Goodbye Textbooks, Hello Real World!

Ever since I can remember I have been interested in politics, which is why I chose to pursue a degree in Political Science in college.  Most of the political science classes I took during my four years at college covered political/economic theory, international conflicts, court cases, federal government policies, or elections. I loved learning about all of those things but I never had the opportunity to really learn about my state or local government, or how those theories, policies, and court cases really affected individuals today.  My studies were just that—studies, I was not ‘in the thick of it’ or ‘on the ground.’  What I love so far about this internship is that it offers me so many opportunities to observe and learn about things that I never got to experience in class by getting out there and talking to the individuals whose lives are actually affected by the policies that are just a discussion for so many academics and politicians.  

There have been a few times throughout my life when I have been in a situation in which I am surrounded by a group of other people who care about politics as much as I do and Action Camp was one of these times. It was so refreshing to be surrounded by a group of people who all deeply care about women’s health and reproductive rights, who are empowered, and believe they can make a difference. We all talked openly about issues that other people would shy away from such as sex, contraception, and abortion. We also learned from the experts about how to engage others in these conversations and how to share our own stories about why we’re involved with Planned Parenthood and why we care about these issues.  After we had all thoroughly bonded with each other and put on matching t-shirts, we went out for our first canvass in Allentown (which is conveniently my hometown) during which we talked to people about the services available to them at their local health center and how they could get more involved with the organization. 

Now I have started working in the Allentown Health Center where I will be engaging patients, building relationships with organizations in the community, and planning a few more canvasses.  Although the summer has only just begun, I can tell that I am going to walk away from this internship having met some amazing women, and will have learned so many things that I could never learn by sitting in class. 

-Elizabeth S., Intern at the Allentown Health Center

HCAP Interns Will Make it Happen!

This year, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates and Association have been collaborating to implement the "Health Center Advocacy Program" (HCAP) across the state. This program, which is also finding its footing nationwide, seeks to promote Planned Parenthood's health, educational, and advocacy services; and does so through a two-fold model that has found success in states that have already initiated HCAP models. The model presented by HCAP programs incorporates both "in-center" and "community-based" approaches to promoting Planned Parenthood's services, allowing for a variety of opportunities for people and groups to get involved. Additionally, HCAP seeks to establish a supporter base that reflects the diversity of those within our communities- providing a more accurate representation of the varying groups of people who utilize our services.

The HCAP program is of huge importance to the Planned Parenthood affiliates in Pennsylvania, which is why the 2013 Summer Internship is directed at its implementation and expansion across the state. 13 interns are currently placed statewide to assist public affairs and health center staff members in health center tabling, door-to-door canvassing, and event promotion. This work is undeniably some of the most important work we are doing this year, and will be crucial in our abilities to increase supporter numbers, raise awareness about our health services, and maintain our status as a trusted healthcare provider and messenger in local communities. Without the help of our 13 brilliantly engaged interns, it would be difficult to implement and expand the program in the midst of an impending election cycle and continuous attacks from Planned Parenthood opponents. We are so thrilled to have every single one of these great young leaders on board!

Last week, we held the 2013 HCAP Internship Action Camp at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. This was a chance for all of the interns to meet each other and Planned Parenthood staff, learn more about the organization, and become familiar with the type of actions they will be taking this summer to ensure HCAP remains a priority not only internally, but throughout the many communities that we serve. Action Camp was a great success, not only because of the great organization that went into its planning and execution, but also because of the intelligent and dynamic individuals who make up our current intern-teams. In my two years with Planned Parenthood, I'm not sure I've met a more competent and engaged group of interns; and I am truly excited to see what comes of your work this summer. Planned Parenthood is lucky to have each and every one of you on the public policy team, but so are the individuals and communities that you are helping to serve! Here's to a great summer, with great interns, and great health center advocacy work. Cheers! 

--Lindsey Mauldin, Manager of Health Center Advocacy and Data Programs 

Reflecting on the Time Spent Campaigning This Summer!

