Success Stories
Meet The Daniel Initiative SET Project’s Alumni.
Daija Yisrael
“I could not be more grateful for the experiences I had, people I met, and the lessons I learned at The Daniel Initiative this summer. Each day, I was excited to come into work because I knew Mr. Wells valued our work and us as a people, not just as interns. Every day I learned new truths though intellectual discussion, funny anecdotes, and often heartbreaking realities of the state of the world.
But, I also learned that this is work is what I am meant to do. Until this internship, I understood from high school, the news, and my own experience on student government that politics are about money and the “old boys club.” As a result, I saw no place for someone like me me, but The Daniel Initiative showed me that I’m not alone. This summer I was introduced to a plethora of networks made by and for minorities like me.
Mr. Wells introduced me and my fellow interns to powerful women and men of color doing social justice work in various forms. As an intern, I researched Environmental Justice and Civic Engagement in the U.S. and EU, compiled press clips on voting rights, took notes during phone and physical meetings for Mr. Wells, and attended 3 conferences.
Through The Daniel Initiative, I gained political exposure and the tools I need to understand the language of politics.I now feel confident going into college as an aspiring political science major and less worried about finding an organization to work for after university.”
Abby Alvarez
“Working at the Daniel Initiative for the past month has helped me grow in my personal commitment to justice, as well as advance professionally and academically. I have learned how to analyze legislation, do topical research, write policy memos, and evaluate candidates. As a policy research intern, I got to delve into current immigration policy and specifically examine how it intersects with criminal justice. I wrote daily press clips that summarized what was happening in the news surrounding immigration, which were then passed on to clients in the field. I also prepared a policy primer that compared the immigration system in the United States to that of the EU, which is going to be given to participants at the Transatlantic Activist and Advocates Roundtable in Brussels. I read and evaluated the presidential candidates’ criminal justice policy proposals and drafted report cards that outlined and critiqued their stances.
Being at the Daniel Initiative taught me a ton about the difference between politics and public policy, which I used to think were the same. Politics is about communication, personal connections, and being able to sell ideas to the public, whereas public policy is about the actual substance of legislation. Breon has taught me that my interest lies more on the public policy side, but that in order to do that well, I will have to learn politics.
I have also learned a ton about criminal justice-- both our nation’s history in creating mass incarceration and the current policies that maintain it. Learning about criminal justice and expanding my knowledge on immigration helped me learn a lot about myself and my passions. My transition from RespectAbility to The Daniel Initiative taught me that it doesn’t matter how noble your mission is if you don’t have ceaseless passion for justice and a desire to include and uplift all marginalized voices. Breon embodies the type of leader I hope to be someday: one that acts from love and compassion, but is unapologetic in the pursuit of justice.
One piece of advice that has stuck with me was when Breon said that when I see a gap or shortcoming, not to view it as a closed door; instead, take it as an opportunity to create something of my own. After working so closely to Capitol Hill, I am definitely interested in gaining more experience in public policy, and especially finding how it intersects with my passion for immigration and disability rights. But most of all, I am leaving this internship feeling empowered to create change and fight for justice in my communities.”