The Indian American Center for Political Awareness, or IACPA, is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the participation of the Indian-American community in public policy and the political process.
Ralph Nurnberger, adjunct professor of international relations at Georgetown University and a member of the Board of Directors of IACPA, says Indian journalist Gopal Raju originally conceived of the program. Mr. Raju was then owner and editor of India Abroad, the largest circulating Indian-American newspaper in the United States:
"He came up with the concept in 1993, and the idea was to place Indian-American university students in Congressional offices in Washington, in order for them to learn first hand how the government works, what their role in the government can be, and how the overall Indian American community can be a bigger participant."
Professor Nurnberger says the Indian-American community has evolved in many ways since the immigration waves of the 1960?s and 70?s. The first generation devoted much of their energy and talent to earning a living, supporting their families and creating opportunities for their children. But the second generation is now entering America?s democratic process. In the last ten years, the Washington Leadership Program, or WLP, has started producing results.
WLP was launched in 1995 for interns who spend six to eight weeks on Capitol Hill working with members of Congress and learning how Washington operates.
Christopher Dunn, Executive Director of IACPA, says the mission of the Indian-American Center for Political Awareness is to strengthen American democracy by developing outstanding citizens and leaders from the Asian Indian-American community. He explains how Congressional interns are selected:
"We get about ten applicants for one vacant spot for the program. We get about 150 to 175 applications every year for 15 slots. So, it is very, very competitive and very well known within certain college circles. We get several different things including a resume, writing samples, and references. We take all into consideration and we look at the whole person and their interest in politics. We don?t always look for grades."
Mr. Dunn says in the last nine years, more than 130 students have participated in the program on Capitol Hill:
"After we select them, we don?t promise anything but what we do is to sense what their interests are, what their political interests are, and we go out to the Hill with the resumes, we talk to various people on the Hill and we basically sell these interns. We try and pitch them like you would a story. We give the offices all their information and place them where we think they will do their best."
Anjali Shaykher, who attended the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and majored in International Politics, is one of the interns who participated in the Washington Leadership Program in the summer of 2004. She says she interned for Republican Congressman Mark Foley of Florida:
"The program basically gives you eight weeks where they match you with the Congressman, usually from your state and political affiliation. You do all sorts of tasks ranging from administrative and clerical, but I also had the opportunity to attend many hearings and briefings. I heard Colin Powell speak, Dick Cheney. I went in a briefing with Allan Greenspan. So you really have close experience with so many prominent people in the government."
Harin Contractor majored in political science and economics at the University of Georgia. He participated in the program in the summer of 2003.
"My internship with the Washington Leadership Program two years ago was a life-changing experience," Harin. "After I did my internship, I got good insight about how politics really works and how we as South Asians can really effect change with our local community. I wasn?t aware of this before my internship that only 30% of Indian-Americans are registered to vote."
Harin says that immediately after completing his internship, he got the chance to fulfill a dream:
"After my experience that summer, I intended to go back, affect change and give the Indian-American community some political clout. So, immediately when I went back I organized a voter registration drive. I got 300 people. That was the largest voter?s registration drive in Atlanta?s history. I, also, from my experience interning at the DNC, got a job through that. So, it has also helped me in my career."