page newspapers from all over the country and world and a reconstruction of the late Tim Russert’s office right before he died. You can also go on a terrace on the top floor and get a great view of the Capitol and Washington Monument.

The National Geographic Museum is far away compared to most other museums. It costs under $10 which is not bad and it has a few very cool exhibits. The main exhibit is about the race to the South Pole between the British and the Norwegians. The whole exhibit walks through the journey from each captain’s childhood to the actual voyage. The comparison is side by side so you can compare each team’s progress at the same time. There is also a cool exhibit with artifacts from the early Italian civilization, the Etruscans. If you enjoy the magazine, then the museum is definitely something you would enjoy as well.

DR

Federal Reserve

Our policy salon tonight about the Federal Reserve and consumer protection ties in somewhat with what I have been doing recently for my internship at the German Marshall Fund. Last week I went to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's semiannual monetary policy report to congress. I went for my internship because as part of the Congressional Relations team at GMF, the happenings on the Hill are very applicable to what we do.

Unfortunately standing in line for 45 minutes wasn't enough to get me into the room for the hearing, so after the chairman walked down the hall I left and watched the hearing on my computer. Not as exciting as it would have been to be there, but I got all the information which is the important stuff. Here are some of the highlights of what was said.

Bernanke said the Fed was open to more security purchases if necessary. Asked what another round of security purchases would do, Bernanke said they would ease financial conditions and lower interest rates but that they might not be needed or effective. Also, he said it is important to keep the door open for all options. He also highlighted that a government default would harm the economy and make conditions even worse. He said that our treasuries are the benchmark and that our credit rating is an important asset to the world and loss of confidence would pose serious financial danger.

The talk gave a lot more interesting information about the current economic situation and potential solutions. You can watch a full recap at http://banking.senate.gov/public/

DR

Hands down, my favorite part of our Friday class is hearing about where all of my friends and classmates are working. Every week, three fellows are selected to speak for ten minutes about the mission, office culture, and organizational structure of their organization. It's amazing how different our experiences are and fascinating to hear about the inner workings of famous nonprofits, congressional offices, and federal agencies.

For last Friday's class, I had the pleasure of getting up on my soapbox and giving a presentation on my summer internship at the National College Access Network. Simply put, the field of college access focuses on making sure that more qualified students have a greater chance of attending and graduating from college. My organization aims to strengthen local programs and statewide networks by providing its members with services such as grants, consulting, seminars, advocacy work, as well as a few others.

I have been working in the field of college access since getting involved with an OSU student organization a few years ago, and so I was quite lucky to discover the opportunity at NCAN. I'm not the only one of my classmates who is an absolutely perfect match for the organization they're interning for this summer. Believing wholeheartedly in the mission of an organization makes it much easier to hop out of bed in the morning, ready to work. Thanks to this experience, I now know that I'll need to work in a high-impact, mission-driven organization after I graduate. There's certainly plenty of work to be done.

Part of my presentation emphasized that college access issues are highly relevant through the budget and debt limit discussions. Pell Grants, the historically well-protected dollars that go directly to low-income students for college, are now up for huge cuts. The impact could be detrimental for students who count on Pell dollars to pay the bills.

Please check out these links for opportunities to get involved in the fight to save pell or the field of college access more generally:

The National College Access Network

The "Save Pell" initiative

The Education Trust's Letter Writing Campaign

Teach For America

I Know I Can (Columbus-based access program)

Also, don't hesitate to email me with any questions - redd.33@osu.edu.

Steven

Meeting the Best

I think it is fair to say that since we've arrived in DC we have heard ten million times the same phrase: it's not WHAT you know, but WHO you know. Any city provides interns and newcomers the chance to meet professionals in their field, but DC is a whole other story. It is a major city yet has a small-town vibe where news travels fast and social circles seem increasingly small. With such a culture, it is a great place for student interns to meet with professionals in their field of interest. I know that I want to pursue a career in education policy and DC has proven to be an amazing opportunity to interact with numerous policymakers, aides, and educators who are trying to end the education inequity in our country.

Yesterday, I was able to meet with Tasha Patusky, a legislative aide for Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. A few weeks ago, I attended an education referendum where Sen. Landrieu gave an awesome speech on the importance of education reform. I knew that it would be a long shot but I contacted her office to schedule a possible meeting. Sen. Landrieu's schedule is booked( after all she is on the appropriations committee!) but I was directed to her aide. The referral turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I had way too many things in common with Tasha. She majored in history and a romance language ( like me!), worked for Teach For America ( like I am now!), and received her masters in policy( like I want to!). Basically, it was a match made in education heaven!

As I walked down the Dirken hallway to Sen. Landrieu's office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of honor and awe. Here I am, a normal college student meeting with an accomplished aide to one of the most powerful women on the Hill. Luckily, the office secretaries eased my nervousness with their Southern hospitality( how could you expect anything less from a Louisiana staff).

My coffee meeting with Tasha was just what I needed to remind me of why I want to work in education. Tasha says she still carries a great love for teaching and that being on the Hill has allowed her to help education inequity in a different way. What I loved the most about our conversation is that Tasha was incredibly hopeful and optimistic about education. I know it might now sound like a big deal, but I've heard many negative things about my career aspirations since being in DC. There are many people who either don't care about the education inequity because their children aren't the losers in the situation or who believe it is a lost cause to try to fix this problem. It is really upsetting to hear such things because there are millions of children, more often low income and students of color, who are not receiving the education that they deserve. However, instead of being supportive and encouraging, I have heard some bruising comments regarding education reform. That's why Tasha's passion and optimism for education was so refreshing to hear and her words of encouragement gave me a lot of relief.

