Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission : Summer Internship

By: Julievette Santiago

This year my summer is not filled with the fast-pace working environment of a restaurant. Nor is it filled with the days where I stay in my pajamas and run after my niece to earn a few bucks. This summer I have decided to do an internship with the State of Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission (LPRAC) in Hartford, CT through the Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Institute at the University of Connecticut.

As I write this, this marks the beginning of the third week of my internship and I'd like to comment on my experiences thus far. I came into this journey expecting to run back and forth to the copy machine and answer telephones. On the contrary, I have met senators, state representatives, and most importantly I realized what I want to do with my life.

Day 1: On the first day of my internship I was able to have lunch with my field supervisor and one of the commissioners and sit in on both a Restructuring Committee Meeting and a Press Conference on Prison-Based Gerrymandering in the state of CT.

Day 2: On this day, I worked with the Senior Legislative Secretary who has become my new best friend. We set up for the monthly LPRAC meeting. I was able to meet most members of the Commission and I instantly felt like family.

Day 3: This day began with the tedious task of putting citations in alphabetical order for our Tribute to Hispanic Veterans event. It ended with the glorious feeling of having honored the men and women that serve our country.

Week two was here and I began by setting up for our Redistricting Summit from the Latino and Puerto Rican Perspective. I put many packets together and I worked as efficiently as an assembly line. Then my field supervisor received news that a Press Conference was being held on the In-state Tuition Bill for undocumented students. We rushed over and I was able to meet some of the students and accompany the LPRAC Chairman to a debate between two senators on the bill.

The following day started off to a great start considering that the In-state Tuition Bill was passed! Smiles lit up the room. The summit was very informative and successful. I was able to meet a lot of influential people such as attorneys and advocates. I am a Sister of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated and one of my tasks was to invite my sorority sisters as well as fellow greeks to the summit so that the youth may be involved and informed on this important issue. My peers attended and my field supervisor was very pleased.

The following day of my internship I had a tour of the Legislative Office Building and the State Capitol. I followed around a bunch of elementary school children and elders. (Not to mention I was the only minority in the group.) Somehow this empowered me, rather than discourage me.

Today in addition to my administrative tasks I accompanied my field supervisor and LPRAC Chairman to a meeting and then attended the Puerto Rican flag raising at the State Capitol. It was great to see so many Latinos come together to spread culture and show leadership.

It is not my Connecticut General Assembly ID, my cubicle, or my computer that makes me excited about this internship. It is the fact that it has opened my eyes to the extreme lack of diversity within the leadership of the government. During my tour of the Capitol, I was able to sit in the Wishing Chair at the Senate Chamber. I'm not very superstitious so I've decided to share my wish with all of you. I wished to be the first Latina Senator in the State of Connecticut. Although it may be a bit out of reach, there's no law against wishing for it. Let's start by getting into law school and taking it from there.

Three days a week, I commute from Waterbury to Hartford by means of the Peter Pan Bus. I catch the bus at 6:40 AM and take the bus home at 5:30 PM. I am dedicated and will not pass up this amazing opportunity to network and be a part of a movement bigger than myself. "To coordinate and provide access to resources by developing and recommending, to the Governor and the legislature, policies for the advancement of the Latino and Puerto Rican community." -Mission Statement of the Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission