Makaila Hyman | CIIP 2023 Blogs

Posted: July 5, 2023

Orientation Week

The CIIP 2023 Orientation week was amazing. The week properly prepared me to enter the community with an optimistic approach and to positively engage. Orientation was challenging because it forced me to think outside of my comfort space. Being from Baltimore, I have my own ideas and thoughts based upon my experience. However, the speakers and activities caused me to think outside of myself. I was able to see or hear about Baltimore from the perspective of others. One true take away from orientation that will stick with me forever is the idea of Baltimore being a monolith. Baltimore is so diverse and has so many deep perspectives that it is so hard to just look at the city through one lens. If you do that you would be neglecting 90% of the city. There are many identities that exist here which truly resonate with me. Day 3 of orientation was so fun but challenging. I do not ride public transportation very often, so it was challenging to make sure we were riding the right bus or train. This challenge was just a little bump in the road because my group and I truly bonded and we were able to figure it out together. The week was full of joy. One of my favorite sessions was with Councilman Zeke Cohan and Bryonna Harris. I genuinely enjoyed hearing about what policies are being put into place to help Baltimore. That is something I see for my future, so it was inspiring. It was also great to hear from her and about her experiences as a teen fighting for change. It was amazing to end our week with Rev. Brown. His energy was amazing. The conversation was engaging, and he did a wonderful job setting the stage for how we should enter our community experiences. Overall, this orientation week was great and truly helped prepare me for what is to come. I am excited for the weeks to come.

Week 1

I had a wonderful first week. It began with some on boarding and beginning instruction. However, Friday, June 16, I had the experience of going to the ribbon cutting for GEDCO. GEDCO has finally returned to the Govans community and established its home office. Which is great considering this is where they began their work. GEDCO, also known as Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation, is a non-profit organization that works to provide emergency services as well as housing to individuals in need. They also provide service and support to the elderly community of Baltimore. This organization is directly addressing the issues of poverty and homelessness in Baltimore. Baltimore is rampant with homelessness. Systematic inequalities continue to make homelessness an issue and perpetuate homelessness amongst minorities in Baltimore. Often times government offices do not act with urgency to address such issues. When people are facing financial hardships and are not able to provide for some of their basic necessities, GEDCO helps. They engage by using community resources such as churches, food banks, government assistance, etc, to provide relief to those in the community. They have been able to provide aid in many ways over their 32 years in their organization. This was my first time hearing about this organization and I think it is doing amazing work. I also love that they have returned to Govans because that strengthens peoples faith in the people that try to help them. Being able to walk down the street and walk in and ask for help is amazing. Its new building will allow their organization to bring so much fruition to the neighborhood. Not only financial but community wise. I was very happy to hear about this organization, and considering they cater to my district I am excited to volunteer here in the future.

Week 2

This week I began to work with the constituents in my community. I have the opportunity to interact with the constituents and hear about the problems they face on a daily basis. Although this has been a new experience for me, it has been both challenging and rewarding. One of the main challenges I have faced is learning how to listen to peoples concerns without wearing my heart on my sleeve. I hold a very special place in my heart for Baltimore residents considering I have grew up here and have seen so much. I know as an intern I can not make the world do a complete 180 but I feel like I am not able to do enough to hello them. I truly have enjoyed helping in the small ways I can. Even small things like being a point of contact or a connector to other office. Another challenge that come with that is understanding the unique situations that constituents have. This week I have heard many challenges and I am taking the time to understand these different experiences that people have. However, despite these challenges, I have found the experience to be incredible rewarding. It has given me a deeper understanding of the issues facing my community, and has definitely inspired me to to continue working towards making a positive impact even if it is a small one.

I have also had to adjust to dealing with the hybrid work environment, where I work both in home and in person. Fortunately, this transition has been fairly easy for me. I have been able to stay organized and focused by creating a standard schedule and setting goals at the beginning of the day regard what tasks I have to complete. This hybrid experience is helping me develop skills of flexibility and adaptability which is great to have.

