Today I headed into D.C. to meet our video crew and start filming a new piece on the OFA Summer Intern Program. We shot seven interviews over the course of the day at three locations, beginning at CLASP – The Center for Law and Social Policy, where ETV student and SUNY Binghamton grad Jehron Fleming is working hard and impressing his bosses with passion and drive.

When Jehron claimed he was nervous before the interview, I reassured him that this was not live TV and he could make all the gaffes he wanted. Next thing I knew, he was knocking us out with his insights and launching into focused, articulate soundbites that made our video director’s eyes go wide.

Next we headed down the street to the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, where OFA scholar Rachel Pendleton is researching, writing, and delving headlong into child advocacy issues.

Rachel’s supervisor, Eva Klain, Director, Child and Adolescent Health, gave a glowing report on her intern’s progress. “We’re delighted to have her here and she’s making real contributions.” Apparently Rachel’s interests resonate closely with the mission of the ABA Center, which bodes well for her professional prospects in the future.

Our last interviews of the day took place at The Nature Conservancy, where Helen Sharp is interning and getting exposure to marketing within a large scale environmental advocacy setting.

Helen’s supervisor, Jackie Held (above left), is involved with outreach to The Nature Conservancy’s major corporate partners. Just two weeks into the internship, the pair have hit it off nicely and Helen is happy to be working within a field she passionately hopes to enter in the near future.

We have a full day of shooting planned for tomorrow, culminating in a visit to Capitol Hill where four OFA interns are working (feverishly, no doubt) in the offices of U.S. Senators and Congressmen. Stay tuned for details…