I left our meeting feeling that not only did I make the right career choice, but that this city gives students like myself amazing opportunities to meet others who are passionate and successful in their job fields. A simple coffee meeting has given me a new supporter, affirmed interest in education, and another reason to love DC!

- JT

Guanxi in DC

Mantras of DC: Networking, "it's all about who you know," work hard and get noticed, and find that perfect reference for grad/law school.

Guanxi is different, and in my humble opinion, it's better. While I realize we are not encouraged to simply meet someone and then take advantage of our new connection, networking feels a bit that way. I would prefer to take Chinese culture's route and foster meaningful relationships that are mutually beneficial, and maintain them unceasingly. Building relationships is an art form that should be nourished and strengthened with attention and care, and those who practice guanxi can appreciate this art.

When Mr. Channell told us the story about China revoking the 20 year lease for McDonald's on Tiananmen Square after 2 years, as an American, I was shocked. We cannot so easily breach a contract without facing serious legal consequences. Their reasoning, however, was their well-established rapport with a Chinese organization that wanted to set up shop on McDonald's location; rather, their guanxi. They had a moral obligation to maintain their relationship because of guanxi, a deeper, more complex and meaningful form of networking. I want to model my networking in this way; building meaningful relationships and not solely focusing on "getting ahead" in my career. On the contrary, it is plausible that building guanxi will be more useful to advancing my career as well as strengthening my personal relationships since everyone likes to be appreciated and engage in reciprocal relationships.

After meeting my mentor last night, I started reflecting on the purpose of our relationship and how I can offer her a fraction of what she can offer me. This is, however, a tough obstacle to tackle considering her level of education and experience versus mine. I'll have to continue pondering this one, but by the end of the quarter, I'm sure we will have built some guanxi.

SHF

Pink is for Planned Parenthood, not Victoria's Secret

If you were on Capitol Hill last Thursday, chances are you saw mobs of young people swarming the Hill in pink t-shirts. This wasn’t just another 8th grade field trip; this was Planned Parenthood’s annual Lobby Day, in conjunction with our Organizing and Policy Summit and Youth Organizing and Policy Conferences.

The majority of my internship so far has been, along with the rest of the office, preparing for the waves of Planned Parenthood employees and activists’ descent on Washington. We planned them a conference, organized a Lobby Day, facilitated break-out sessions, covered everything in pink, and networked, networked, networked! A group of OSU students from our campus PP group were also here for the conference, and it was nice to see some familiar faces in the throng.

As part of my appointment onto the Young Leaders Advisory Council for this upcoming year, I got the chance to meet other young leaders from across the country who are also diehard advocates for reproductive justice (EXCITING RIGHT?! For me, this was like Hanukkah). I’ll be working closely with them through the end of next summer to help the big decision makers at Planned Parenthood keep young people in mind when deciding the future of the organization. Hearing their stories and successes has been an inspiration, as they’re all truly remarkable people.

Even though the conference is over, there is still work to be done. Every day more states take the step towards defunding or shutting the lights off to an organization I’ve thrown my hat and name in with. As the summer begins winding down, I feel lucky to be one of the folks who will get to take their work with them beyond DC. I can’t wait to get back to campus to start applying all that I’ve learned so far. Now that I know how the DC office operates, I know what they want to see out in the field, and I’m really looking forward to giving them a reason to keep good old Ohio in mind every time they talk about successes on the ground.

Sorry to those who might get sick of hearing me only talk about work, but this is a very time-consuming job and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Below are some links about the conference (from an affiliate, scroll down to read about what the conference actually is) and to my student group’s Facebook page if you’re interested in joining us on campus! Lastly, as always, please let me know if you have any questions related to what I do (that includes health or health center/services questions!). I’m here to be a resource!

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/local-press-releases/planned-parenthood-federation-america-selects-20-connecticut-young-leaders-attend-national-orga-37274.htm

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/VOX-Voices-For-Planned-Parenthood-OSU/117888558222143

LZ

A Change of Mind

I have, like other college students, thought about what to do after college. I have considered many options: grad school, a nonprofit job, a federal job, or the Peace Corps. Walking through the arch of the Peace Corps section of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival got me thinking about the option I had put aside in the middle of last year. Background information: I had attended an information session on the Peace Corps. During the presentation I kept on asking myself if I had it in me to pursue such a task. Allowing an institution to decide my life for 24 months, two years, is a huge decision. As I listened to their video presentation, I kept on wondering if I could adapt and live in the environments that are so different from what I am used to. On top of that, be away from my family and friends fro that large period of time. It would be a challenge, even if I have moved multiple times before college.

Back to the Festival. There were many different posts to explore. I began by walking to my left, where there was a makeshift structure of boards and chicken wire filled with plastic bottles and plastic bags. I read the description of this station and I was shocked, in a good way. This Peace Corps volunteer saw two problems when she arrived in Guatemala. One, there was a shortage of schools for the community’s children and, two; there was an abundance of trash. So, the project she took on during her stay was to find a solution, which she did. She found a way to make a structure by recycling the trash economically. By filling plastic bottles with three pounds of trash, it replaced the more expensive cement blocks used to make the foundations of a school. The structure is just as sturdy as cement blocks against earthquakes! This woman changed the education opportunities for the community around her. That project and those schools are in a way, her legacy. I was inspired.

