Last two weeks of work

In my last two weeks, I worked on editing the multimedia audio, and media monitoring. I also had the opportunity to staff the last conference for the summer with Jon Brennan, the White House Expert Assistant to President Obama for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, which was hosted on August 6. At this event, Brennan talked about the administration’s new strategy for the war on terror, which includes not longer calling it the “War on Terror.” I also attended an event titled "Harnessing the Spirit of L'Aquila: Improving Agricultural Productivity in Africa." Following the announcement at the G-8 Summit in Italy of a major commitment to global food security, CSIS hosted Dr. Monty Jones from the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa to discuss FARA's work and reforms in African agricultural practice. In describing emerging opportunities for international collaboration in African agricultural development, Dr. Jones emphasized priority areas for win-win U.S.-Africa partnerships.I met with the CSIS CEO, John Hamre, just two days before my last day. He introduced himself and after we talked he told me that he emailed Colin Powell and bragged about me! It felt good to know that he had a good impression of me and the Colin Powell fellows in general. My boss, Andrew Schwartz, was also really impressed and they all seemed to want me to come back and work there after I graduate. On my last day, I worked hard to finish my project, but when I met with my boss he luckily he told me that I did not have to finish it immediately. I met with him for the last time before I left CSIS to begin my fall semester at CCNY, and he had so much praise and good words to say about me. I invited him when he comes to Harlem to come and visit the Colin Powell Center and meet the other Colin Powell fellows. On my last day, I also managed to meet with Roy Levy for coffee. Mr. Levy is one of the Colin Powell alumni who was just recently hired as consultant by the CSIS. I also visited the Brookings Institution, where I listened to panelists speak about Obama’s first six months as president. The panelists talked about whether the stimulus package worked or not. Some thought that it worked, but others thought that it needed more time. There was also the notion that maybe there needs to be a second stimulus package.I returned back to New York on Wednesday, and I am now ready for the fall semester to begin.

Spending Time on Capitol Hill

As I mentioned in the last post, my tasks at CSIS were expanded into a bigger project, and I am now working on two projects concerning Obama’s speeches in Ghana and Cairo. Regarding Obama’s speech in Ghana, I am looking into the issue of governance in Africa. I am interested in learning more about the ramifications of Obama’s speech on Africa and its leaders. Right now, I am researching different publications to see the scholarly and expert analysis of the speech. Part of my research seeks to explore what the real policies towards the continent will be under President Obama when it comes to the issue of governance, which Obama made into the centerpiece of his speech. The second section of the report is to do research on Obama's speech in Cairo, which was aimed at the Muslim World. Similar to the Ghana speech, I am attempting to have a look at Obama’s policies towards the Middle East and the Muslim world, and in particular to the problem of Palestinian and Israel as well as the U.S.-Iran relationship.

This week I also had the opportunity to go to the Senate for a hearing on Sudan, where I saw some many Senators such as John Kerry and Richard Lugar. Testifiers spoke on the current situation on Sudan and the genocide in the Darfur region. What this hearing revealed to me is that, when you look at a conflict like Sudan, and try to develop a policy for it, one must examine it in terms of the bigger picture. It also taught me how the testifiers and experts can shape the opinion of policymakers and the American public.
After I finished listening to the hearing, I walked over to Capitol Hill to meet with congressman Sam Farr from California, the same congressman who helped me get my visa to come join my wife in America after waiting for a year and a half. Congressman Farr took me under his wing, and we walked from his office to Capitol Hill to the main floor, where the voting takes place. There, my host took me on a little tour, explaining to me briefly how the floor works. It was important to see how policymakers debate and work on the floor. It was very complicated and I was able to see that I still have a lot to learn!
I also had the privilege of meeting with John Lewis, the Congressman from Georgia, with whom I had abrief chat. As many of you know, Mr. Lewis is a well known civil rights icon who marched with MLK.

This last Friday, I also had the opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony of preparatory law school students at the Georgetown Law School along with my Swedish friend Daniel who introduced me to many of the professors and students. There I had a lot of fun schmoozing and thinking about the possibility of law school for the future. This graduation ceremony offered me a unique opportunity to have a taste of what law school is all about. In addition to that, I managed to network with other successful professionals who graduated from the program.