It’s been a little over a month since Comfort and I started working with Rob Teplitz’s campaign for State Senate in District 15. Having never worked for a political campaign before, I was unsure of what to expect and a little nervous. Rob is a fantastic candidate and I really wanted to do well. Our campaign managers seemed intimidating at first, but we soon learned that they were easygoing and very excited to have Comfort’s and my assistance with the mountain of research they had before them. At the campaign office we help Victor and Andrea scrutinize lists of names to create a database of potential donors to Rob’s campaign. It’s not the most exhilarating work, but it’s important and it’s gratifying to know that we are helping to build a foundation for this campaign so that it can really take off at the end of the summer. Compiling lists of donors, stuffing and sending out mailers, and helping to prepare for fundraisers and events takes up most of our time here at the office! It can be hectic at times (especially when we lose our Internet connection!), but we always manage to get a great deal of work done to help ease the burden on Victor and Andrea.

Last week we took a break from campaign work and drove to Pittsburgh with Caitlin for a Planned Parenthood visibility event outside of a Mitt Romney fundraiser. We had some issues securing a rental car at the last minute, but the woman at the rental agency really wanted to make sure we got on the road and went out of her way to help us. She must have been a Planned Parenthood supporter since we were all dressed up in our bright pink Women are Watching tee-shirts and sunglasses, with signs to match. In Pittsburgh we got to reunite with our Western PA friends Olivia, Phil, and Rebecca –it was great to see them and catch up on how their summer was going! We walked over to the Romney fundraiser which was held at the Duquesne Club and met another group already protesting the event. They were happy to have us join them and their megaphone helped us shout our women are watching chant throughout the city. The turnout was great, a lot of Planned Parenthood volunteers showed up and we flooded the streets with a sea of pink shirts and signs. One of our volunteers was only 3 years old! It was really exciting to have so many people walk or drive by and voice their support for our cause.

I’m so thrilled to be working with Planned Parenthood this summer. Even though it means working seven days a week and traveling back and forth from Baltimore to Harrisburg, I wouldn’t want to spend my time doing anything else. The decisions that are made this election year are especially significant for women and for anyone who supports Planned Parenthood. Knowing that I am getting involved and trying to make a difference rather than just watching from the sidelines is truly rewarding. My friends are jealous of all the amazing things I’ve gotten to do this summer and are now looking into ways that they can help out themselves. I really want to thank Planned Parenthood for offering me this incredible opportunity to get involved during such a critical time in politics. Thanks especially to Lindsey, Victor, Andrea, Caitlin, and Comfort for all their help this summer. I’m excited to keep moving forward with Rob’s campaign and I can’t wait to see the rest of the interns again in August!

-Mandee, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates in Harrisburg

Keeping Up the Good Fight for Women's Rights!

Two short months ago, I timidly entered the office of Planned Parenthood in Philadelphia, unaware of what was to come. I was excited but more nervous to start a new job that I didn't really know anything about. Now, as the summer winds down and my internship comes to an end, I can't help but feel sad and already nostalgic of the good times that were had and the hard work that was accomplished.

When I first arrived at Steve Santarsiero's campaign office in Yardley, I was greeted by lots of friendly faces, including my fellow intern and partner in crime: Heidi. Although Heidi is five years older than me, we still shared one thing in common: we are both passionate about women's rights. For months I have wanted to get involved with the issues of reproductive healthcare and women's rights (other than reading PP emails) and I was ecstatic to finally get the chance. For 2 days of the week, Heidi and I canvassed for Steve in the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding Steve's campaign office. Steve stood for education, the environment, creating jobs by infrastructure, and of course, women's rights. I was happy to be helping out a candidate who was so honest and well-intentioned. For 1 day of the week, we performed a Planned Parenthood canvass and targeted only the women of Yardley, which gave me the chance to connect with ladies of all ages who cared about healthcare and freedom of choice like I do. The other interns at Steve's office were all around my age, very friendly, and super helpful. I got along with each one of them, and within the walls of the office, we were able to get work done, talk politics, share ideals, educate each other, and most importantly, goof off. Although some days were slower than others, I still left work each day feeling like I contributed to a greater cause.

