Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)'s Foster Youth Internship (FYI) - First Month
Beginning a New Chapter
Hey Everyone!
We have been in Washington D.C. for a little over a month now! There are so many things to share with you all. So far, this has been an amazing journey, that I never thought I would have the privilege of being a part of. I am so blessed for this opportunity. (This will be quite long because there is so much to share with ya'll :)
First, let me tell you a little about this program and how I got to be here.
Anyone who knows me well knows that my twin sister, Brooke, and I had an extremely rough life growing up. Because of the things I experienced growing up, I have an intense passion in child welfare, especially child abuse and foster care. (After this internship, I will start blogging my writings from the past).
Originally, I had been accepted for a social work internship in my county for this summer. A couple of weeks after that and around the first week of January I found out about this Foster Youth Internship program through Greta, a wonderful woman who I would not be here without. I kind of rolled my eyes at her when I found out about it, thinking, yea right, how would I, from a small little town ever get picked from people all across the country who have more accomplishments than I do. Of course, I applied though, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I could at least try for! I had to impatiently wait for about a month until I found out if I had been one of the 20 people accepted for an interview, and I was! It was so exciting except I remember thinking there is no way I will make it all the way so I am already going to accept the fact that I may not get it. A week later I impatiently waited all day and figured I had not gotten it since they had not called me back yet. Around 6:30 that night I got the call! I was one of the 12 people chosen for the 2017!
CCAI is the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and they have multiple prestigious programs that they run in close correlation with staff, Congress members, and others on Capitol Hill. The Foster Youth Internship Program is one of those programs. Part of the requirements for this internship is a passion to make changes in the system or the child welfare area. CCAI gives us this opportunity to be a voice for others in care, others who are in the place that many of us have been. We are here to learn but also to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill to the people who have the power to change legislation so that it can have a positive impact on our brothers and sisters across our country. We are the voices that people here want to hear because we are the experts of what we have gone through and we see where the system continually failed us and continues to fail others as they unfortunately become a part of it.
May 30th is the day that we arrived here and I was picked up from the airport by our lovely Taylor, along with Jameelah, a fellow Wisconsinite.
The first week that we were here went by in a blur. We had an orientation day with a lot of different meetings as well as our professional pictures taken.
We had a three day weekend (Thursday to Saturday) where we went on a retreat to Danville, Pennsylvania. I happened to be sitting in the passenger seat so I got to chat with Becky, our Executive Director of CCAI, the whole three and a half hour ride. She is such a sweet and amazing person. On this retreat, I realized how amazing and refreshing it was that I was surrounded by not only people who are trying to make a difference in the lives of others, but a lot of Christians who are in those areas. People who truly walk their talk and it is incredible to see in an area that is so corrupted by politics. It is inspiring to see that they are there amidst all the nastiness, holding onto their faith. So...The retreat was an a HUGE house, bigger than you can imagine and it was so beautiful. We did a lot during those couple of days and were able to really start to get to know each other a lot more and learn more of each others stories.
Our first Sunday we had a relaxing day and a Dress For Success event where a professional talked to us about the essentials of how to dress in the most professional manner. Afterwards we got to do whatever, and most of us went shopping.
Monday was our second day of orientation and we had meetings in the Library of Congress as well as an etiquette dinner.
Tuesday started our first day in our Congressional office! I was fortunate to be placed in Senator Ron Johnson's office. It is great that he is from Wisconsin so I am able to learn more about my state. My intern coordinator Carly is one of my favorite people here and is such an amazing person. I currently work with seven other interns in my office. All 12 of us from my group are in different offices.
Wednesday's are our community meetings and dinners. Every Wednesday after work we meet our policy advisers and work on our policy reports.
As an intern, I have a lot of different responsibilities. We are also able to go to different hearings going on that we are interested in if we want. I have been able to go quite a few hearings so far, including the Foreign Affairs hearing (ISIS beyond Iraq and Syria), an intern lecture from Senator Angus King, a seminar revolving around Ronald Reagan from Sean Duffy, Afghanistan After 16 Years:In Search of a Strategy (One of my favorites), as well as others.
I attended another intern lecture where House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy from California was the speaker and I really enjoyed his talk. We got individual pictures with him!
The rest of this post will not be in any particular order but just highlights!
Unfortunately we had a shooting at a Congressional Baseball game practice where Rep. Steve Scalise was shot as well as a few others. The next day I was able to attend the actual Congressional Baseball game with Justin and I got to meet a lot of his friends from Yale and make new friends as well as watch Congress play since they did not cancel the game. It has been an annual event for charity since 1909! One of the big charities they support is the Boys and Girls Club!