I also met so many interesting people and I truly enjoyed myself speaking to a vivacious man from Mali in French as well as a simply creative man from Peru in Spanish and a knowledgeable woman from Togo.

That’s when it struck me. I want this experience from the Peace Corps. I want to take this challenge. As Mr. Aronowitz said, you should always challenge yourself. I always have and I do not want to stop now.

Cockpits and Space Food

Although I know little about space and airplanes, nor am I a huge sci-fi buff, I definitely thought that visiting the Air and Space Smithsonian was a pretty cool experience--out of this world (ha, too much?). If you are a diehard space fanatic, you’ll love this museum, hands down, for obvious reasons. Don’t forget to go to the museum gift shop for a plethora of Star Wars merch, freeze-dried space food that lasts forever (I ate a hard and crunchy ice cream sandwich… it was kind of weird but tasty nonetheless), and lots of pseudo-space gear.

John Glenn would be proud that I got to see exhibitions on the history of NASA’s explorations, human spaceflight, pioneers and milestones of flight, commercial aviation, the Wright Brothers, and etc. Seeing colossal planes, shuttles, rockets, and missiles—all of which had a huge impact on the history of the United States and countries around the world, such as Germany and the Soviet Union—a few feet away from me was truly astonishing. I have never felt so tiny.

My favorite parts of the trip were seeing the WWII airplanes, going into the cockpit of an airplane, and seeing The Eagle (lunar module) from Apollo 11, the spaceflight that first landed humans onto the moon. That’s me in the picture above, standing right in front of it. (Not sure if it’s the real thing or a replica, but I dig it either way.)

Overall, the museums are definitely my favorite part of Washington, D.C. The things you get to see in Smithsonians are guaranteed to be interesting and are borderline surreal at times. I want to go to more before these 9 weeks are up! For more information on the Air and Space Museum, check this out: http://www.nasm.si.edu/

-B.C.

Thinking with my stomach

I really just can't help myself, my stomach tells me where to go, what TV to watch, what to look forward to as a study break, etc. It's a very good thing that I'm a runner and 98% of the time very health conscious, because sometimes, like tonight, I just can't help it.

Earlier during the work week, some of the younger women at my office took me to a gelato parlor that was by all means not very good. However, it had been a rougher day and a so-so week so the sugar/chocolate combo did the trick. I realized at that point that even though I've had gelato before and am mostly Italian, I really didn't know what gelato is. The girls at my office explained the difference between gelato and ice cream is the milkfat content (gelato is about 5-8% and ice cream in the US has to be 10% but can be as much as 18%!) and the churning process is different--basically you get a leaner product in terms of milkfat and less air incorporated in the mixture with gelato. My coworkers then told me that the best place in DC to get gelato is a local chain called Pitango and that it just so happened that a store had opened down by Eastern Market.

So, tonight when I needed a break from reading I was able to satisfy my sweet tooth and justify an adventure to Eastern Market as an excuse to blog--a win-win in my book! My friend and I went to the parlor and each tried the pistachio and another flavor; chocolate with chocolate chip for me and stracciatella for him (vanilla with chocolate chips). It was delicious! After some online research and placard reading at the store, I was pleased to hear that Pitango is 100% organic and only purchases ingredients from local, sustainable farms from Pennsylvania. Interestingly, it only has locations in DC, Baltimore, and Reston, VA., poor Pennsylvania.

It was a fantastic study break with some walking, chatting, and gelato made in DC with attention to authenticity and thoughtfulness about responsible production.

KMB

Howard U

A couple of days ago I took the dreaded test that can make or break my grad school future: The GRE. Even though I first experienced the worst test ever last month, the same anxiety and apprehension approached on test day. I could spend multiple blog posts explaining how standardized tests like the GRE are ridiculous but I don't have that kind of time or patience:) Luckily, I was able to take the test on a college campus that has always been an interest of mine: Howard University.

Howard U is a historically black university that is regarded in the African-American community as one of the best HBCUS( historical black colleges and universities) in the country. During my own college search, I seriously considered applying to Howard based on its recognition in the community and strong academic programs. Although I did not apply to Howard, it has always held my interest. From its historical buildings to the famous homecoming traditions, Howard tends to captivate people regardless of their university affiliation.

Although the financial troubles and graduation rates of HBCUs have been well-documented over the last few years, I believe that they are a cultural and historical reminder of a time where HBCUs were the only places African Americans could receive a college education. Today, they continue to produce Rhodes Scholars, politicians, actors, musicians, and authors who continue to add to both the African American and American pop culture. Despite not attending an HBCU myself( I bleed Scarlet and Gray) I have so much respect and pride for the HBCUS. Plus, Howard made the GRE a little less stressful with their amazingly comfortable chairs! :)

JT

Coffee House Adventures

Around The Congressional there are a number of coffee houses that we have been frequenting. All of the coffee houses have free wifi and outdoor seating. The three that I frequent most often are EbenezerS Coffee House, Starbucks (they are literally every where), and Pound the HIll.

EbenezerS is straight down 2nd Ave. They sit right on the corner and have patio with seating that wraps around the building. It is a nice place and closer than either Starbucks or Pound, but not my favorite.

Starbucks is in the opposite direction on Pennsylvania. It is two stories tall and when you sit on the top floor you get a fantastic view of the street. There is almost always a book club, a writers circle, or just a group of friends congregating on the second floor chatting.