When I look back on this summer, I will remember a few highlights: working the Planned Parenthood table at the Coldplay concert, handing out condoms and getting petitions on the streets of Philadelphia for First Friday, attending one of Steve's fundraisers, and meeting some truly wonderful people who are out to make a difference in the lives of others like I am. Although this was just a summer internship, I believe I gained so much experience and knowledge from this opportunity Planned Parenthood gave me. I now feel ready to go off to college and study Politics and Feminist Studies and to show my professors and peers what Planned Parenthood is all about!

This upcoming election is going to be crucial to the lives of millions of women but I have faith that come November 6th, we will all rise together and be the strong political voice that the women of America need. My internship may be over, but my work here in this country will never be done, until every last citizen is given the equal rights that they deserve.

-Jamie Epstein, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA

Having Fun at the Heart of the Keystone State

Every Tuesday and Thursday are the days that I get to completely immerse myself in the heart of Pennsylvania at the state capitol in Harrisburg.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not get to learn more about campaign life and or learn more about Planned Parenthood while I am in Harrisburg.  Though Mandee, my intern-partner, and I do not work in the capitol building itself we are less than 30 feet across the street in the campaign office of Robert Teplitz for Senate (PA-15).  The campaign office is in a cute store front where instead of people coming in they simply stare at the campaign signs that are in the window and stare at the four of us in the campaign office until we make eye contact.  It is always refreshing to have someone actually come in and ask who Teplitz is so we can break the hums of computer keys and inform them about what Rob Teplitz stands for and what he hopes to do if elected.

            These last eight weeks we have been laying down a pretty good foundation for the campaign by number crunching and sending out mailers. Our daily tasks included completing donor research and occasionally during the week having impeccable assembly lines for mailers to get stuffed, labeled and stamped as quickly as possible.   It is very interesting watching how campaigns work and function with the tremendous amount of hard work and organization that the campaign manager, Victor Wills, and financial advisor, Andrea Berringer, put in on a daily bases.  

           
My last week of the internship has been quite busy being as though the events that we were preparing for in June were all coming up.   One event was on Saturday with the Admiral and Former Congressman Joe Sestak in the garden area behind the campaign office while the other was on the following Wednesday with Former Congressman Patrick Murphy.  Both events were equally pleasurable and it was great seeing the hard work come to light.  I actually met two people that I actually looked up to invite to the event!

      Though donor research and mailers are time consuming they have their purpose in every campaign and I know that the Teplitz Campaign truly appreciated.  I love getting the opportunity to work on a campaign where I could be exposed to so many different facets of it. I know I enjoyed working on the Teplitz campaign and I can say would still like to help out any way I can. 

- Comfort Dixon, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates in Harrisburg 

Heidi's Whirlwind of Political Adventures

The past weeks have been a whirlwind of political adventure. It began in Harrisburg where I met and bonded instantly with a group of my peers.  There is something really special that happens when you are placed with a group of so similarly like-minded people in a society that tends to view feminism and Planned Parenthood with disdain.  

The Action Camp really motivated me and sent me to the campaign office of Steve Santarsiero with the tools to make a difference.  Since starting with Steve’s campaign, I have walked door to door in 100+ degree weather, participated in a fundraiser, done super important campaign research, worked with young volunteers, and have had the privilege of talking to a lot of very supportive people.

I think my favorite part of the past weeks has been canvassing for both Planned Parenthood and Steve simultaneously in his district.  It has been a rough summer for the political canvasser but as we have seen through practice, canvassing is the most effective way to get the word out to potential voters.  It has been a pleasure canvassing for Planned Parenthood and hearing the stories and words of support from the women of Yardley.  It gives me a lot of hope to hear that there are so many women who feel strongly about Planned Parenthood.   I know that this upcoming election is going to be one of the most difficult but hopefully one of the most rewarding. 