On June 14th the Prentice 8th graders (and Rib Lake) were in DC and came for a tour of the Capitol where I was able to go meet them and talk to them a little and see all their sweet faces.
One of the big highlights here is that I have met a lot of people from Wisconsin. One of them happens to be from Rhinelander. His name is Jesse and he is one of my fellow interns and also a Navy veteran. Jesse and I were able to go see President Trump get off Air Force One. It was pretty neat and he's the first president that I have seen in person.
With my fellow interns from my office, we have gotten to go to a White House tour as well as go to the Supreme Court and sit in there for a half hour learning about everything in the room and the proceedings of the Court. Both of the buildings are extremely beautiful.
One of the most meaningful highlights has been my meeting with Rachel Campos Duffy.
She is the wife of Sean Duffy, a Representative from Wisconsin. I had the privilege of getting in contact with her before I came out here to set up a meeting to meet with her and meet the staff in Sean's office. I went to meet with her and was immediately welcomed with the most enthusiasm and warmth I have yet to experience on the Hill. I got to meet some of their children and nieces and nephews and then Sean himself. Rachel took me around to all the Staff in the office and introduced me and told them to make sure they invite me to any office events taking place. She told me that she wants that office to feel like my home while I am in DC. I was also invited to look over a Foster Care bill that they are working on in their office. I am so thankful for the people surrounding me who connect me with the best!
Last weekend we had a lake retreat in Maryland at one of CCAI's board members cabins and it was a such a relaxing weekend. We had an amazing cabin to be in, a hot tub, the lake, jet ski's etc. It was so wonderful. A lot of my group went tubing but of course I went out on the wake board. We had a late night basketball game, and a highlight was being out in the boat and watching three bears swimming across the water and climbing up by the dock right next to ours!
This past Tuesday we had our Congressional Luncheon which is a lunch in the Capitol that we invite Congress members and their staff to and there were three Senators that spoke to us at this one, and it was incredibly inspiring to hear the pride and faith that these powerful people have for us FYI's. I have seen and been right next to my senator so many times but had never gotten to meet him and then at this luncheon he took a couple minutes to quietly stop by and meet me and get a picture. He had some very inspiring words for me as well and it was great to finally meet him!
Our group has done SO many things in this past month so it is hard to put it all down but so far it is definitely the once in a lifetime experience that we anticipated. It is crazy to think that in less than a full month, I will be back at home, and back to a normal life after having spent the previous two months just casually working and walking around buildings next to all of these important people. I will also leave here with wonderful connections and lifelong friendships and I intend to make the best of this experience.
On a side note: Today was our final report writing day! I finished my policy report a couple of hours ago! We are officially going to be done with the craziest part of our time here and have more time to go explore the city and continue building our friendships and connections. It feels great!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. I do plan on writing a book about my life one day, so stay tuned! Dave Pelzer is an inspiration to me in that, with his book A Child Called It and its' sequels.
Hey Everyone!
We have been in Washington D.C. for a little over a month now! There are so many things to share with you all. So far, this has been an amazing journey, that I never thought I would have the privilege of being a part of. I am so blessed for this opportunity. (This will be quite long because there is so much to share with ya'll :)
First, let me tell you a little about this program and how I got to be here.
Anyone who knows me well knows that my twin sister, Brooke, and I had an extremely rough life growing up. Because of the things I experienced growing up, I have an intense passion in child welfare, especially child abuse and foster care. (After this internship, I will start blogging my writings from the past).
Originally, I had been accepted for a social work internship in my county for this summer. A couple of weeks after that and around the first week of January I found out about this Foster Youth Internship program through Greta, a wonderful woman who I would not be here without. I kind of rolled my eyes at her when I found out about it, thinking, yea right, how would I, from a small little town ever get picked from people all across the country who have more accomplishments than I do. Of course, I applied though, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I could at least try for! I had to impatiently wait for about a month until I found out if I had been one of the 20 people accepted for an interview, and I was! It was so exciting except I remember thinking there is no way I will make it all the way so I am already going to accept the fact that I may not get it. A week later I impatiently waited all day and figured I had not gotten it since they had not called me back yet. Around 6:30 that night I got the call! I was one of the 12 people chosen for the 2017!
 |
| Plane view on flight here |
The first week that we were here went by in a blur. We had an orientation day with a lot of different meetings as well as our professional pictures taken.
