We've had a great group of interns working with us this summer supporting our statewide healthcare campaign and organizing in Prince George's County. Our interns have the opportunity to work on a range of issues from healthcare to fair elections to the Fight for $15 and learn vital organizing skills that can be put to use in future endeavors. If you are interested in being considered for future intern opportunities or have questions about the program, please contact Justin Vest at [email protected].

Progressive Maryland thanks three terrific interns from local schools

 We've had a great group of interns working with us this summer supporting our statewide healthcare campaign and organizing in Prince George's County. Our interns have the opportunity to work on a range of issues from healthcare to fair elections to the Fight for $15 and learn vital organizing skills that can be put to use in future endeavors. If you are interested in being considered for future intern opportunities or have questions about the program, please contact Justin Vest at [email protected].

Thanks and congratulations to our departing summer interns, who have improved their footing (we believe) in the skills and problems of organizing in our own communities.

Here are their self-portraits.

 Amanya Paige was born and raised in the DC-Metropolitan area. Her leadership journey started when she saw the difference between her education and the education of her peers.

 After being formally introduced to the Student Government Association at the tender age of 11 she has continued to grow in her leadership, boldness and her passion for social and ethical justice.  Amanya attends Parkdale High School- “home of the global activist”-in Riverdale Maryland, an athlete on the Volleyball and Softball teams and is a 4.2 Scholar that will be entering the International Baccalaureate program as of Fall 2017.  She is currently interning with Progressive Maryland this summer.

 Sisters Lois and Eunice Shin provided introductions for themselves at the beginning of the summer, and accounts of their experience as interns at the end of their work with Progressive Maryland.

 Hello, I am Lois Shin and a new intern for Progressive Maryland. I am currently enrolled at Sherwood High School and will begin my sophomore year once summer ends. I participate in Best Buddies and am looking forward to joining more clubs in school that pertain to volunteer work or helping to improve our community. I enjoy art, reading, and spending my free time to watch television. I chose to join Progressive Maryland because of its efforts to establish equality and uphold justice by working towards achieving goals that help all residents of Maryland. One issue that Progressive Maryland and I are both passionate about is the influence of campaign finance on elections. While learning about campaign finance reform during school, I realized that it is important to change the current campaign finance system in order to ensure that elected officials work for the common good rather than reflect the narrow interests of their financial supporters. Through my time with Progressive Maryland I hope to improve my writing abilities, especially when it comes to writing informative articles. Also, I hope to enhance my problem solving skills by cooperating with other people, exchanging ideas, and communicating with one another. I know I will gain a lot of experience and knowledge about the inner-workings of local government and how to influence it in order to benefit our community and I am looking forward to working with the Progressive Maryland staff.

[31 July 2017; My First Internship]

    Throughout my internship, I spent the majority of the time involved with the Guaranteed Healthcare campaign. I learned a lot more about how to mobilize the community and local residents in order to make a difference in the political system. Though many Marylanders have defined opinions and views on healthcare, I learned that it is important for someone to have the responsibility to promote the people to speak out and advocate for what they believe, which I have accomplished with the help of Progressive Maryland. I understand the importance of health insurance for everyone and that the only way to make sure that it happens is to go out and participate in politics, whether it’s canvassing or going to rallies. One thing I know for sure is that nothing is going to happen without hard work and determination and that anyone can have an impact on the government if they are willing to try.

    Internships can help provide a great transition between education and a career, helping you get an experience that would move you toward your career goals. By interning at Progressive Maryland I was able to gain relevant experience pertaining to getting a job in the real world and I was also able to learn more about myself, gaining clarity on my strengths, weaknesses, and interests. This internship also improved my communication skills by interacting with others in a professional environment, allowing me to become a better communicator. I observed how the staff made of unique individuals with defined roles can take on issues head-on in order to achieve their goal. Though there may be difficulties along the way, the staff always remained resilient and positive. I learned how to manage tasks given to me and how to carry myself in a professional environment. Although this is my first internship, I have undoubtedly gained important insight and skills with my stay at Progressive Maryland and I hope to have successful internship experiences like the one I had here in the future.

 Hello, my name is Eunice Shin and as an incoming 10th grader at Sherwood High School I am very excited to be interning at Progressive Maryland with such a unique group of individuals. Throughout this internship I hope that I can build new relationships and successfully connect and reach out to people in my community. I am looking forward to gaining a sense of professionalism and to gain a better understanding of a working environment. One issue I am very passionate about is the environment and how we as a community can work together to better the environment. My interest in the environment started in middle school, where I was in the Project Change Club and the LEO Club and was able to receive a firsthand look on how much students in Montgomery County know and care about the environment. I wish to make a greater impact in this community and I believe that everyone can make a difference. Through this internship, I want to learn and grow as a person and as a leader from any mistakes or any triumphs that may come along the way.

[31 July 2017; My Internship Experience]

    After reading about news stories on health care during my internship and learning about how ending Obamacare could negatively affect the United States, more specifically Maryland. Maryland has a unique system where the rates for hospital services are the same for all payers without regard to what their insurer is and because of this Maryland would have to come up with some way to make up an extra $1.5 billion a year or will have to resort to dropping out of the Medicaid expansion, resulting in many uninsured people if Obamacare does get repealed. As a result of Obamacare, Maryland’s uninsured rate has decreased significantly to 6.6%, but this could change if Obamacare does eventually get repealed and replaced. However, in Maryland there is an increasing amount of support for a single payer system and Benjamin Jealous, who is running for Governor, is expected to put single payer on his agenda to open the public to the idea. Overall, I think Maryland would benefit from Obamacare not being repealed, but if Obamacare is repealed then Congress can cause less collateral damage to Maryland and the whole country’s citizens.

As an intern at Progressive Maryland, I am glad to have experienced many new things and gather a variety of new skills. I used this opportunity to see what it would be like to work in a particular industry, and whether I am interested in joining it. My time at Progressive Maryland has allowed me to gain knowledge and understand how to fulfill tasks relevant to certain career paths. I learned how to reach out to one’s community and how to encourage others to take a stand for what they believe in. Not only that, but I was also able to experience what working in an office environment is like. I now have a better idea of the appropriate way to behave as a professional and in the office. As I get older and the pressure increases to choose a career path to follow, this internship at Progressive Maryland helped me test out a career field of interest and gave me a clearer idea of whether or not I wanted to enter a specific field. I think the most important takeaway anyone can receive from participating in an internship is feedback. The way to learn from my performance is to receive feedback and listen to the constructive criticism, allowing me to be a better employee in the future. Now that my internship is coming to an end I want to be able to apply my newfound knowledge in the future, such as when I am taking part in more internships or looking for a job. I hope that I can use my experience here at Progressive Maryland to help me prepare for anything that may come my way.