“Notes from the Capital,” Mid-Summer Kinder Scholars D.C. Summer Program Update

Continuing an almost decade-long tradition, the mid-summer “Notes from the Capital” news update from our students out in D.C. with the Kinder Scholars program is officially back. Thanks to all responders, and feel free to read on and live vicariously!

Kinder Institute: Where are you interning and how’s the internship going? Has it done anything to clarify post-college plans? Anything particularly exciting or unexpected?

Scout Hudson: I’m interning with The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom that reports on education, and it has certainly expanded my understanding of what it means to be a journalist. As an innovation fellow, I’m working on their product and engagement teams, and my projects so far have focused on Spanish-language accessibility. I’m still in awe of how creative I get to be in this role.

Laine Cibulskis: I’m interning at U.S. News & World Report on the Credit Cards, Loans and Banking team. It’s been excellent to get to use both my economics and journalism background to explore financial journalism this summer. I’m very aligned with their mission to help consumers make important decisions, and I’ve felt incredibly supported. It’s solidified my passion for explaining complex terms and definitely given me some hope that I really do like combining the degrees I’m pursuing (and that I have fun while doing it.

Alice Willard: I’m interning at the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) division as a policy analyst. I’ve been given the opportunity to identify current and potential issues within MSHA, craft effective solutions, and evaluate proposed strategies. In doing so, I’m constructing an internal evaluation that develops a standardized operating procedure, complete with a tracking system, to facilitate the review and validation of crucial documents. I’ve gotten to work firsthand with legislation, which has furthered my passion for law and strengthened my desire to pursue it in the future.

Lucy Washburn: I’m interning with the International Law Institute, and so far, it has been going really, really well. I was nervous because I had little experience in international politics before this, but I have enjoyed getting to learn so much about it. Sometimes it feels like most of what I do is listen to my bosses tell stories, but I love it. They provide a lot of insight into different paths and issues. My office also sets up a professional development series for the interns which has been very helpful when it comes to planning a career. My aspirations haven’t changed too much yet, but it is making me more confident in my consideration of nonprofit work.

Kathryn Eisler: I am interning for National Peace Corps Association, which is an NGO and non-for-profit that serves as an alumni support group and advocacy entity for the Peace Corps. It has shifted my perspective for what I would like to do post-college, as I have learned I am more devoted than ever to foreign service. I also have learned how much I value personal connections and the ability to be in-person with my future career. The best aspect of my internship is getting to go to Capitol Hill once a week to meet with legislator and staffers. I have made so many great connections!

Aidan Pittman: I’m interning with U.S. News & World Report. It’s been a great experience thus far with a supportive team and a very laid-back work environment and has reinforced exploring how the topics I’m interested in intersect with other areas, which has certainly helped me think about what I want to dive into after college, whether it be grad school or straight into a job.

Emily Reed: I’m interning at D.C. Witness, a nonprofit media group dedicated to providing transparency about the D.C. Superior Court process. This experience has definitely helped me confirm some post-grad career choices. I absolutely adore my internship, but I know now that I do not want to do criminal or trial law, specifically trial litigation. Still, I love attending hearings, finding swaths of information related to the issues within our everyday court system, and simplifying them for the general public to hold these institutions accountable.

KICD: Any favorite readings and/or discussions from the Beltway History & Politics seminar so far?

SH: So far, I’ve loved Dr. Marcus Nevius’ session on the Haitian Revolution and transnational Black consciousness. He started the class by asking us to distinguish “revolution” from “revolt,” and the exploration into the two connotations prompted me to think more about how I had learned about decolonization in years prior.

LC: My favorite topic so far was when we focused on the movement to get women the right to vote. I loved how heavily the class discussion focused on the lack of intersectional feminism in the past, and how taking a critical look at the movement and the double burden Black women faced can help us understand it more holistically, with its issues and accomplishments combined. The field trip was also incredible. A Tour of Her Own really opened me up to a side of the city and women’s history that I hadn’t thought about previously! One crazy fact from the tour: out of 176 statues of historical figures in public places in D.C., only FOUR are women! We saw Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune.

LW: The reading for Prof. Matt Frierdich’s class session, Erika Doss’ “Minimalist Memories,” has been my favorite so far. I am very into art, so I appreciated the insight into how artistic movements have contributed to the monuments we have today. Additionally, the reading on Arlington Cemetery provided some interesting points about who we bestow honor on and how historically discriminatory practices have affected mourning practices. It was something I had not given much thought to before, but it feels important.

