ENVIRONMENT YOUTH FAMILY
FAMILY HEALTHCARE
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GOVERNMENT , SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
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BALTIMORE FRANCISCAN CHESAPEAKE DEWMORE BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS -
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. . the 7th District . strives for excellence . We care about being responsive to the needs of our constituents . for young children with Individualized Education Programs ( IEP ).
My time with City Hall has taught me to expect the unexpected . Most days , I spent at least half my shift handling constituent services , as understanding , and addressing , constituents ' priorities is the office ' s central goal . This broad category included helping residents file 311 requests , responding to inquiries about current events and policy , and attending community association meetings . Beyond that , though , every day looked radically different .
In government , flexibility is key : history is unfolding before our eyes , demanding a swift and decisive response . For instance , mere days after Roe v . Wade was overturned , Baltimore City established a fund to ensure reproductive healthcare access for both residents and visitors . That day , instead of working in the office , I photographed the press conference for the councilmember , then scrambled to draft an email about it for his campaign mailing list . I would often pop open my laptop and work in the field , as pictured , to get posts out on Councilmember Cohen ' s socials as fast as possible .
Government is also a delicate balancing act . Baltimore is the City of Neighborhoods and , by extension , a city of countless communities , each with their own goals , concerns , and political views . As such , councilmembers carefully craft their legislation and statements to ensure that they are adequately representing all their constituents . That said , City Hall relentlessly promotes equity . Not all neighborhoods and groups have equal power in the city : more affluent , and usually predominantly white , areas tend to have more active community associations and funding , leading to a disproportionate representation of their interests in government . Therefore , the office strives to amplify the voices of historically marginalized communities . For example , I organized a community listening session in Spanish for Hispanic residents who , due to the language barrier , have less chances to share their opinions and priorities .
Throughout the summer , I have learned firsthand about city government and Baltimore as a whole . Additionally , thanks to the wholehearted support of my supervisor , Maggie , I have refined professional skills and narrowed down my career interests . I am beyond excited to continue working in , and being a part of , the greater Baltimore community !
Helped the councilmember ’ s office with constituent services , including assisting constituents in filing 311 requests , attending community association meetings , and responding to messages about current events or policy
Created campaign emails and social media posts for the councilmember , including writing the text and taking pictures at events
Hosted a listening session in Spanish to hear the priorities and concerns of Baltimore ’ s Hispanic population
Organized meetings with city agencies and other staffers at City Hall to address pressing issues in Baltimore , including illegal dumping and supply chain issues
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