Finally is my favorite of the three: Pound the Hill. In addition to being a coffee house, Pound serves lunch and dinner, and has a variety of every changing pastries. Sadly, it is the farthest walk of the three, but definitely worth the walk. Their outdoor seating is in the back of the building in the shade. It was out back that Katie and I had a little coffee house adventure.

A woman sitting at a table nearby suddenly exclaimed, “You’re paper’s on fire!” Katie and I started to frantically look around for the fire and our gazes landed on the table of the elderly woman sitting a table away. The table’s citronella candle had set her news paper that had been lying on the table on fire. As we identified the source of the fire, the original woman ran over and threw the paper on the ground and attempted to smother the flames with her flip flops. Katie and I realized she could not smother the flames of the paper as quickly as they were spreading to the other parts of the paper. Quick as a flash, Katie sprang into action.

She grabbed the watering can that had been left out and dumped its contents onto the spreading flames. In a moment the fire was out the crisis was over.

Coffee houses are great places to read, relax, and work. And apparently a great place for a little adventure.

KMS

A Weekly Ritual

Every weekend I head over to the Eastern Market to pick up an assortment of fruit, veggies, bread, and meat for the week. The Eastern Market is both an open air market and an indoor permanent market in the south east quadrant less than a mile from the US Capitol building. The open air market is part flea market, part arts fair, and part farmers market. The permanent market is in warehouse style building with a lot of stands and is open every day. There is a delightful little bakery at one end of the building that has everything you could want: cupcakes, garlic bread, sourdough, baguettes and more. At the other end of the building is the cafe where so many people line up on Saturday to eat the famous blueberry pancakes for brunch.

Every weekend a group of local farms comes to the open air area of the market to sell whatever their farms have in season. For fruit this means that peaches and nectarines are everywhere, most people sell a variety of berries, but almost no one sells apples. For vegetables this means almost anything you want can be found. My favorite stand is run by a little old woman. She sells bags of assorted vegetables for $4 apiece. One of those bags provide me with a salad that lasts a week.

Along with the farmers come the artists who sell their wares which range from beautiful earrings to colorful glass plates to paintings of the district. Amid these stalls are the crepe man, the pretzel stand, the homemade pickle stand, and the mini donut booth.

Heading down to the market every weekend is one of the high lights of my week. There are always interesting people to meet, and there is always delicious fresh food to buy.

KMS

Transatlantic Week 2011

In case you did not know, it is Transatlantic Week in Washington. This goes hand in hand with my internship at the German Marshall Fund because their entire purpose is to facilitate cooperation with Europe on global and Transatlantic issues.

Today, one of my bosses and I attended a round table session at the capital about Transatlantic financial convergence. There were some very notable people there: Congressman Darrell Issa from California; Peter Skinner, a member of the European Parliament for the labor party; Laura Lane, who is the Managing Director and Head of International Government Affairs at Citi; and Erick Holt, a member of the General Counsel at Allianz Global Investors.

The talk focused on financial convergence in dealing with the crises on both sides of the Atlantic. Erick Holt began the talk and spoke mostly of slowing regulation and striving for increased, targeted coordination. He emphasized that narrowing the focus was important. Laura Lane spoke next and she talked about how it is a goal to increase trade and investment, but there are rules blocking it. She called for the need for consistent and converging rules. Congressman Issa went next and brought up two questions our leaders need to ask themselves in regards to the crisis: Will it happen again? And what do we do to change it? His main points were that it seems like we are heading towards too many “too big to fail” companies, which could to ours and other governments being “too big to fail.” He also advocated for data transparency and interoperable financial databases so that the answers will be available if this situation ever arises again. Peter Skinner went last and primarily touched on these issues.

I’ll be on the Hill a lot this week for Transatlantic Week, so I’ll have some more updates soon, probably from Ben Bernanke’s talk at the Senate Banking Committee meeting.

DR

A Power Lunch in DC

This week, I went to what is known as "the oldest, most historic saloon in D.C" or the Old Ebbitt Grill. Not only was this an amazing experience because it is a restaurant that is rich with history, but also because I had the other two interns at the US Office of Postsecondary Education, as well as two high ranking officials, in my company.

The Old Ebbitt Grille was founded in 1856 by William B. Ebbitt. According to legend, the Ebbitt boarding house and saloon were frequented by such guests as Presidents McKinley, Grant, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt and Harding. As the years passed, the saloon frequently switched locations until it moved to its current location of 675 15th St NW, which sits in close proximity to the White House. Due to this location, the restaurant is frequented by tourists and White House staff alike. Although the food was expensive, it was delicious! I had a spinach and salmon salad.

My company during the lunch was also great! I was joined by my two fellow interns, Allison, a public policy student from Duke, and Gardiner, a public policy student from Dartmouth, as well as Leonard Haynes, a fellow Buckeye and Department of Education Senior Staff member. Together we discussed current political issues, as well as the rich political history of Washington. Leonard also asked us for suggestions on how to improve the Department, office environment, and internships. It was an exciting opportunity to have my voice heard and I felt like my opinion actually mattered within the Department. Overall it was a great power lunch in DC!

Until next time,

C.C.

Next to Normal

This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to see Next to Normal, a musical that was showing at the Kennedy Center.

