Obama, Russert Hit Home Run at Fourth Annual Intern Event
Date: July 26, 2006
Location: The Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C.
Speakers: U.S. Senator Barack Obama and Tim Russert of NBC
Watch the video »
Listen to Senator Obama's Podcast »
Anyone worried about the level of commitment to public service among young Americans can rest easier. At a July 26 event, nearly 2,000 interns sent a loud message that if you’re selling the idea of government service, they are buying—especially if your pitch men are one of America’s fastest rising politicians and one of TV journalism’s biggest stars.
U.S. Senator Barack Obama and NBC News’ Tim Russert headlined the fourth annual Summer Intern Event. With that much star power, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that a full house of interns packed Washington’s Warner Theatre to hear their call to service.
Partnership President Max Stier set the tone for the event, “Now why does it matter that we have an effective federal government,” he asked. “Hurricane Katrina is why it matters, the Iraq war is why it matters, our health care is why it matters, globalization is why it matters, poverty matters, and the list goes on and on and on,” he continued. In their respective remarks, both Senator Obama and Russert built on the theme of why it is so important for today’s college students to consider making their mark through government service.
Known for being Washington’s toughest questioner, Russert revealed a softer side, commenting on the values that he learned growing up in a middle class neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. “Your generation too can be the greatest generation, but it will not unless people understand there’s something more important than just yourself,” Russert exhorted. “It’s your community, your country. It’s the calling of public service. It is a giving of oneself to a common good, a common goal to a community and there is absolutely nothing more fulfilling that you ever embarked upon in your life.”
Senator Obama, who chose the path to public service over the private sector after graduating from Harvard Law School, explained why he thinks he made the right decision. “Our society constantly tells you that the thing that’s most important is the big bank account, a fancy house, a fast car—and yeah all those things are nice, but in the end it signifies a poverty of ambition. I tell you that not to try to guilt trip you; it’s not just because we have a debt to the people who helped make your life a little bit better—although I think you do have that debt—not just to give an obligation to people who are less fortunate—although I do think you have an obligation—but it’s actually because I think you have an obligation to yourself,” Obama said. “You know, the people I know who are satisfied in their lives, who feel good have somehow hitched their life up to something larger than themselves, that’s how they fulfill their potential.”
After delivering their remarks, Russert interviewed Senator Obama in town hall format, which was concluded by Senator Obama taking additional questions from the audience on topics ranging from the rise of partisanship, mandatory public service and the Senator’s presidential prospects.
The Partnership began hosting this annual intern event in 2002, and each year has capitalized on the influx of ambitious college students and young professionals who spend their summer getting a taste of the working life by interning in D.C.
The attendees at this year’s town hall forum hailed from 47 different states, and represented a wide swath of more than 550 different employers in the nonprofit, federal and private sectors. The majority of the interns stayed on after the forum to network with recruiters from more than 30 federal agencies ranging from NASA to the Smithsonian to the CIA at a federal career fair.
The one-two punch of the inspirational town hall forum and educational career fair was designed to address one of the greatest barriers government faces in attracting top talent from this next generation: a lack of knowledge about how to link one’s skills and interests to opportunities in federal service.
Event photos by Doug DeMark Photography
The Partnership for Public Service works to revitalize our federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.
CALENDAR
Call to Serve Workshop: Student Programs in the Federal Government
RSVP Required
Date: September 9, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Online Webinar
Intended Audience: Faculty and staff of Call to Serve member schools
PMF, SCEP, STEP, FCIP- Maybe you know what these acronyms mean or maybe they sound like a foreign language. A panel of agency experts will provide information on student programs across government, how to access them and answer your questions.
