Schaeffer Fellows had the opportunity to work in their hometowns over the summer, witnessing firsthand the impact of local policymaking on their local communities.
The Office of Expo Park Management provides access to a beautiful and enriching park community by delivering a safe, clean environment through public safety, parking operations and land use management. Samara supported the Exposition Park Master Plan of 2020 and preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
“[I felt like] a valuable a member of the team and was welcome to participate in nearly all office operations. I am walking away with a deluge of experiences including legal contract revision, policy amendments, strategic planning, strategic communications, workplace/office etiquette, position/duty statement creation from start to finish, management training, focus group hosting, and stakeholder/constituency relationship management. I find it hard to believe that this experience could have been any better.”
Nicolette Carpenter – Harvard University, Internship: City of Paterson, New Jersey
Nicolette transferred to Harvard from her local community college. Eager to contribute back to her community she applied for an internship in her hometown.
“My most valuable work experience was gaining a conceptual understanding of how local government works. I developed data reports on the recently implemented Bulk Trash Pick Up Program to present to City Council, met with the Deputy Director of Economic Development and Inspectors of the Construction Office to discuss implementation of the permit/inspections process onto a digital platform, and presented a proposal to the Deputy Director to show the steps needed to implement the process.”