ER: My favorite reading was for Dr. Alan Gibson’s session on constitutional legal theory. This is more of a personal thing, since it’s definitely the field I want to go into, but I also think it’s important (and interesting) because it involves discussion over the most core tenet of American democracy.

KICD: What field trip has done the most to shed new light on/add new dimensions to what was talked about in class?

SH: This is speculative, but I have high hopes for this week’s trip to Arlington National Cemetery. One of the essays we looked at before the trip mentioned the visitor’s sign, which reads “please remember these are hallowed grounds.” This resonated with me, as the line is an assertion without a specific attribution. How does place become manifest of memory? I’m excited to think more about this as I walk around the cemetery.

AW: Dr. Nevius’ field trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture was really revolutionary for me. I had a very visceral reaction to some of the exhibits in this museum, and I learned so much about the indomitable human spirit.

AP: Being in the National Museum of African American History and Culture for three hours and only seeing a fraction of it was an excellent way to help us further our understanding of the history we see in the city and how it impacts other topics we’ve read about. I really want to see the rest of the museum now!

KE: I found the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument and Women’s History D.C. tour most helpful in connecting the field trips to the readings and discussions. They both really provided me with insight into histories that I felt were less mainstream, especially those connected to Black women’s and the Black feminist experiences in America.

KICD: How’s living in D.C. going? Have you found your spot there yet? Any group adventures worth reporting on?

SH: I’ve been enjoying checking out all the bookstores (and inevitably buying books quicker than I can read them). Lost City Books in Adams Morgan is my favorite so far. I’ve also loved checking out all the museums and was lucky enough to find a camera shop that fixed my old film point-and-shoot for the low price of me admitting I couldn’t figure it out myself. My favorite group outing was when some of us caught a drag performance starring Shi-Queeta Lee, who credits herself as the first drag queen to book the White House. It was fabulous. She did a Whitney Houston medley, and Kinder’s own Charles Hodge was even pulled on stage!

LC: D.C. has been INCREDIBLE! I feel like I’m really getting to live a very cool and independent life. The amount of trees and green space in the city surprised me so much! Right now, my spot is definitely Teaism in Dupont Circle. They have such an excellent selection of decaf teas, and I could literally get a new one there every day, though I don’t as I’m trying my best to budget. I’ve also loved going with my friends in the cohort to explore the huge variety of museums. The National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Asian Art, and the Museum of the American Indian have been some of my favorites so far, though I think the most exciting adventure will be the fourth of July!

AW: Living in D.C. is a very unique experience. I’m from Memphis, so I’m used to big city life, but this is on a whole new level. Everywhere is somewhere here, and everyone is someone; you just have to take the time to be inquisitive and have the know-how to trust your instincts.

LW: I think it’s safe to say that I have fallen in love with D.C. I am not sure if this counts as a spot, but there is a very small park next to my office right next to the Georgetown Canal that I sit in for lunch almost every day. I spend most of my free time in the museums, but Georgetown is probably the place I have explored the most. I think my favorite group adventure was Memorial Day. We spent the morning exploring Georgetown before heading to the Memorial Day Parade. After that, we saw parts of the Natural History Museum, found a good taco place, and went to the White House.

AP: D.C. has been a terrific city to live in. This is, of course, excluding the heat and humidity, but otherwise being able to get to anything quickly thanks to walkability and the Metro is lovely. There’s just so much to do. A group of us went to a drag show, which was filled with fun vibes, and I did a solo venture to the Kennedy Center to see an orchestra performance of David Bowie’s music.

KE: I love the D.C. area! My favorite spot so far has been the D Light Bakery in Adams Morgan. Due to the closeness to WISH, the lovely staff there have come to recognize me and they know my order. It’s always so comfortable and friendly in that space; it makes it feel more like home! I’ve also explored most of the museums and really enjoy spending time near the National Mall, which is where my favorite group adventure was! A group of us went there together on the 4th of July to watch the fireworks, and it was truly my favorite night so far. The feeling of togetherness not only in the cohort but the whole crowd was amazing!

ER: Living in D.C. is so much fun. The area is beautiful, walkable, and there are so many hidden gems everywhere. As a big advocate for public transportation, I’m a huge fan of the Metro and public biking system. As an avid hater of summer and lover of winter, though, I feel like I’m dying every day. Every Sunday, I do my homework at Tatte Bakery—my absolute favorite place—and I’ve gone to almost everything Smithsonian and done all the typical D.C. spots (Library of Congress—definitely my favorite). The best group adventure was definitely Smithsonian hopping on the Solstice, but Nationals games take second.