The musical in and of itself was fantastic. I was repeatedly astounded at the sheer beauty in each of the actor/actresses voices. They could sing.. and they could sing incredibly well. But not only that, they were singing and dancing, and forced to stay in character, while exerting so much energy yet they not only looked great while they did it, they sounded great too. People that can do such things are extremely talented and far too often overlooked. Anyway, the musical was about a dysfunctional family and their trying to survive, to stick together, while dealing with some difficult issues. I definitely laughed, yet I also wanted to cry, and overall, it was very touching. Not to mention, I was able to sit in about the 5th row thanks to a friend of mine receiving free tickets from his boss. Not a bad way to enjoy your first musical production in the Kennedy Center.

Speaking of the Kennedy Center.. what a SIGHT! Oh my goodness, that place is beautiful. BUT what makes it truly astonishing is the "patio" portion. The Kennedy Center sits on the Potomac River and when you look out onto the river, not only is it gorgeous (especially on a warm summer night) but you're able to look out and see Virgina just right across the water from you. Standing outside, with the warm weather and the beautiful night sky, I couldn't help but feel like I was a bit out of my league. 21 years old, sitting in the 5th row at the Kennedy Center, dolled up in my nice black dress (so glad I decided to pack one at the last minute!), part of me wondered if this was actually happening. But it was, and it's just one of the many things DC has to offer. How I could go from spending time in DuPont Circle with friends, to traveling home to my apartment next to the Capitol building, to then heading to the Kennedy Center is beyond me. There are so many places here that are so different, yet each special in its own way. Needless to say, it's rather difficult to get bored. In fact, it's nearly impossible. Each weekend I get to explore the city I fall more in love with it. I'm looking forward to continuing to go on new adventures. This weekend I plan on going to Jazz on the Garden and I'm looking forward to blogging all about it. Until then.. adios!

-AEO

"Aint no party like a funk brother party, because a funk brother party don't stop"

Over 4th of July weekend, I attended the Smithsonian Folk Festival on the Mall, and I can honestly say it was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. There was food (South Asian, West African, Colombian, and BBQ), music (FUNK BROTHERS, Swamp Dog) and dancing (various types of native dancing from Colombian to Ukrainian and everything in between) I had such an amazing time in the Rhythm and Blues Motor City tent, where I heard the Funk Brothers and Swamp Dog. The Funk Brothers performed and I cannot describe the amount of joy I felt in listening to them. (The title of this blog post was apart of one of their main songs) They are a very talented group and they brought together a crowd that was absolutely amazing. You had people of all ages, the elderly to toddlers, all together clapping, singing, dancing and shouting. You had white, black, Asian, Indian, and people of all types of other ethnic backgrounds enjoying funk/Motown music (which happens to be my favorite genre) By far one of the greatest parts of DC is the people, and the folk festival was a perfect illustration. Oh and even better, KIM WESTON (a Motown great) was there and performed as well. One of the great aspects of the 4th of July is the way that people come together to celebrate our nation's independence. I appreciate the patriotism that we all show during at least the 3 days leading up to the actual day itself. But even better, is when you get to spend time observing the interactions of hundreds of strangers all banded together because of one commonality. To some it may not make sense, but watching people singing and dancing together, strangers who before that moment had no idea the other existed, was to me a perfect picture of what celebrating our independence is all about. People, strangers, coming together and sharing in the joy of the simple fact that we... are a free people. Free to sing, free to dance, free to laugh, clap and shout. It's all too easy to forget that these freedoms aren't enjoyed by everyone. It's far too easy to forget that there are countries entangled in strife, countries where people hate their neighbor be it because of a difference in religion, skin tone, etc. Disunity surrounds us, and I think it's important to celebrate the fact that in America, though not always, at least during the 4th of July, we are able to celebrate unity.

When you come to DC, everyone will tell you the same thing. "There's so much to do" or "There's always something going on" or "The city is just so go, go, go" All of these things are true, but as a person who sometimes needs to stop, focus and observe, I can honestly say DC has many opportunities for you to do that as well. And though this festival was buzzing and full of people, it was also a place where, when you stopped for a moment and just observed, you saw the beauty of it; the diversity, the excitement. So I recommend for any that take a tour of this place, go to a festival, a show, anything, and take a minute to just observe what you see around you. I'm pretty sure it'll leave you amazed.

-AEO

The Other Side of D.C.

Living in the historic neighborhood of Capitol Hill, it is very easy to adapt to the scenery: gorgeous townhouses, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress. All symbols of power, history, and meaning that all Americans recognize with pride. Being around such awe-inspiring landmarks, I realized that the area is very much a part of the D.C. bubble that can almost make you forget that there is more to the city than these few blocks of priceless real estate.

My internship at Bright Beginnings, Inc introduced me to the side of D.C. that seems so far removed from our government surroundings. Taking the Metro only one stop away from Union Station, I work in a neighborhood that doesn't reflect the same power and affluence that is present along the Hill. As I walk the 10-minute journey to my site, I walk past the signs of typical gentrification( new office space, brand new condos) and approach housing projects in need of renovations. Even at my internship, I feel conflicted to know that I'm able to leave and return to a fully-furnished apartment, while some of the children we serve will return to the homeless shelter that they call a temporary home. I think it is very easy to believe that in D.C., there is a a greater chance of prosperity and resources since it is the nation's capital. However, my internship has taught me that the city is home to many disenfranchised, struggling residents whose voices aren't expressed in those high-powered meetings just a couple miles away.