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this internship is that Steve Santarsiero is running a very bipartisan campaign.  This is far from an angle, as Steve knows firsthand how the deadlocks in Harrisburg are harming Pennsylvania.   It has been an especially interesting experience to hear people from all political affiliations praise Steve because he does not give in to party politics.  He is therefore an excellent candidate for people who want to see changes made for the good of the people of Pennsylvania rather than strictly on party lines. 

I have also had the pleasure of doing visibility work with the Philadelphia Planned Parenthood.  We staged a rally after the Affordable Care Act was passed on the streets of Philadelphia.  The atmosphere on the streets was overwhelmingly positive and full of hope.  It was so inspiring to hear the stories of people as they signed our petition to support Planned Parenthood.  Another amazing opportunity was being asked to table the recent Coldplay concert.  Knowing that this group that has such a large audience wanted a Planned Parenthood presence at their concert is inspiring to say the least not to mention extremely exciting! 

Thank you so much Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates for allowing me to get involved during such a crucial time in politics.   This is just the start of my involvement with political campaigns and I am so excited to see where it takes me. 

- Heidi Lieberman, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern PA

Liz is Watching, and She Votes!

Its been a few weeks since Chazie and I arrived at the old Grizwold Plaza Post Office in downtown Erie for our first day on the job, but it seems like we’ve been there for so much longer. I’d never worked on a campaign before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wondered whether the rumors were true- like do you eat nothing but fast food? Do you work in the office until the sun goes down? Does the team act like a weird dysfunctional family? And I quickly realized the answer to all of these questions was yes. But what they don’t tell you is the feeling of accomplishment when you leave the office, and how you work long hours and eat bad food because you’re committed to something bigger than yourself. You’re never stuck at the office because you have to be, but because you want to be.

Our first two weeks consisted of sending out mailings, stuffing envelopes, and becoming a part of the team. It was a time for a lot of questions and answers, and settling in while our candidate enjoyed a vacation with his family. And then came the phone banking. Lots of calls were made as we got ready to host our two upcoming events: the Women for Wiley Committee Launch Event and a fundraiser hosted by two prominent men in the community.

I was so excited to get involved with the Women for Wiley event because of my women’s studies background and because of our role on the campaign as Planned Parenthood interns. As I made calls to remind women about the event, I was met with warm greetings and assurances that not only would they be attending our event but they were sure to be bringing some of their friends. I began to realize quickly that my candidate had made a great impression on the Erie community so far. During the events, he didn’t just give a speech, instead he was really committed to talking individually to all the attendees and asking them what issues they cared about. And when Sean talks, it’s not about party lines and who is Democrat and who is Republican. He wants to bring “Erie’s Values, Erie’s Voice” to Harrisburg and represent the citizens of the 49^th district. He is not just the right Democrat for the job- he is the right person for the job.

Sean Wiley is truly an inspiring man with a beautiful family who is honestly devoted to the people of Erie. Sean’s commitment, sincerity, and energy has inspired voters to not only write down his name on election day but to volunteer where they can and support his cause of bettering the greater community of Erie and Pennsylvania. Campaign staff members Scott and Laura have been invaluable to the campaign, and Chazie and I have been more than lucky to be a part of the #1 race in the state. I feel compelled to support my candidate in everyway possible, whether it is with women’s advocacy work or making phone calls. But more importantly, when my time as a Planned Parenthood intern comes to a close, I will be there to volunteer as much time as I can until Election Day on November 6^th. This internship has not only taught me the basics of grassroots organizing, but it has re-invigorated my passion for politics and educating voters. 3 months from now may seem like a long time, but I have hope that it will be a great day of joy for our campaign and our long hours will finally pay off.

Thank you to Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates for trusting in me to represent your values and message in this political election. I could not be more proud to be a part of your team and a part of standing up for the voices of so many women who deserve the best healthcare. “Women are watching, and we vote!”

- Elizabeth Deemer, Planned Parenthood of Western PA