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Promise| Fall 2011 | PAGE1
On the cover:Learn how Leah Katz-
Hernandez 08 works to get
the deaf and hard of hearing
community engaged in the
political process.
Promise Issue 4 | Fall 2011 | A Magazine or Alumni and Friends o
Te Washington Center
Internships and Academic Seminars
In this issue:
Attend a WC class fromyour living room
WC students areinvading Capitol Hill
What makes a qualityinternship?
Like us on Facebook andyou could win an iPad
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EngagingOthErs thrOuGh
sOciAl MEdiASe mt ve bee bo defbut v
dsblty st stopped lea Kaz-heaez 08
fom mk mpct te pofessol old. Le
stted blo d vlo (vdeo blo) to se e expeeces
t e fmly t te Democtc ntol Coveto 2008, d te ste
quckly becme dely dssemted souce of fomto to te def
commuty d estblsed Les pesece te e med old of
socl etok, clud blos, YouTube, Fcebook, d Ttte. Le
ecetly st do t us to tlk bout t ot e ee.
Q: You participated in WCs 2008
Democratic National Convention and
2009 Inauguration seminar programs.
By being exposed to these events, were
you inspired to become engaged in new
and dierent ways?
A: I had an interest in politics andmajored in government, but I
didnt
know how I could get involved on aproessional level. At the
DemocraticNational Convention, I got theopportunity to volunteer in
the PepsiCenter or the convention, and Ilearned about the inside
operations byworking in the boiler room. From thatexperience, I was
able to get a muchbetter understanding o the importanceo volunteers
and the value o the workthey do or their political parties.
From
that experience, I have always emphasizedvolunteerism in my own
activities and toother people.
Q: What was a defning moment o
your Washington Center experience?
A: Te dening moment happened whenI was at my rst Washington
CenterCampaign 2008 Academic Seminar atthe Democratic National
Convention. Ihad gotten the assignment to volunteeron the oor, and
that night HillaryClinton spoke to the convention. Teoor was jammed
with photographers,and it was my responsibility to ensurethat all
the signs you see on television onthe convention oor were being
passedout on time. I remember thinking tomysel, Wow, whatam I
doing?
Coect with Lea
@leahkh
www.youtube.co/beltepo7
Leah Katz-Heradez
Dea Youth USA
Dea Youth USA
@deayouthusa
CLICK HERE
http://bit.ly/usNKV7http://bit.ly/tsNIHfhttp://bit.ly/tsNIHfhttp://on.fb.me/tsBBubhttp://on.fb.me/vReOTYhttp://bit.ly/tpCsCWhttp://bit.ly/uPILaFhttp://bit.ly/tpCsCWhttp://on.fb.me/vReOTYhttp://bit.ly/uPILaFhttp://bit.ly/tsNIHfhttp://bit.ly/usNKV7http://on.fb.me/tsBBub
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Promise| Fall 2011 | PAGE3
Ive always watched this on television,and now Im actually here!
It washonestly one o the coolest, most unthings Ive ever done in my
careerworking on the oor o the DNC while
Hillary Clinton was speaking.Q: WC is committed to providing
opportunities or students with
disabilities. Why do you think
an internship or an experiential
learning opportunity like the one
you participated in is particularly
important to students with disabilities?
A: It really opens doors to studentswith disabilities, and thats
especiallyvaluable i a student has minimal to no
previous proessional experience. Beoreattending WCs Democratic
NationalConvention Seminar, I had only workedsome minor jobs at my
universityand didnt get the chance yet to earnsubstantial
experience in my desiredeldpolitics. I just didnt know whereto
start. Aer WC, I had gained greaterunderstanding o what people work
onin politics, how they do it, and I evenwalked away with plenty o
contacts,which ultimately became very importantto me as I looked or
internships later on.Aer attending two WC Campaign2008 Academic
Seminars, I applied toa competitive internship program, andI
strongly acknowledge that the WCexperience made my rsum
moreattractive to employers who were lookingor prospective interns.
Tey could seethat I had the experience rom being
Its y wn experience
that inspired e t
inspire thers.LEAH KATZ-HERnAnDEZ 08
involved with WC, and that was whereWC really made my career
happen.
Q: What inspires you to inspire
others?
A: Quite honestly, its my own experience
that inspired me to inspire others. At theDemocratic National
Convention andthe Presidential Inauguration Seminars,I thought that
what I was seeing andlearning was incredibly awesome, not tomention
historical as well. I just couldntkeep it to myself, and I wanted
others
who werent there to see it, too. I wantedto take my own
experience and make ittheir experience, toofor every single
person who viewed my blog or videoson Youube. Deaf people are
frequentlyexcluded from the experiences that hearing
people enjoy. And with social media Idecided to break through to
show themthe magic and allure of the political world.