Week 3

The typical day at Councilman Mark Conway’s office begins with completing a voicemail readout. For me this means I answer the voicemails and take notes on the problems or concerns of the constituents. Next, I send this list out to the team and from there we decide what constituent issue we will handle that morning. Sometimes, it can be an easy fix. Most of the routine calls are calls regarding trash pickup or placing service tickets. Other times it takes some using your contacts to solve a more intricate concern. For example, people have called having concerns about new developments and how they will impact their community. It has been interesting to explore the diverseness of the 4th district and they many different identities under one belt. Everyone has different experiences and wants for their community and Mark Conway, David, Meredith, and Keith are showing me how they work to bridge the gap between the differences. After the initial emails and contacting to solve those concerns, I typically begin on some research. I spend a good chunk of of my time answering constituent calls and doing research on local issues. There are two sectors of research that I engage in. First being more quick research. This could last one day or one week. This week, I’ve been focusing on crematoriums and how they factor into residential zoning. Its been really interesting to learn about the different regulations and policies that govern these kind of facilities, and to hear from people who are concerned about how they might affect their neighborhoods. I am also in the process of completing a long term research project on recreation in Baltimore City and how the decline of recreation centers has negatively impacted the youth. Throughout the day, my mentors on the team might have meetings on different bills and policies and they will allow me to listen to hear about some of the process that goes into bill planning. My days are always different, but everyday I become more knowledgeable on my community and local government. I am excited to see what else the summer has in store for me to learn and engage with my community.

Week 4

When I began working at Mark Conway’s office, my goal was to learn about the community and the issues faced by residents in Baltimore’s 4th district. I did not set any hard expectations for myself, rather I wanted to feel truly engaged. My primary focus these past four weeks have been to learn as much as I can from my team and the relationships I have built with some residents. I think by the end of the summer I will be in a good place, and this community based work is something I want to continue to do. I have such great leaders and mentors here at the office that are willing to allow me to get my hands into anything that interests me. I have worked on policy research, constituent work, government agency communication, and much more. I think I am on track to meet my goal for the summer which is learning as much as I can.

In addition, I was presented with an opportunity to create a research project that I will be presenting at the end of the summer. I have decided to research Baltimore recreation centers and how the lack of them negatively impact Baltimore’s youth. I want to use this research to emphasize the long lasting positive impact that recreational activities can play in the future of Baltimore’s youth. I have created a survey that will be distributed to residents in next weeks column. I am excited to present my project at the end of the month. I am also hopeful that I will collect good testimonials from Baltimore residents. I hope to use this data to develop suggestions on how to improve access to recreational activities.

Week 5

Working with Mark Conway’s office catering to Baltimore’s 4th district has been an eye-opening experience. I’ve learned a lot about the unique challenges that people in different areas of the city face. The 4th district is a great example of how, even within a single city, there can be significant differences in quality of life and life expectancy based on where you live. York Rd is the dividing line between two very different neighborhoods. One side is more affluent, while the other side is not. As a result, people who live on one side of the street may have significantly more opportunities and resources than those on the other side.

Learning about these differences has been valuable because it’s given me a better understanding of how to be fair in unequal circumstances. As someone who plans to work in policy as a lawyer, this is an essential skill. I want to be able to help people who are suffering and make sure that everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources. But to do that, I need to be able to understand the challenges that people face and the unique circumstances that they’re dealing with.

In addition to learning about the challenges that people face in different parts of Baltimore, I’ve also gained a deeper appreciation for the diversity of ideas in the city. Baltimore is a monolith, with a rich history and a diverse population. There are so many different perspectives and experiences to learn from. I believe that this diversity is one of the city’s greatest strengths, and I want to use my future profession as a lawyer to help amplify the voices of those who are often marginalized or overlooked.

Overall, my internship with Mark Conway’s office has been an incredibly valuable experience. I’ve learned a lot about the challenges that people face in different parts of Baltimore, and I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the diversity of ideas that can be found in the city. These are lessons that I will carry with me into my future profession, and I’m excited to see how they’ll shape my work as a lawyer.

Week 7

As someone who is passionate about social justice, I understand the importance of intersectionality and how it impacts the work I’m doing this summer. Intersectionality is integral to working with constituents throughout the city because you have to be able to find resources and people who are able to address their unique experiences. This summer I have worked with local Baltimore agencies such as the Department of Public Works to address problems constituents may have had. Sometimes the councilman’s office is able to act as a facilitator for the constituents and find resources to get their problems and concerns solved in a more efficient matter. Intersectionality has impacted my work through my interactions with constituents. I’ve learned that people’s experiences are not monolithic, and that different communities face different challenges. It’s important to take these differences into account when working on policies and initiatives so that you do not perpetuate inequalities that many are already facing. My placement at the Councilman’s office has intersected with other placement areas, such as Councilman Zeke Cohen’s office. Councilman Conway and Councilman Cohen, as well as other Councilmembers, work diligently at city hall hearings when deciding on policies and bills. I believe that my placement has the potential to work with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks to facilitate recreational activities in the 4th district. This would not only provide safe and fun places for people to enjoy themselves, but it would also help to build a stronger sense of community. I believe they could also intersect to discuss the development of safe and engaging recreation centers in the 4th district. This would provide safe and productive places for the youth of the 4th and neighboring districts to be able to attend.