Partnership Contacts: Caroline Pettit and Caroline Chang
Click here to register online
Speakers Bureau Training Session
By invitation only
Date: September 10, 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Location: Partnership Conference Room
Partnership Contact: Katelin Kennedy
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials - National Association of County and City Health Officials Annual Conference
Bob Lavigna, Vice President of Research, will co-present a session with CDC on recruiting and retaining talent
Date: September 11, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Sacramento, CA
Partnership Contact: Bob Lavigna
“How to Get Federal Government Jobs” Presentation
Kick off to the University of Baltimore’s Career Week
Date: September 15, 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: University of Baltimore
Contacts: Katelin Kennedy and University of Baltimore Career Center
Service to America Medals Gala
By invitation only
Date: September 16, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, D.C.
Master of Ceremonies: Rob Riggle
Partnership Contact: Kristin Esham
Speakers Bureau Training Session
By invitation only
Date: September 18
Location: Partnership Conference Room
Partnership Contact: Katelin Kennedy
Annenberg Speakers Bureau Event
University of Maryland
Date: September 20
Location: College Park, MD
Speaker: George Selim, DHS
Partnership Contact: Katelin Kennedy
Celebrate Public Service
with the Washington Nationals
vs. San Diego Padres
Date: September 20, 7:10 p.m.
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
NAVSEA Diversity Recruiting Summit
Tim McManus, Vice President of Education and Outreach, will be the keynote speaker
Date: September 23, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Washington Navy Yard
Call to Serve Workshop: Security Clearances
RSVP Required
Date: September 9, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EDT
Location: Online Webinar
Intended Audience: Faculty and staff of Call to Serve member schools
Most summer internships and entry-level jobs (including those for recent graduates) that require a security clearance have deadlines in November. Make sure your students are prepared to successfully navigate the process. Join us for this discussion with security clearance experts from federal agencies.
Partnership Contact: Chris VanDeWeert
Click here to register online
National Society of Experiential Education (NSEE) Conference
Caroline Pettit, Program Associate for Special Outreach Initiatives, will participate in the opening panel
Date: September 24, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Orlando, FL
Topic: Future Trends in Experiential Education: The Employer View
Intended
Audience: Career Services professionals who specifically work on experiential learning
Partnership Contact: Caroline Pettit
Annenberg Leadership Institute: Session 6
By invitation only
Date: September 24-25
Location: Partnership Conference Room
Partnership Contact: Laura Howes
Annenberg Leadership Institute Graduation Dinner
By invitation only
Date: September 25, 4:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Army Navy Club on Farragut Square, Washington, D.C.
Partnership Contact: Laura Howes
Annenberg Speakers Bureau Event
Brown University
Date: September 25
Location: Providence, RI
Speaker: Alicia Robinson-Morgan, U.S. Department of Commerce
Partnership Contact: Katelin Kennedy
Annenberg Speakers Bureau Event
Indiana University
Kickoff event for Government Service Awareness Week at Indiana University
Date: September 29
Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Speaker: Gil Castellanos, EPA
Partnership Contact: Katelin Kennedy
Call to Serve Workshop: Security Clearances
RSVP Required
Date: September 29, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Online Webinar
Intended Audience: Faculty and staff of Call to Serve member schools
This webinar will give a high-level overview of the steps anyone should take to advise a student about federal employment. It is a great way to learn how to use Call to Serve resources and start or strengthen your Making the Difference Campaign. Perfect for new advisors, those who want to brush up on their knowledge, or faculty and staff around campus who may need to advise students on federal opportunities.
Partnership Contact: Brooke Bohnet
Click here to register online
Report Release
Roadmap to Reform: A Management Framework for the Next Administration
Registration Requested
Date: October 1, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
To help shape the next president’s management framework, a number of leading government reform experts forged a consensus about critical federal workforce management issues and actions our next president should take to improve government operations. We believe good government starts with good people, and these proposals concentrate on improving the federal government by focusing on its greatest asset – its people.
Partnership Contact: Katie Malague / 202-775-6954
Click here to register online
For more information about our events, please contact events@ourpublicservice.org or call (202) 775-9111.
