Notes from the Field: Hailey Valerio '19

Hailey Valerio '19​ interned at the Committee of Seventy for the Winter 2018 term. The following is an excerpt from her internship report. 

This winter, I interned at the Committee of Seventy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works as a “good government” group in Philadelphia. The Committee of Seventy is made up of a board of seventy business and civic leaders in Philadelphia who meet monthly to address the issues that face governance in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. The main issues that the Committee of Seventy addresses are voter registration, election ethics, redistricting, helping people navigate the process of running for office, and encouraging good government practices.

I served as a public policy intern that assists the board and helps carry out Seventy’s mission. My role as an intern was to complete tasks assigned by Patrick Christmas, the Policy Program Manager, and other staff members, including the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director of Operations, and the CEO/President.

These tasks included drafting research memos, attending City Council hearings and meetings of the Philadelphia Board of Ethics and the City Commissioners, conducting basic legal research, creating a preliminary financial audit for the League of Women Voters (Philadelphia Division), and assisting in drafting an election guide for the May primary. Because I was the only intern serving on a small staff, I was given a substantial amount of work and felt like my work truly made an impact. 

My internship at the Committee of Seventy gave me an in depth look at Philadelphia government and allowed me to experience what it’s like to work for a non-profit in the public policy realm. Most importantly, I gained valuable experience conducting public policy and legal research, which has helped me discern that I want to pursue a law degree in the future. I am very thankful to the Rockefeller Center without whom this rewarding experience would not have been possible.