Luckily, I work in an awesome place that tries to eradicate such injustice. Bright Beginnings is a non-profit organization that provides free childcare for homeless children and social services for their parents in order to help them get back on their feet. Last week, my organization had their annual event called Parent Auction, which rewards active parents by allowing them to take their pick on brand new items such as gift cards, baby products, and the always helpful George Forman Grill! I was a "personal shopper" for the parents and helped them organize their points and choose which items they wanted most. It was such a great experience to help reward parents that are doing their very best to become self-sufficient and provide a better life for their children. Despite glaring inequalities that can be seen in any city throughout the country, I'm proud to be a part of an organization that is trying to eradicate the issue.

JT

A Daily Dose of Inspiration

After eyeing the building that sits immediately diagonal to the Congressional Apartment building for several weeks, I finally managed to visit the Sewall-Belmont House this past Saturday. This historic house has been the headquarters for the National Woman's Party since 1929. The NWP was founded by Alice Paul and many other women suffragists in 1917. Alice and her comrades were considered extremists by the majority within the suffrage movement, but their actions were key to finally getting the 19th Amendment passed and they are the founding mothers of peaceful civil disobedience demonstrations here in the U.S. While I will admit that almost all of my knowledge of Alice Paul and her activist sisters comes from the HBO film Iron Jawed Angels, one of the staff members of the museum assured me that the movie is 100% accurate, minus a minor romance side story.

With my knowledge of the historical facts affirmed, I then proceeded through the museum. I got to see the sashes women wore during their marches and the banners that they held chastising the president as they picketed in front of the White House. There were also many photographs of angry men yelling at these women who boldly stood their ground and were subsequently carted off to jail for demanding their basic rights as American citizens. As an activist myself, it is truly inspiring to to hear the stories and see items from such an important campaign and to learn from these powerful women who really made a difference.

After my daily dose of inspiration, I headed off to Georgetown with a couple of other Glenn Fellows to shop and see the sights. We discovered just how wonderful, and cheap!, the DC Circulator is, which dropped us off right in the heart of Georgetown. After walking around the main drag of shopping there, we stopped for an afternoon snack, which in Georgetown everyone knows cupcakes to be the best choice to fill your tummy. I didn't quite have the patience to wait in line for Georgetown Cupcakes, so we "settled" for Sprinkles. I devoured my blueberry cupcake with lemon frosting and still slightly regret not getting a box of four. A few hours later we met up with more Glenn Fellows and ate a delicious dinner in Chinatown.

And so the weekend came to a close and it was once again time to get back to work. But even the fact that neither my apartment nor office currently have A/C didn't bring me down because I have one daily occurrence that is a constant and simple source of joy for me: waking up every morning and walking past the Supreme Court and the Capitol Building on my way to work. Being in the midst of so much history and such powerful and symbolic institutions is quite humbling and at the same time inspiring for me to continue to work for the public good. Passing by these two buildings on the way to and from work will never cease to give me a feeling of awe and a little daily dose of inspiration.

~CRP

Sweating, Exploring, and Interning in DC

Channeling my love of traveling, I shushed my nerves, quieted my disgust for expensive cabs, and hung out at Starbucks until I could pick up my WISH keys. After getting settled into my apartment, I realized that the other interns would be starting their jobs, and I would still be in the application process. Roommate-less, I became a total recluse for most of the first week and watched season after season of Dexter. Best show ever.

After finalizing my internship, I still had a week before starting, so I got a jump on my exploring. A full year of not seeing my lovely best friend from Baltimore had gone by, so we reunited in Georgetown. Boy-oh-boy did I get a taste of DC’s swamp-like climate that day. We enjoyed a delicious Indian lunch, and then strolled the charming streets of Georgetown. Being a college town, it was refreshingly reminiscent of OSU. We climbed the “exorcist steps,” which were the actual steps that the priest fell down in The Exorcist. Fun fact.

The school is absolutely gorgeous; I’m definitely going to consider it for grad or law school. There are old buildings covered in ivy, fountains, flowers, and a creepy graveyard, which make for an interesting juxtaposition of past, present; living, and deceased.

After a week of relaxing and enjoying DC without worrying about work or school, it was back to reality when I had to start my job and write a paper. My organization, Citizens for Global Solutions, is an amazing place. It’s ten dedicated staff members and six wide-eyed interns crammed into a tiny, teal townhouse. As I explained in my internship presentation, the office culture is truly one of a kind. Dress code is lax; we can wear jeans and a T-shirt if we so choose. We had a cookout within the first couple weeks of my internship, where we played volleyball and all levels of the staff hierarchy shared laughs over beer and hamburgers (vegetables on a bun, in my case).

The best office culture story, however, is when the Outreach Director, Anu, hosted the CEO and me in her office for a quick meeting. We walked in and she was blasting “All the Single Ladies” by Beyoncé. I assumed she would turn it down to have a formal conversation with the head of the organization, but Beyoncé sang her heart out while we discussed serious outreach strategies, CEO seemingly unfazed by the situation. Classic.

Stay tuned for more adventures, chaps!

Fries

Ford'sTheatre and Spy Museum

Today my friend and I went to Ford’s Theatre and the International Spy Museum. Ford’s Theatre was great and we got in free; although, I believe sometimes you have to pay. It was eerily awesome walking around in the historical landmark where President Lincoln was shot. The exhibit included items such as: the derringer pistol that John Wilkes Booth used in the assassination and the clothes Lincoln wore that night. There is also a lot of information on Booth and his co-conspirators, which I found interesting because I did not know much about them. Apparently Booth was a very highly regarded stage actor at the time. Following the exhibit, you sit in the theatre and listen to a 15 minute presentation which was very informative.

