"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