And the USAID Payne Fellowship adventure begins!
Although thinking about and preparing my application for the Payne Fellowship took over a year, the turn-around was very quick in terms of being selected and starting the program. I interviewed as a finalist on a Friday in March, received the Fellowship offer that Sunday, and had to accept and sign contracts by the following Tuesday.
We started our orientation in mid-May and our summer Congressional Internship that last Monday of May….a whirlwind of can’t-believe-my-eyes or luck opportunities! Summer 2015 feels like a lifetime ago. Maybe even an alternative universe away. While on a midterm study break, I found this gem and it took me back…
Kickin it with the Salvadoran Ambassador, who is an Urban Planner!
Staying nourished at DC’s best, Daikaya!
Fancy congressional receptions, sitting next to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on the tram, and invitations to embassy parties - what a life! But beyond the shiny surface of Capitol Hill was something even more extraordinary: a rich experience of the inner workings of U.S. domestic and foreign policy and the opportunity to participate in the process. This past summer, I had the privilege to work in the office of the first Colombian American congress member and always a Marine, Ruben Gallego of Arizona’s 7th district (whatup Phoenix!). Deeply committed to serving his majority Latino, Democratic constituency, Rep. Gallego strives to advocate on their behalf through his role as Whip for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and member of the House Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees. Since Rep. Gallego is a freshman congress member, and at that time, was a mere 5 months into his term, I had the especially unique experience of helping to build the representative’s political portfolio and network. Designated as the point person for Central American Citizen Security, Native American domestic issues, and the Colombian Peace Process, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to staff CHC meetings, attend expert-led briefings, and organize meetings with leading human rights advocates, community leaders, ambassadors and other high-level public officials. I was also able to write speeches for Rep. Gallego, draft and review legislation, and even write a letter on the behalf of the CHC to Colombian President Juan Manual Santos encouraging Colombia’s continued progress on the Peace agreement with the FARC. I never would have imagined having the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill, much less having the support and encouragement to experience so much in such a short period of time.
Alas, the days of fancy congressional receptions and sitting in on hard-hitting committee hearings are long over. The closest I come to that these days is a study group that pools a few bucks for a pizza delivery! Nevertheless, I am living out another dream and new world of ideas, people, and experiences [cue breakout into Aladdin’s “A whole New World” song]…
Testudo and me enjoying a lovely, sunny day in the DMV!
While it has been a steep adjustment curve to balance out classes, a research assistantship, and a so-called social life, I am finally starting to feel more settled and able to really take in the beauty of this experience. I have the opportunity to reunite with my long lost love of GIS mapping and participatory community analysis. I have been able to explore new GIS applications like the crowdsourcing of satellite imagery for humanitarian relief and the use of mobile Mapping apps for qualitative data collection. In my planning process and theory classes, I am learning to identify the different urban design styles and approaches throughout history. It turns out D.C. was planned during the City Beautiful movement, an era that glorified asymmetric balance and many a monument-donned roundabout - now features much to the D.C. driver’s chagrin! Planning is all about the group projects and real-life simulations! I recently got to participate in an urban site design competition complete with Legos and a city council presentation! My research assistantship with the Social Planning specialist at my school has given me the opportunity to learn about how equitable development tools like inclusionary zoning and community benefits agreements can be used to protect vulnerable communities from displacement and prevent segregation. I am having a headache deciphering and analyzing census data, but am slowly figuring it out! In my “spare” time, I have become involved with the Native American Student and Latino Graduate student associations and practice “free-form” (aka aimless) running.
As I walk around the beautiful, tree-lined pathways and teenage mutant ninja turtle decorated (our mascot is Testudo the Terrapin!) buildings of the University of Maryland campus, I feel incredibly blessed. When so many of my life choices have been haphazard or conditioned by external factors and concerns, I have the amazing privilege and means to wholeheartedly choose this experience. It feels unreal, and then immensely gratifying when I blink my eyes to realize it is real. I am at one of the top graduate programs for Urban Planning, part of a diverse, lively state university community, and I am learning and working my way toward an impactful career with USAID Foreign Service. Life is very good, indeed.