The International Spy Museum was alright. It seemed geared more towards children and it was pricey, almost $20. However, it also had some very cool exhibits and showed how espionage has had a massive impact throughout history. One thing I found amazing was that before D-Day, Britain created an army of inflatable tanks and one of their double agents gave the location and information to the Germans as a diversion. There are tons more cool examples of stuff like that, so overall I would recommend both places.

-DR

Harry Potter and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

This past Saturday, on the lawn between the Capitol and the Mall, the Dalai Lama gave a public talk on world peace. His Holiness was introduced by Whoopi Goldberg and featured performances by his monks, several Tibetan dancers and the singer Skylar Grey. While the original plan was to wake up at 6:00 and be out the door by 6:30 for good seats, only Carmen made it by 7:30. I rolled out of bed around 9:00 and was there for the beginning, but very much in the back of the crowd.

However, I still got to see everything! Overall, the heat was approaching unbearable, and there was little shade to be found. But, whatever organization was responsible for the event made sure to have lots of free water available to the crowd, which I thought was a nice touch. As the Dalai Lama began his speech/stream-of-consciousness talk, I found the sound system to be a little lacking, which was unfortunate. While I myself have never seen an interview with him on TV or online, I’d always heard that he has a very characteristic voice and that his laugh is quite entertaining. I would agree wholeheartedly with those statements; if you haven’t heard him speak before, definitely check it out.

As I got restless and determined to find shade, I began walking the perimeter of the event. People watching was a particular pleasure. There were monks everywhere, people meditating in the grass, small children asking their mothers where the “llama” was, panting dog after panting dog, and lots of people wearing traditional clothing of their (mostly Asiatic) cultures. I circled around the closed off area and walked down by the street, where I was about 20 yards away from His Holiness and I could see the back of the stage and the entire crowd listening intently. It was quite a sight.

Another interesting thing I noticed was something that probably wouldn’t have happened if His Holiness hadn’t given his speech this particular weekend. I observed a lot of people carrying around Harry Potter books. A lot people, adults and younger attendees alike. I like seeing people read in general (as weird as that may seem; but I’m an avid reader) but I loved seeing so many people who had clearly camped out for this international icon porting around another. It was an odd connection to see in the midst of the sweltering DC heat.

In case you were wondering, I made my way to the Botanic Garden where I found some relief, although the “Jungle” exhibit inside wasn’t much of a difference temperature-wise. They did have some comfy chairs though, which was much appreciated.

LZ

Social Change Is Messy

Today I had lunch with the President of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solomonese. While it wasn't a one-on-one lunch, myself and the other HRC interns truly enjoyed our opportunity to talk to the man on top. He casually spoke about his conversations with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Besides being an impressive individual based on the company he keeps, he is also very insightful and an excellent communicator. He spoke a great deal about the history of the Human Rights Campaign and his experiences in politics and the professional world.

During one part of the discussion with Joe he spoke about the art of social change. He told us, "Social change is messy." I found this statement to be interesting and well-timed. During our class we have been discussing the idea that government, politics, and public policy cannot be broken down into a science. Charles Lindblom's idea of "muddling through" is the approach that is actually used everyday by civil servants here in D.C. and across the country. Public policy is best handled by dealing with each issue as it comes and avoiding the trap of being too comprehensive.

When Solomonese told us that, "Social change is messy," he was speaking about the fact that there are so many groups out there advocating for the same cause that actually crossing the finish line or creating the desired policy change is usually not a peaceful process. Solomonese used an example from the Civil Rights Movement. He said when all of the leading civil rights activists were invited into the White House to witness the signing of the Civil Rights Act none of them would speak to each other. They were all working for the same goal, but everyone had a different opinion on how to get there.

During my time in Washington, D.C. it has become pretty apparent to me that most everything is a bit of a mess. Riding the Metro is never perfect. Sometimes it's on time, sometimes it's late, sometimes the escalator works, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes your car breaks down, and sometimes you're ten minutes early. Congress thought they were going to be on vacation this week. Politics are a little messy.

There is not much in the world of public policy that can measured to the exact decimal. Not everything can be predicted.

This experience is helping me understand that being a public servant is about more than muddling through. It is about working together to make sense of something that is quite simply, a mess.

JF

Can't get much more American than baseball on 4th of July Weekend!

The grind of a regular work week takes a little while to get used to. Working at my internship 8:30 to 5:00, commuting back to the apartment, making dinner, and cracking the books for class can take quite a toll on a guy. This schedule is exactly why I'm passed out no later than 11 o'clock Monday-Thursday. As such, it's vitally important that I have an absolute blast on the weekends.

To wind down after a tough week of work, a few of the gentlemen of the WAIP program headed down to Nationals park for a night of baseball and male bonding on Friday. As a lifelong supporter of the Cleveland Indians, I can relate to the struggles of the Nationals fan base. Terrible year in and year out, the Nationals struggle to finish even close to a .500 winning percentage. That being said, it was a great crowd this past Friday for an evening game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even more, we were treated to a pretty exciting finish. The game ended 2-1 Nats in the bottom of the ninth inning on a walk-off single

For a college student, a night at the ball game is actually quite inexpensive (assuming you stay away from the concessions stand). By showing my BuckID, I can purchase tickets in the upper deck for five bucks a pop. Even if you don't have a rooting interest in the outcome of the game, it's still a great atmosphere to socialize and relax.