We had a three day weekend (Thursday to Saturday) where we went on a retreat to Danville, Pennsylvania. I happened to be sitting in the passenger seat so I got to chat with Becky, our Executive Director of CCAI, the whole three and a half hour ride. She is such a sweet and amazing person. On this retreat, I realized how amazing and refreshing it was that I was surrounded by not only people who are trying to make a difference in the lives of others, but a lot of Christians who are in those areas. People who truly walk their talk and it is incredible to see in an area that is so corrupted by politics. It is inspiring to see that they are there amidst all the nastiness, holding onto their faith. So...The retreat was an a HUGE house, bigger than you can imagine and it was so beautiful. We did a lot during those couple of days and were able to really start to get to know each other a lot more and learn more of each others stories.
Our first Sunday we had a relaxing day and a Dress For Success event where a professional talked to us about the essentials of how to dress in the most professional manner. Afterwards we got to do whatever, and most of us went shopping.
Monday was our second day of orientation and we had meetings in the Library of Congress as well as an etiquette dinner.Tuesday started our first day in our Congressional office! I was fortunate to be placed in Senator Ron Johnson's office. It is great that he is from Wisconsin so I am able to learn more about my state. My intern coordinator Carly is one of my favorite people here and is such an amazing person. I currently work with seven other interns in my office. All 12 of us from my group are in different offices.
Wednesday's are our community meetings and dinners. Every Wednesday after work we meet our policy advisers and work on our policy reports.
 |
| Library of Congress |
 |
| First two days on the Hill |
 |
| Kevin McCarthy and I |
 |
| Congressional Game (some of Justin's friends) |
 |
| Prentice 8th Grade |
One of the big highlights here is that I have met a lot of people from Wisconsin. One of them happens to be from Rhinelander. His name is Jesse and he is one of my fellow interns and also a Navy veteran. Jesse and I were able to go see President Trump get off Air Force One. It was pretty neat and he's the first president that I have seen in person.
With my fellow interns from my office, we have gotten to go to a White House tour as well as go to the Supreme Court and sit in there for a half hour learning about everything in the room and the proceedings of the Court. Both of the buildings are extremely beautiful.
 |
| Sean & Rachel Duffy |
She is the wife of Sean Duffy, a Representative from Wisconsin. I had the privilege of getting in contact with her before I came out here to set up a meeting to meet with her and meet the staff in Sean's office. I went to meet with her and was immediately welcomed with the most enthusiasm and warmth I have yet to experience on the Hill. I got to meet some of their children and nieces and nephews and then Sean himself. Rachel took me around to all the Staff in the office and introduced me and told them to make sure they invite me to any office events taking place. She told me that she wants that office to feel like my home while I am in DC. I was also invited to look over a Foster Care bill that they are working on in their office. I am so thankful for the people surrounding me who connect me with the best!
Last weekend we had a lake retreat in Maryland at one of CCAI's board members cabins and it was a such a relaxing weekend. We had an amazing cabin to be in, a hot tub, the lake, jet ski's etc. It was so wonderful. A lot of my group went tubing but of course I went out on the wake board. We had a late night basketball game, and a highlight was being out in the boat and watching three bears swimming across the water and climbing up by the dock right next to ours!
This past Tuesday we had our Congressional Luncheon which is a lunch in the Capitol that we invite Congress members and their staff to and there were three Senators that spoke to us at this one, and it was incredibly inspiring to hear the pride and faith that these powerful people have for us FYI's. I have seen and been right next to my senator so many times but had never gotten to meet him and then at this luncheon he took a couple minutes to quietly stop by and meet me and get a picture. He had some very inspiring words for me as well and it was great to finally meet him!
 |
| Carly (my next chain of command boss) |
 |
| Senator Ron Johnson and I |
Our group has done SO many things in this past month so it is hard to put it all down but so far it is definitely the once in a lifetime experience that we anticipated. It is crazy to think that in less than a full month, I will be back at home, and back to a normal life after having spent the previous two months just casually working and walking around buildings next to all of these important people. I will also leave here with wonderful connections and lifelong friendships and I intend to make the best of this experience.
On a side note: Today was our final report writing day! I finished my policy report a couple of hours ago! We are officially going to be done with the craziest part of our time here and have more time to go explore the city and continue building our friendships and connections. It feels great!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. I do plan on writing a book about my life one day, so stay tuned! Dave Pelzer is an inspiration to me in that, with his book A Child Called It and its' sequels.
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