This is a photo of myself and all of the other TFAS interns. What an amazing group of young people. They represent all parts of our country, are bright, kind, and a joy to know. Their passion for life encourages me to believe in the future of our country.
On a typical day... I wake up to the sounds of people talking and shuffling along the sidewalk, cars honking at one another because they are in a hurry, and buses passing by to pick up individuals to take them to work just outside my window, and I smile. I get up to make coffee and breakfast before I get ready for my trek to work. I like to get up early so that I can watch some CNN or MSNBC and check my emails. I look at my calendar to determine if I will be going to any meetings outside of the office or not so that I know how to dress for the day. I also check to see if I have class that day and what assignments will be due. After I throw all of my needs for the day in a bag, I lock up and walk a block to catch a bus. The bus takes me to Union Station, where I walk the rest of the way to our office on 1st St. When I am on the bus, it is one of my favorite times. I love to people watch and the diversity of individuals in Washington never disappoints. One day, as I sat in the back of the bus, a young African American woman was talking out loud to someone on the phone. I didn't mean to eaves drop, but she was talking loudly so I couldn't help myself. She was talking to someone in high school who wanted to get a job to make money. She encouraged them that if they wanted to go to college, she needed to get involved in organizations at school. Keeping her grades up was important, but being involved in community and school clubs was something colleges looked at too. I nodded up and down in agreement with her wise words. She had a way with the young person she spoke to. She noticed my approval and eventually got off of the phone. She told me it was her sister she was talking to. I told her that it wasn't too late for her to go to college either and not to give up on herself either because she had a good head on her shoulders. She smiled and said people tell her that all of the time. She says they tell her she should work with teenage kids. She responded, but I don't have any patience for them. I tell it like it is. I responded, "that is exactly what they need!" We reached Union Station and got off of the bus together. She told me that she was only twenty six years old and that her and her daughter were homeless. She had a job but couldn't find affordable housing and couldn't get any help from public services. Sometimes she stays at her boyfriends place or a friends place but she has a daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I smile and tell her that I am the mother of two adult children with ASD. I told her how I went back to school after my divorce, my age, and where I was interning. She was shocked but wanted to take my number and gave me hers. We needed to both go to work so we said goodbye and got ready to depart in our separate directions. I said, oh come on and reached out and gave her a hug. I told her to not give up on herself, her daughter, or her dreams. It felt great to know that I was exactly where I needed to be at that moment. When I get to work, I check on the status of a bill of interest to my organization to see if there are any new Co-sponsors. I let three of the individuals I work with know through email. I do research on bills of interest, worked on an Autism fact sheet, organizing data to build a case for more funding, and attend meetings with my co-workers or in their behalf. Yesterday, we had a staff meeting and I got to learn about all of the work the different team members have been working on. I loved hearing what they are working on and the dynamic of the team. I marvel at the make up of the team and am impressed with their knowledge. I leave to go home at 5 most days but leave early on one day to get to class.
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One of the realities of Washington, DC that I have wrestled with since I have been here is the stark contrast of the privileged and homeless here. On the same streets you see the wealthy and the poor. I remember being shocked by the amount of homelessness in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the same here. It is difficult to walk by human beings who have made a piece of the paved sidewalk their home. They have stacks and bundles of what little belongings they can manage. They spread blankets on the ground to sleep. Day after day you walk by them. Sometimes you give some change or money in your pocket but as an intern in an expensive city, I can't do it everyday. I begin to avoid eye contact because I don't want to see the hurt and need in their eyes, but not be able to help. I am unable to "not" see them though.