After the game, one of my favorite phenomena took place on our walk back to the metro. Joe was wearing his Buckeye Nuthouse shirt and several strangers shouted out "O-H!" or "Go Bucks!" The presence of the Buckeye community is definitely strong in the nation's capitol. I always say that the community of fans and alumni is one of the best parts of being an Ohio State student. Additionally, hearing from different OSU graduates in our field trips and policy salons each week is a great inspiration to excel in my own field. The Buckeye we heard from at the pentagon oversees a nearly 20 billion dollar budget! Billion with a B!

Having OSU in common with both strangers and WAIP speakers alike is a great reminder of how lucky I am to be connected to this great university. Go Bucks indeed.

Steven

Worth the 45 minute wait!

As an avid fan of the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars" and TLC's "DC Cupcakes," I knew coming into the WAIP program that I was going to have to visit Georgetown and try Georgetown Cupcake and Sprinkles cupcakes, two of the most famous cupcake bakeries! Georgetown Cupcake is the bakery that "DC Cupcakes" takes place at, and the founder of Sprinkles, the first cupcake bakery, is a judge on "Cupcake Wars." There is simply a lot of famous food in DC!

The first time I visited Georgetown, my friend and I took one look at the line stretching two blocks for Georgetown Cupcake and went to try Baked And Wired's cupcakes instead. Although the chocolate, raspberry filled cupcake with cream cheese icing was delicious, I knew I would have to venture back and brave the line for the most famous cupcakes in DC.

On Saturday night my room mate and I settled in to put up with the line and the many people driving by yelling "it's not worth it!" However, those naysayers were mistaken! Between the two of us, we ordered chocolate, chocolate birthday cake, key lime, salted caramel, and mint cookies and cream cupcakes. All were delicious, not to mention normal-sized!

I admit, I am a foodie of massive proportions. The Travel Channel and the Food Network dictate what restaurants I want to try in new places and I have not been disappointed yet! There are some of Bravo's "Top Chef" contestants that own restaurants and those are next on the list, especially We the Pizza since it's so close! The Travel Channel highly recommends Oyamel and Johnny's Half-shell, so I'll have to squeeze those in too. Luckily, my fellow fellows are adventurous when it comes to food as well, so I'm sure we'll find the time to experience the DC cuisine.

KMB

Real-time policy planning in regards to the DRC

One of the great things about my office is that my CEO completely supports everybody in their professional and academic endeavors, including interns. On my first day she told me that if I'm working 9-5, four days a week, every week, and not going on tours, attending lectures, and networking, then I'm not taking advantage of the city. So, last Thursday I attended a lecture at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars over "Sexual Violence and the Political and Security Implications in the Congo." This was particularly interesting to me because I had recently taken a cultural anthropology course about women and culture in developing countries, and Guatemala, Peru, Uganda, Rwanda, and Argentina have experienced rape as a weapon of war in strikingly similar ways to the DRC.

María Otero, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs from the Department of State, Mark Schneider, Senior VP of the International Crisis Group, and Dr. Denis Mukwege, Director of Panzi Hospital and 2010-2011 Winner of the King Baudouin International Development Prize, were on the panel at the WWICS, providing a balance between the political policy developments and humanitarian efforts to support victims.

Dr. Mukwege discussed the range of services Panzi hospital tries to provide victims of rape with, from surgery to psychological help. He spoke extensively of the need to spread the fact that rape is not always a byproduct of war; it can be a weapon of war used to systemically dehumanize, humiliate, displace, ethnically cleanse, and destroy the integral unit of society--the family unit. He particularly emphasized the psychological aspect of healing for victims. In many cases, these rapes are conducted in front of family members to destroy the family unit with shame and violence, and despite the difficulties that come with mending these families, Dr. Mukwege believes it can be done with extensive socioeconomic projects and psychological assistance for the victims and their families. Finally, he explained his belief that soldiers of the DRC need to be considered victims as well, victims of mental degradation that cannot hope to be integrated into a unified Congolese army. This is a grisly topic of foreign policy, but Dr. Mukwege provided hope to the audience with his uplifting stories from the hospital and with his insightful policy recommendations.

Secretary Otero and Mr. Schneider then provided similar analyses of the problems in the DRC and what the US, UN, and EU should strive to include in their foreign policies towards the Congo. These objectives were to decrease impunity for the perpetrators by eliminating obstacles within the judiciary system (ineffective penal systems, better witness protection, and generally strengthening the judicial system), increasing prevention and protection for vulnerable populations by working at the community level within the DRC with boys and men to emphasize the value of women, to improve the capacity of the security sector to address sexual violence, and to increase access to quality services for survivors with improved infrastructure (the DRC has terrible roads) and hospitals (hence why Dr. Mukwege was so influential on this panel). Otero emphasized integrated US policies, EU/UN policies, and NGO efforts to provide uniform reform and assistance, while Schneider emphasized the need for corporations and consumers of conflict minerals (gold, diamonds, etc.) to demand clean goods from Africa--many times rape is used to displace populations away from sites that can be mined for precious minerals.

Overall, the problem in the DRC and all policy surrounding the magnitude of sexual based violence seems to stem from a lack of knowledge that rape is a weapon of war, the reluctance of the Congolese government to reform its own judiciary, and the lack of unity between efforts of governments and other organizations. The conflicting opinions and lack of progress in the DRC that I saw at this panel actually inspired me to take this on as my (foreign) policy research paper. Despite the gore and tragedy that surrounds this issue, I hope to find that efforts can be streamlined and real reform can take place to protect women and their families of the DRC.

KMB