Internship Location: Remote
Organization Type: Nonprofit
Policy Areas: Poverty-reduction (specifically with foreign policy)
Working with The Borgen Project taught me the value of contacting your congressional leaders and how easy it can be to be an active participant in the policy process. At La Follette I have been learning how to discuss and communicate public issues and potential solutions to them. In my role at the Borgen Project, I communicate to my leaders through letters, phone calls, tweets, and virtual lobbying meetings. It’s important to know each of my leader’s platforms to be able to effectively communicate with them in a way that will make them receptive to the bills we want their support on. I was surprised how easy it is to reach our representatives and how effective it can be. It was valuable to see that side of the policy process since I want to eventually be the one who writes policy. I would only recommend this internship to those who really love lobbying since that’s pretty much all you do. If that’s not your thing, then there are honestly better options out there. This internship with all honesty taught me what I am not looking for in a career or workplace environment. Though it would be great for many people and I don’t regret the experience at all, I know that for a long-term job, I am looking for different things.