This week — as the weather alternated between flash flooding and the kind of sweltering, sweaty temperatures that makes the heat devils dance — four new interns took refuge in the U.S. Public Service Academy’s office space at 13^th and I streets in D.C. While our window unfortunately does not overlook the gorgeous park where we picnic at lunchtime (sadly, we look into another office building) we’re all definitely very happy to be here.

            For the next seven and a half weeks, we’ll be helping Chris get the message about the Public Service Academy out, hopefully gaining endorsements and co-sponsors along the way.  Ben, a recent graduate of Lewis & Clark and an Arizona native, will be working as the government relations intern, trekking all across the Hill to talk to Congresspeople and their staffs about the Academy.  Melissa, from the D.C. area and a rising junior at WashU, will be handling special projects, like the planning of this weekend’s Sitar Yoga event (2 p.m. Sunday at the Josephine Butler Parks Center at 2437 Fifteenth Street NW). Nicole, our through-and-through Texan, will be handling outreach and education — working with Chris to earn endorsements and talking to groups and foundations about the mission of the Academy. And I — Alyssa, a soon-to-be-senior at Penn from Iowa — will be handling communication. I’ll be the one usually updating this blog, and I’ll also be writing op-eds, press releases, and getting the message and the mission of the Academy out there.

Can’t wait to get to know all of you!