Córdova y Fernós Program Newsletter
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
A New Historic Period in Washington, DC
Eila M. Sepúlveda ‘04, One week after President Obama took the oath of office
Program Advisor,
in front of thousands of spectators, a new group of
Córdova y Fernós
Congressional Córdova y Fernós students arrived in the nation’s capital
Internship Program excited to be part of the new history being written. For
the fifteen weeks that they were in Washington, DC, they
witnessed the enactment of a new Stimulus Package,
they saw many cabinet members being confirmed, they
learned about the nation’s new foreign policy and they
visited places where others have made history.
This spring, Córdova y Fernós students were able to
intern in congressional offices like those of Rep. José
Serrano, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Rep. Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, Rep. Charles Rangel, Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, as well as
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Others interned in
federal agencies, such as the Department of Interior,
the Department of Commerce and the Department
of Justice – INTERPOL. Moreover we had students
placed in the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
(PRFAA), the Organization of American States (OAS),
Telemundo Network and the National Puerto Rican
Coalition, among other places. Their experiences
in their offices made them grow professionally and
exposed them to the realities of the current economic
situation of the nation. Most of them had to research
how the economic stimulus is being applied to the
different states and districts they were working for, as
well as the current plan for Puerto Rico.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars | 1333 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 | T (202) 238-7900 F (202) 238-7700 | www.twc.edu
spr i ng 20 09
As part of their programming they had the opportunity
to interact with leaders of the Latino community in
Washington, DC such as the Director of NALEO, William
Ramos; the CEO of MANA, Alma Morales; and the
President of CHLI, Octavio Hinojosa. The group also
had a meeting and a lunch with Resident Commissioner,
Pedro Pierluisi; they visited the headquarters of the
National Puerto Rican Coalition and had a dialogue with
its president, Rafael Fantauzzi; and they visited PRFAA
and had workshop on federal competitive funds as well
as listened to its Executive Director, Richard Figueroa.
Furthermore, they visited the Organization of American
States, the World Bank, the Embassy of Italy, the U.S.
Capitol, the Supreme Court and the Pentagon.
Additionally, the group attended an all day group
activity focused on experiential education at Hemlock
Overlook. At the park, the students worked all day on
strengthening their teamwork and leadership skills while
also getting to know their peers better and bond with the
members of the group. Many were able to recognize that
being part of a group involves trust and that we don’t
have to be competing with each other all the time since
sometimes working together makes us reach our goals.
This will be a good lesson to take back to Puerto Rico
so they can start working together with other people in
order to achieve a better future for their communities.
Córdova Newsletter | 2

Life Lessons Learned in DC

I’m pretty sure most of my see this as being handed leftovers, but if that’s the case,
companions had a pretty clear I sure got a great plate of leftovers. Not only did the
idea of why they applied for the placement go hand-in-hand with my major and career
Córdova and Fernós internship. plans, but I liked the office vibe a lot more.
If not, I’m sure they had at least
The second lesson I got was to face my fears. It’s
the gist of how important this
not to say I wasn’t trying to before, but I think the
whole experience would be.
Hemlock Overlook activity definitely brought about
However, I can’t quite say the
this lesson in full force. I was pretty scared in both
same thing. I knew that this
of the last activities that day, one of them because of
internship would make for a
my insecurities in physical activities, and the other
good experience, but I didn’t
because of my fear of heights. And even though I was
quite have the “why’s” down.
one of the first people to do the obstacle course, it was
Fortunately for me, those blurry
only because I wanted to get it over with. Even though
“why’s” would soon come into
I was shaking from fear, I faced my fear anyway and
focus, mainly with two lessons
managed to finish the whole thing. I even slipped off
that I would learn along the way.
almost towards the end, but I just got back up and kept
The first lesson goes hand in on going.
Diamar Fernandez,
University of Sacred hand with something my group had been told over and
I think my Córdova internship is a prime example of
Heart over: make the most of everything, including failure and
both making the most of what you have, and of facing
Spring 2009 Intern with rejection. And right off the bat, my initial placement
your fears. This experience will stay with me for a long
Senator Harry Reid prospect, Rep. Charles Rangel’s office, rejected me. In
time, and not only because it will give me a jumpstart on
Above: Diamar with hindsight, I wasn’t very into the idea of being placed
Senator Harry Reid, my future. It’ll stay with me because I learned so much
there, but rejection still stings. It turned out to work for
Senate Majority Leader, about myself and about other people too. I really can
and Senator John Ensign
the best though, because I was placed instead with
do what I set my mind on, and I hope future interns can
Senator Harry Reid’s press team. Some people might
learn this same lesson.

