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By Claire Dormitzer, Justice and Legal Thought College Park Scholar
I have written op-eds on needle exchange programs, access to contraceptives, and communication infrastructure. I have also written policy solutions on traffic congestion and reproductive rights. Currently, I am preparing to interview policy experts in these fields to ensure the feasibility of our policy proposals.
This semester, I had the opportunity to intern with Our National Conversation. ONC is a public policy startup that is currently building an online news aggregator that shows all sides of the same news topic. Their focus is on eliminating the threat of echo chambers to our democracy.
I worked on ONC’s infrastructure and healthcare policy teams. I primarily produced writing pieces to pre-generate content for the website which is being launched in summer 2021. I wrote op-eds and policy solutions within my teams on subjects within the infrastructure and healthcare fields. I was given a lot of flexibility, as this company encourages leadership from individuals of all ages. I have written op-eds on needle exchange programs, access to contraceptives, and communication infrastructure. I have also written policy solutions on traffic congestion and reproductive rights. Currently, I am preparing to interview policy experts in these fields to ensure the feasibility of our policy proposals.
This internship has given me valuable experience in writing policy as well as working in a virtual environment. It has sparked my passion for health policy, a section of policy I now plan to pursue a career in. I was able to use JLT scholarship in relating justice to the writing solutions my team collaborated on. Addressing inequalities within the United States infrastructure and healthcare sectors was a priority for my team. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Our National Conversation and I look forward to carrying my experiences with me throughout my career.
Hi Claire,
This poster stood out to me because I am interested in public policy, and I had not heard of the organization you interned at before. It is great how you were given so much freedom and responsibility. Also, contributed to a book about predicting the issues of 2050 seems really cool! What was your favorite work that you did during your time interning?
Hi Claire! This poster stood out to me because one of my majors is government and politics, so anything involving public policy is interesting to me. I learned that this organization's mission is to equally showcase all sides of an issue and encourage people to limit their political biases. That's super important, especially in our polarized political climate today. It's great that you got flexibility to write on different issues. It sounds like great experience! Since you wrote about a lot of issues, which ones are you most passionate about?
Hi Claire, I was drawn to your poster by the unique blend of colors that you use for the background and foreground of your poster. I learned that "Our National Conversation" is dedicated to non-partisanship and their mission is to show all sides of the issues and encourage people to leave their political echo chambers. Was health policy something you already had a significant interest in or has this experience opened your eyes to something new?
Claire,
I was interested in your project because I could tell from the title that your internship was focused on fostering bipartisan conversations, something our country needs right now. I am so impressed that you were able to write so many essays and op-eds as well as help out with different chapters of publications! That work is so awesome. A question I have is about whether your organization has internships related to racial and immigrant justice, or potentially reproductive rights.
Hi Claire! When I saw your poster and the title I was not expecting it to be an internship on healthcare but I enjoyed it. I loved how you were still able to enjoy your internship and be an active participant even though it you were forced to be online. Were you nervous when you had to write op-eds and work on policies that were important?