Q: Its been almost our years since
you participated in the Democratic
National Convention Seminar, and we
are about to start another presidential
race. Will you be participating in any
way?A: Yes, or 2012, Ive decided that itstime to plunge into the
world 100%.I plan to devote mysel ull time toPresident Obamas
reelection campaign.I also intend to bring inormationabout
volunteering, the importance ovoting, and voter registration to
both thedea/hard o hearing and the disabilitypopulation through
social media, thesame as I did in 2008.
2012 natioalPoliticalCovetiosSeiars
Dont miss out on being apart o the political process inthese
unique seminars! Its an
experience you will never org
thE rEPublicAn nAtiOncOnvEntiOn sEMinArTama, FL | Auust 1831,
2012
thE dEMOcrAtic nAtiOn
cOnvEntiOn sEMinArCaltt, NC | Auust 25Stmb
For ore ioratio o:
Ways to participate,
noiatig a studet,
Figurig out i your ala
is part o it
E-mAIL US AT
[email protected]
Will you be ivolve
i the upcoig
presidetial race?POST YOUR STORY On
www.acebook.co
twcalui
E-mAIL US AT
couicatios@
twc.edu
EnGAGinG OthErs thrOuGh sOciAl MEdiA (continued)
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Convention%20Informationmailto:[email protected]?subject=Convention%20Informationhttp://on.fb.me/vSlW0vhttp://on.fb.me/vSlW0vhttp://on.fb.me/vSlW0vmailto:[email protected]?subject=Upcoming%20Presidential%20Racemailto:[email protected]?subject=Upcoming%20Presidential%20Racemailto:[email protected]?subject=Upcoming%20Presidential%20Racemailto:[email protected]?subject=Upcoming%20Presidential%20Racehttp://on.fb.me/vSlW0vmailto:[email protected]?subject=Convention%20Information
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Promise| Fall 2011 | PAGE4
Q: Speaking about sharing your
experience with others, you won an
award or the work you did with your
blog and vlogs (video blogs). Can you
tell us more about it?
A: At the convention, I started a blogto keep family and friends
updated. Itsnowballed into a major informationdissemination blog
for the deaf andhard of hearing in America during theelections,
because I had done my postsbilingually both in American
SignLanguage and English. Tere are a lotof websites out there, but
none showinginformation in sign language, and Irealized the
importance of engaging
the deaf and hard of hearing voters ina nonpartisan way to
encourage themto volunteer, register to vote, get outthe vote, and
be involved as citizens. In
January, the Latino Inaugural CelebrationCommittee recognized my
work and myblog by giving me the Local Grass RootsLeadership Award.
I greatly valued thataward because it recognized the valueof the
disability community within thelarger community.
Q: How would you recommend that
other alums who are interested in
giving back to their communities get
involved?
A: Volunteering is always the best way togive back. I would
recommend that theyget involved with their local electionsi they
live in their home communities,
with the local or state government.I theyre working on
presidentialcampaigns, Id encourage them to reallyreach out to the
disability communityand ensure that the eld headquarters
areaccessible to all who want to volunteer.I alums o Te Washington
Centerare currently employers, they can getinvolved with the
Greater WashingtonInternship Coalition, where they can getmore
resources on how to make theiroces and programs more inclusive
opeople with disabilities.
Q: What are you doing now?
A: Im now the 2011 HSC FoundationYouth ransitions Fellow at
the
American Association o People withDisabilities. Its my jobs 100%
ocusto help young people with disabilities(college students or
recent graduates)have a successul transition intothe career world.
One o our majorinitiatives is the Greater WashingtonInternship
Coalition, which is agroup o internship, ellowship,and
apprenticeship programs thatsupport the inclusion o people
with disabilities. Additionally, Iwork on Capitol Hill to assist
in theadministration o the CongressionalInternship Program or
Individualswith Intellectual Disabilities. In myree time, I
volunteer as the executivedirector o Dea Youth USA. Its
veryulilling and enjoyable!
Q: What is the mission o Dea Youth
USA, and what are your duties as
executive director?
A: My duties as the executive directorare to ensure that the
organizationcomplies with the bylaws, accomplishour yearly goals,
communicate with theboard members, and externally representthe Dea
Youth USA organization.We represent the 47,000 dea youth inAmerica
between ages 18 and 35. Tatnumber may seem small, but it doesntmean
we are nothing. We advocateor social justice through media
andactivism.
