Newsletter

December 2007
Highlights: 2007 Internship Program

Cindy Chin, Internship Chair

The CAPA Community Education Fund's 2007 Summer Internship Program marked it's sixteenth anniversary this year with the theme of "Sweet 16". And a sweet success it was this year.

Sixteen students from the across the Bay Area were selected from an application and interview process to participate in the 2007 Summer Internship Program. Each intern participated in orientation and office training that consisted of presentations from the various placement offices on the role of government and office expectations, as well as consultation on professional dress attire from Nordstrom.

Interns were placed in the offices of U.S. House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Representative George Miller, State Senator Tom Torlakson, State Senator President pro Tempore Leland Yee, Assemblyman Guy Houston, Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, State Board Equalization Chairwoman Betty Yee, several Alameda and Contra Costa County Supervisors, and the California Department of Transportation External Relations Department, all to name a few. There, every intern completed the required 100 working hours, and 20 hours of community service.

Each intern class that comes through the program reaches new heights and surpasses all expectations. This year is no different. At the gala dinner in June, the interns produced and acted out a skit commemorating the sixteen years of history of the internship program, and brought the audience to their feet in applause.

We have received several accolades from placement offices on what a fantastic job our interns performed this summer. Some offices even made special commendations for the hard work of our interns. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi awarded intern Jeffrey Chen with a Special Congressional Certificate of Recognition for his extraordinary service to her office and a photo-opportunity with the Speaker. Jeffery has also been asked to continue interning in the Speaker’s office beyond the conclusion of our program. Supervisor Susan Bonilla surprised her intern, Mark Bibera with a special recognition at the Contra Costa County Supervisor’s Board meeting.

Not only have our interns made us proud in their office placements, but the program continues to grow and provide interns with real office skill sets, as well as first-hand experience of the inter-workings of the role of government, and the legislative process. For the first time, CAPA Ed Fund partnered with Vision New America to participate in the API Legislative Day at the State Capitol where API high school students from around the State were invited to participate in a mock legislature. Mark Bibera and Selena An represented CAPA Ed Fund in Sacramento.

As we reflect the past 16 years, the CAPA Ed Fund Summer Internship Program has made some serious strides, and we are counting on another 16 years of even more success.