POPVOX Foundation and the Capitol Hill Intern Association hosted a conversation about the history and current status of internships on Capitol Hill. The expert panelists examined how these internship programs have evolved over time to provide invaluable hands-on legislative and political experience for generations of students and young professionals.
Attendees learned about the origins of Congressional internships in the early 20th century, and how they expanded and formalized over subsequent decades. Panelists shared perspectives on the educational and career benefits interns gain, such as exposure to the lawmaking process, networking opportunities, skills development, and more. The panel also discussed contemporary issues and developments shaping today's Congressional intern experience.
The event was hosted by POPVOX Foundation in collaboration with the Capitol Hill Internship Association.
Panelists
Taylor J. Swift is the Deputy Director of Governance & Innovation for POPVOX Foundation. Taylor's passion for better working conditions and pay for Congressional staffers, stronger federal workforce pipelines, and greater public access to legislative information has led him to become Deputy Director of Governance and Innovation at POPVOX Foundation. Prior to joining POPVOX Foundation, Taylor was a senior policy advisor at Demand Progress, focusing on Congressional transparency, efficiency, capacity, and modernization. Taylor also worked at the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus where he focused on budget, appropriations, education, labor, environmental, and tax policy. During his tenure at the Caucus, Taylor worked closely with the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to elevate the importance of increasing Congressional staff pay, retention, and diversity. Taylor graduated with his master’s degree from The University of Akron, working as a teaching assistant for the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics. When Taylor isn't working, he enjoys hosting movie parties at the DC Alamo Drafthouse and biking around the nation's capital.
Guillermo Creamer Jr. is the co-founder of Pay Our Interns. He advocates for equitable workforce access, drawing from his experiences as a former unpaid intern in the DC Mayor’s Office and the House of Representatives. Based in Massachusetts with his husband and cat, he champions accessible pipelines for all individuals, irrespective of financial means, emphasizing the importance of fair intern compensation. His instrumental role in transitioning Pay Our Interns from a social media campaign to a thriving 501c3 organization reflects his commitment to fostering systemic change. He currently serves as the interim executive director for Pay Our Interns.
Dr. James Jones is the Director for the Center for Politics and Race in America. Dr. Jones is also an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Sociology and the inaugural Director of the Center for Politics and Race in America at Rutgers University, Newark. Dr. Jones' research focuses on racial representation and inequality in American political institutions. In this work, he studies the careers, work experiences, and activism of Black government workers. He is author of "The Last Plantation: Racism and Resistance in the Halls of Congress," forthcoming from Princeton University Press in May 2024.
The Honorable Jane L. Campbell is the fourth President/CEO of the United States Capitol Historical Society. Before joining the Society in February 2019, Ms. Campbell served as Chief of Staff to US Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and as Staff Director for the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ms. Campbell held elected office as an Ohio state legislator, a Cuyahoga County Commissioner, and as Mayor of Cleveland (the first, and to date only woman to serve in this position). Ms. Campbell has also run small businesses, led the Washington office of a national community development organization, and led a significant women’s political advocacy group. Ms. Campbell earned a Master of Science in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan, and held a Fellowship in the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Institute of Politics. She is the proud mother of a medical doctor and a minister.
Additional Resources
Stay up to date with the First Branch Forecast, a weekly newsletter focused on transparency and governance issues being considered by Congress, and the Capitol Hill Intern Update, a free weekly newsletter, specifically for interns, focused on understanding Congress, staying up-to-date on Congressional events, and sharing resources for career opportunities after an internship.