Q: Trough your work, have you seen
internships as a transormationalopportunity or students?
A: No question at all about thetransormational power o
internshipsor students, especially those withdisabilities. It
really enables them to getahead in the game, learn on the job,
andmeet new people. Tose people mayurther your career, or they may
becomeyour next best riends. Internshipopportunities are truly the
gi o a
lietime to a college student or recentgraduate.n
To watch Leahs coplete iterview
EnGAGinG OthErs thrOuGh sOciAl MEdiA (continued)
CLICK HERE
http://on.fb.me/ssYTRahttp://on.fb.me/ssYTRa
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Tis new collaboration with C-SPAN
began this all semester and includes
segments lmed at Te Washington
Centers Residential and Academic
Facility. In addition to Washington
Center students, George Mason
University and Purdue University
students are participating remotely.
Te rst hour o the class consists o a
televised interview with a prominent
guest, including questions rom
students. Guests have included ormer
President Jimmy Carter, ormer
Majority Leader rent Lott, Senator
ParTnErShiP wiTh C-SPan
Byron Dorgan, and journalist Sam
Donaldson. Te second hour o the
class takes place in a more traditional
classroom setting and is taught by
Steve Scully, executive producer and
host oWashington Journal. n
The Washington Center is proud of ourpartnership with C-SPAN,
which will provid
our students a remarkable opportunity to me
and interview leaders in Washington, D.C.
mIKE SmITH, TWC PRESIDEnT
THE WASHInGTOn CEnTER AnnOUnCES ITS
Tue i to C-SPAn3
to joi the frst-ever
televised Washigto
Ceter course hosted
by C-SPAns Steve
Scully, the executive
producer ad host o
Washington Journal.
To see the class
sessios ro this all
I you would like to joi
the class as a observer
while you are i Washigto,
D.C., please e-ail
[email protected]
CLICK HERE
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Class%20Observermailto:[email protected]?subject=Class%20Observermailto:[email protected]?subject=Class%20Observermailto:[email protected]?subject=Class%20Observermailto:[email protected]?subject=Class%20Observerhttp://bit.ly/u7OQG1mailto:[email protected]?subject=Class%20Observerhttp://bit.ly/u7OQG1
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Promise| Fall 2011 | PAGE6
THE WAsHinGTon CEnTEr on
CAPiTol Hill
To see more phot
of Public Policy
Dialogues on
Capitol Hill
Can you suggest
topics for future
dialogues?
As part o Te Washington Centers
Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol
Hill program, students have an
opportunity to meet with a member
o Congress or his or her senior sta.
Students oen do advance research
on their representative to nd out ihe or she has taken a
particular stand
on an issue or voted on any legislation.
Te most popular topics that WC
students are discussing with their
representatives this all are education
(both K-12 and higher), health care,
the environment, the economy, and
jobs.
Did you know that TWC students
visited more than 300 congressiona
offices this year from 45 states
and Puerto Rico?
Oen, students visit ofces
where WC alumni are working.
Currently, more than 60 WC
alumni work in congressional ofces
on Capitol Hill.n
PHoTos:
Students
meeting withtheir members
of Congress.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHT
[email protected]
CLICK HERE
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Future%20Dialogue%20Suggestionsmailto:[email protected]?subject=Future%20Dialogue%20Suggestionshttp://on.fb.me/v2lUn9mailto:[email protected]?subject=Future%20Dialogue%20Suggestionshttp://on.fb.me/v2lUn9
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Te Washington Center recentlyconducted a broad-based study
to
better understand the range and
quality o internship experiences
in the nations capital and how
internships can be improved. Te
sample included WC and non-
WC students. n
Wa aaem majo ae mo ommo amog d.c. e?*
hiGhliGhts frOM this study:
To dowload a PDF
o the ull report,
FederalGovt
39%
Non-proft
34%
PriateSector
14%
Other13%
Feedback Mentoring Skills training
Wa ao oe o e poeoa gow?
Other
Political
Science47%
Intl
Relations14%
History11%
Economics11%
CriminalJustice
8%
Humanities8%
Wee o mo d.c. e wok?
nEW tWc study ExPlOrEs QuAlity O
WAShiNgToN
iNTerNShipS
Would you like
to receive uture
TWC research
papers?
CLICK HERE
* otals do not add to 100% due to rounding.
