2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018 | Page 21

• Conducted research on the history of transporta-
tion and social equity in Baltimore
• Compiled, transcribed, and analyzed data on
Baltimore’s 1955 Capital Improvement project to
create a map showing the city’s transition to auto-
mobile dependence
• Assisted in editing of a layered map of automobile
crashes in Baltimore
• Participated in meetings and community initiatives
centered around the understanding, promotion,
and support of Complete Streets policy
Community Partner:
City Councilperson Ryan Dorsey
Peer Mentor: Johnathon Cook
Site Supervisor: Mia Blom
Two summers in CIIP has, more than anything, forced me to examine my role in fighting
for social equity as a white, straight, cis-gendered, upper-middle-class man.
Last year, this began with learning to take a backseat with all of the privilege I have. I
don’t directly know what real discrimination feels like, and I probably never will. Espe-
cially as someone who loves to be heard, I need to make sure I am an active listener in
social justice work so that I can truly serve in a positive and meaningful way. The need
to bend my privilege in the direction of social justice was also hammered into my head
(Thanks Abby!).
Then throughout my junior year, I spent a lot of time thinking about how this could trans-
late into a career (in combination with my other interests and statistics degree). I settled
on deciding I would probably want to work in fields that try to dismantle systemic, equi-
ty-related problems that our society faces from an upstream perspective, probably in a
policy-making or academic setting where I can do work that is quantitative in nature but
also socially meaningful. This pseudo-decision felt good for a while, but it slowly turned
into a worst-case scenario where I pictured these paths turning into dead-end jobs that
feel meaningless and drain my soul of a desire to see a better world.
I think it was very good that I was placed with someone like Councilperson Dorsey this
summer. I think the general public views being a politician as a very soul-sucking job,
and that politics in general is “where optimists go to die” (I think that is a direct quote
from Reverend Dr. Heber Brown from orientation this year). I can definitely see how
this can easily come true—it does not take an eight-week internship to see how bu-
reaucratic and frustrating city government can be at times. However, Councilperson
Dorsey brings a genuineness and energy to his work that, when paired with his abili-
ty to challenge the status quo, shows that the government truly can make meaningful
change! Any job can be bad and meaningless but having the constant awareness to
not let that happen and always remembering to push toward social justice (especially
for us straight, cis-gendered, upper-middle-class white boys) is the beginning of people
creating real, meaningful change. I think this was an important lesson for me to learn this
summer and one that will really push me through the start of my oncoming career.
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