Internship Location: Chicago IL
Organization Type: Local Government
Policy Areas: Policy analysis and management
During my time in the Chicago Mayor’s Office Fellowship, I learned about local government decision-making and strengthened my policy analysis and management skills by working on a variety of projects across city departments. I had the opportunity to put the skills I learned in the classroom into practice, such as memo writing, data analysis, problem definition, and research. I became skilled at researching an issue that I had little to no experience with and drafting a 1-2 page background memo for decision-makers. I also helped analyze demographic data for each Chicago Public Library branch and created 1-pagers to better support branch decisions on programs, resources, and materials. I had the opportunity to work on a diverse set of issues including extreme heat, public transit, housing and downtown development, and health equity. The experience gave me an appreciation for the critical role that local government plays in our day to day lives, and renewed my passion for local level work. I also loved living in Chicago and exploring all the city has to offer.