CLICK HERE
http://bit.ly/vVlxakhttp://bit.ly/tGXrQShttp://bit.ly/vVlxakhttp://bit.ly/tGXrQS
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Promise| Fall 2011 | PAGE8
We are movingfrom a group to a page
.faebook.om/twcalumni
Win an IPAD 2*
Be part of a single network of 50,000 alumni in all 50U.S.
states and over 50 countries worldwide
Read content targeted exclusively to TWC alumni
Get invited to alumni events and receptions in D.C.and other
cities in the U.S. and the world
Have access to employment opportunities by fellow
alumni
Like our new alumni Facebookpage to:
tO LIKE US
* Participants must like our new alumni Facebook page and fll
out the rale entryorm located on the page by December 30, 2011 at
11:59 pm.
CLICK HERE
http://on.fb.me/sLb3fthttp://on.fb.me/sLb3fthttp://on.fb.me/t1g5YDhttp://on.fb.me/sLb3fthttp://on.fb.me/t1g5YD
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GAlA 2011: crEAtinG lEGAciEs
Te Washington Center is proud to have been around
long enough or two generations o students to attend our
program, and this years Gala highlights that milestone.
Kinnon Williams and his daughter, Ella, jointly presented
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) with WCs Pillar
Award or Proessional Achievement at Te Washington
Centers Gala 2011. Te event, held October 3 at the
National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., raised
more than $450,000 and celebrated the impact our
programs have on our 50,000 alumni and the inuence
they have on their communities.
Kinnon, who was a WC intern in 1981, recalls his
experience in Washington, D.C. I remember the
excitement o living in D.C. and thrived on it. I could
see the White House rom my oce, and can vividly
remember when President Reagan was shot. I also
remember attending concerts by the National Symphony
on Capitol Hill and hanging out with other interns.
Nearly 30 years later, he encouraged Ella to pursue an
CrEaTingLEgaCiES
Presenting the Piar
Award with Ea wibe ne y ies
highights.KInnOn WILLIAmS 81
AbOvE: Knnn Wllams 81, wt daut ella 11, dun t
plla Awad sntatn.
bElOW (l tO r): Knnn Wllams 81, ella Wllams 11,
Luk russt, Snat Maa Cantwlll (D-WA), T hnabl
Alan Blnkn, and Mcal B. Smt.
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Promise| Fall 2011 | PAGE10
AlumNI RElATIoNS STAff
Amy Coon 07202.238.7964 | [email protected]
2011. Te Washington Center or Internships anAcademic Seminars.
All rights reserved. Te WashiCenter actively strives or equal
access to its prograall, regardless o race, religion, national
origin, gendorientation, age, physical challenge, or veteran
statu
Te inormation in this magazine is correct at theo printing.
Te Washington Center for Internshipsand Academic Seminars1333
16th Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20036-2205Phone: 202-238-7900Fax:
202-238-7700oll Free: 800-486-8921E-mail: [email protected]
http://alumni.twc.edu
JOIn THE WASHInGTOn CEnTERS
OnLInE ALUmnI COmmUnITIES:
LIKE THE nEW OFFICIAL TWC ALUmnI PAGE
www.acebook.co/TWCalui
JOIn OUR EXCLUSIVE TWC ALUmnICOmmUnITY GROUP
www.likedi.co
UPDATE YOUR PROFILE On OUR TWCALUmnI COmmUnITY
http://alui twc edu
internship, and she is currently
enrolled in WCs International
Afairs Program. Her experienceis as positive as her athers:
In D.C., she says, everyone
eels they are doing something
important, and I want to nd that
in my career, too.
Kinnon is regarded as one o
the leading eminent domain
trial attorneys in the state oWashington. He has represented
public entities and private
property owners in negotiations,
mediation, and bench and jury
trials, including successully
arguing cases beore the
SUPPORT OUR
ALUmnISCHOLARSHIP
FUnD
Have a iediate ad
tagible eect o the lie
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Click below to ake youtax-deductible ad secu
olie doatio today!
Washington State Supreme Court.
Ella is currently a senior at the
University o Washington, Seattle,where she majors in Germanics
and
international studies (European
studies) and has made the Deans List
six quarters.
Proceeds rom the Gala provide
the essential program support
and scholarships that make Te
Washington Center accessible toall students, regardless o
their
backgrounds. We thank the many
individuals and organizations that
partner with us to develop our
students talents and turn their
ambition to a greater purpose.n
To see ore photos
o Gala 2011
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FEATURED In OUR nEXT ISSUE OF
PROmISE mAGAZInE?
DOnATE
E-ail us to eature
your story i our ext
issue o Proise:
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You can also send us your:
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We will fnd ways to help
you keep connected to o
50,000 alumni network!
Keep i touch!
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