As I walk through the city to go to work or run my errands, I wonder what their story is. I wonder where their family is and how they feel about their loved ones situation. I see shame in many of their eyes but I think about how many of us are one or two paychecks away from a similar fate. Most of these individuals obviously have mental health issues or issues with addiction and substance abuse. Many of the privileged walk by to attend meetings to decide their fate. Will they fund programs to help them, will they cut funding, will they delay decisions that directly affect the lives of those they walk by everyday? Do they even see them anymore? Some days, I look again and I see a kind word being given, a sincere "how are you? being said, and generosity being displayed to these souls wandering the streets. I am touched and I appreciate human kindness. One of the reasons you can see the homeless everywhere you go in DC is because the homeless are not forced to leave public spaces. This means that in the evening when the post office closes, many lay on the pavement lined up one after another to sleep, under the protection of the post office's covered walkway. They sleep next to all of the memorials, statues, historic buildings, and public parks. I feel that at least this is one thing they are doing right here. The privileged and the homeless coexist in this city. They don't try to force them to leave. They accept them. They are our neighbors... but still I wish there was more for them. On the 4th of September, The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), took our group of interns on a tour of the Library of Congress. What a stunningly beautiful building, full of such rich treasures. The artistry invested in the architecture and paintings are breathtaking. You sense the love of our founding mothers and fathers in the detailed care of every aspect of the library. If you get a special pass, you can actually read and study in the library. This has been my favorite place to visit thus far. The librarian who took us on the tour was so knowledgeable and filled with pride to be working in such an amazing place. Her mother was an immigrant to this country. There are copies of the bible and other historical writings that are in no other place. Being in Washington, DC, I am reminded how essential education is to our children and our children's children. It makes me more determined than ever to work on the behalf of marginalized citizens. I am conscious of my own privilege to be here and to see the things I am seeing and learning. This trip has been possible because of the generosity of the Nina Mason Pulliam Trust and the Fund for American Studies. Another organization that works with TFAS is the WISH foundation. This non-profit owns many buildings throughout DC, that they lease to different organizations for housing for interns. I have been told that I am not the oldest intern ever, but I am definitely the oldest intern here right now. This makes me feel even more honored and grateful. Knowing that individuals believe in your ability and are willing to invest in you is humbling and has touched my heart forever. Thank you.
I am interning at the National Disability Rights Network, www.ndrn.org, while in Washington, DC. "The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the national membership association for the 57 Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agencies and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) that advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. NDRN's member organizations serve individuals with a wide range of disabilities including, but not limited to, those with intellectual, mental, sensory, and physical disabilities by guarding against abuse and neglect and advocating for civil rights. Collectively, the P&A Network is the largest provider of legally-based advocacy services in the United States. The policy department at NDRN works not only on legislation impacting the P&A / CAP Network, but takes a national leadership role in legislation that impact people with disabilities. NDRN works to improve the lives of people with disabilities by guarding against abuse; advocating for basic rights; and ensuring accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems."
Basically, the federal government mandated that there be attorneys and advocates in an organization that would work on behalf of the rights of persons with disabilities. In Arizona, this is the Arizona Center for Disability Law, www.azdisabilitylaw.org/. Their office is in the Disability Empowerment Center on Washington St. in Phoenix. A network of P&As formed across the nation in each state. Many of them felt that they needed on the ground people in Washington, DC to represent the P&As and to advocate for persons with disabilities. This is the NDRN where I am interning. "NDRN’s mission is to promote the integrity and capacity of the P&A and CAP national network and to advocate for the enactment and vigorous enforcement of laws protecting civil and human rights of people with disabilities." As an intern, I will be involved in a range of activities related to formulating public policy protecting and enhancing the rights of persons with all types of disabilities. Issue areas could include healthcare, education, mental health, employment, community integration, housing, and transportation. I will get to work with public policy areas that I am interested in. I will conduct research, assist in writing legislative recommendations, hearing statements, and policy papers, as well as represent NDRN at coalition and other meetings, Hill briefings, and hearings. I will also accompany NDRN staff to meetings on the Hill and with Administration officials. NDRN produces yearly reports focused on their individual programs, as well as specific topics (education, juvenile justice, etc.). As an intern, I will play a primary role in producing one of these reports focused on a topic of interest to the individual. It is only my third day and I have already been performing research, attending meetings, and examining proposed bills. I have learned so much already and I know there is so much more that I will learn. Can't wait! I had a blog entry under The New University section that has disappeared....hmmm....not sure why. To recap, I shared how the other interns and I went to George Mason University to have an introduction/orientation with two of our professors and to get our student IDs made. The two professors were as different as night and day but both have strengths and intrigued interest in me for different reasons. I will be attending classes at the Arlington, VA campus, so it is smaller and quaint, just the way I like it. These classes are rigorous and quite demanding when combined with my internship. My schedule is going to require me to be very disciplined. So far, that hasn't been a struggle since I fall into my bed not long after I get to the apartment each night.
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Daphne ThompsonPursuing a Bachelor Degree in Public Services and Policy, Daphne is starting her senior year this fall. Archives
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