Representing Puerto Rico

When we were selected to event I attended was the Business Board of Advisor
participate in this prestigious and Executive Committee Meeting, where I had the
program we all probably opportunity to spend two days with different legislators,
thought: How will The and visit the White House. Some of the leaders I got
Washington Center benefit me? to meet were: the Speaker of New Mexico’s House
What experiences will help me of Representatives, Ben Miranda; Representative
in my future life? After finishing Pete Marin (GA), Representative Louis Ruiz (KS),
the internship, I realized Representative Joseph Miró (DE) and Senator Lucy
the important thing is what Arce (PR). I felt really privileged, because I did not only
you can do for the program. got to talk to them, but I also participated in the Health
Participating as a Córdova & Care Task Force Meeting, where I was discussing,
Fernós intern, you are not only along with the representatives and senators, the main
representing the program itself, problems the Latino community is facing, and what this
you become an ambassador task force can do to help.
of our island. Thus, we need to
Aside from the work activities, there are a lot of things
use the tools we are provided in
that we got to experience. Like NBA and baseball
Gretchen Alvarado, order to make a good representation.
University of Puerto Rico,
games, have lunch with our Resident Commissioner,
Río Piedras During this semester I worked as an intern at the Pedro Pierluisi, and also host a cheering station to
Spring 2009 Intern at the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL). cheer walkers participating of the Avon Walk Against
National Hispanic Caucus It is a non-profit organization that helps better the Breast Cancer.
of State Legislators life of the Latino community, but it is also a forum
After living in DC, I come back to the island with more
Above: Gretchen with Rep. for information exchange and networking. Because
Pete Marin (GA), Rep. Iris maturity, experience, and most importantly, knowledge
their members are different Hispanic legislators, I
Martinez (IL) and Rep. that will help me spread a positive change in Puerto
Michael Consejo (VT)
had the opportunity to meet several representatives
Rico, along with my fellow Córdova interns.
and senators from around this country. My favorite
 Córdova Newsletter | 3

A Witness of History
Minehec Lebrón, I arrived to Washington, D.C., eight days after Barack
University of Sacred
Obama became President of the United States. I was
Heart
immediately immersed in the law enforcement and
Spring 2009 Intern at
DOJ – INTERPOL
intelligence government community’s whirlwind that is
part of the daily life in the Metro area especially since
Far right: Minehec with
Ronald Kenneth Noble, the 9/11 attacks. Although the new administration has
Secretary General of concentrated their efforts in the economic recovery, I
INTERPOL have witnessed how other controversial issues have
surfaced and are being discussed by public opinion.
The controversy over Guantanamo, torture, violation of
civil rights, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, relations
with Cuba and Latin America, have given me the
opportunity to gain a worldwide perspective of the
problems faced today.

Since my college background is in criminology, civil

and criminal justice systems I was assigned to work
at the INTERPOL –US National Central Bureau in
downtown D.C. At the same time, I began taking the
TWC course Managing the Intelligence Community. I felt
apprehensive because I had no idea of what was like
to intern with Federal agents who seem stern looking,
serious and detached of any possible feelings towards
other citizens.
From day one the walls came tumbling down as soon
as I began to work. I was assigned an identification
badge and received specific instructions about the
confidential nature of my duties. To my surprise, the
USNCB has a well-structured internship program
geared to provide an excellent insight into the world
of international law enforcement. I quickly learned
that the Bureau is the central point of contact for all
INTERPOL matters in the United States, with police
authorities in 187 member countries. I was sent to
work at the Economic Division which handles fraud,
mail fraud, stolen art and antiquities, credit card fraud,
customs violations, hazardous material and vehicle
theft fraud cases. It was very rewarding that my
coworkers were from the U.S. Department of Justice,
and detailed from the U.S. Secret Service, Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals,
Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE). All were experts in
their respective professional fields. My supervisor, the
current Assistant Director of the Economics Crime
Division, is detailed from the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service. All the staff at my division consider the interns
an important element in the work performed by the
agency and we were constantly told so. All were willing
to provide answers to our questions as well as advise
to the development of our professional careers.
Although the nature of my work was classified
information, I provided assistance with the processing
of routine criminal record-check requests that entailed
researching, logging, and indexing data, handled
files, prepared memoranda and correspondence, and
participated in meetings with members of my division.
All the interns were given tours organized by INTERPOL
to Capitol Hill, the training facilities of the Diplomatic
Security Service, and the headquarters, museums and
visitor’s center of DEA and the Secret Service.
I was thrilled when I met Ronald Kenneth Noble, the
first American of African American and German roots
to be elected Secretary General of INTERPOL in 2000
and unanimously reelected for a second five year term
in 2005. He advised me to apply for the internship
program at Interpol’s international headquarters in Lyon,
France.
At this moment I realize that my coworkers at INTERPOL
are extraordinary human beings with different outlooks
towards life, but very aware and committed to the
interns’ academic and professional careers. They
became fans of our Puerto Rican coffee, joked about
the baseball rivalry between team USA and Puerto Rico,
and talked freely about their families and future careers.
I must say this made the Córdova and Fernós Internship
program an excellent learning tool.
Córdova Newsletter | 4

Our Internship at the Organization of American States

Yolanda Martínez
Delgado (University of
Puerto Rico, Río Piedras)
and Birjania Olivero
(University of Sacred
Heart)
Spring 2009 Interns
at the Organization of
American States
Far right: Yolanda and
Birjania participating of
the Model of the OAS

During our internship with The Washington Center, we

interned at the Organization of American States (OAS).
We worked in different departments such as the Inter-
American Commission Against Drug Abuse CICAD
(Yolanda) and the Department of Human Resources
DHR (Birjania).

As interns of the OAS we had the privilege of

participating in interesting activities aside from the
ones that The Washington Center offers. As part
of our internship we attended weekly meetings. In
these meetings, we learned more about this great
organization and the problems that affect the people of
the Americas.

The most important activity was the III Model of the

Permanent Council of the OAS. Here we acted as
ambassadors of a member state. Yolanda represented
Costa Rica and Birjania, Canada. We had to work with
our team to come up with a Resolution to be approved
by the majority of states during the model. The theme This activity and the rest of the meetings, as well as
for which we advocated for was “PROMOTING THE our jobs, were very informative and contributed to our
SUSTAINABLE USE OF WATER RESOURCES”. Each learning process. Also, it helped us to create a network
member state had two ambassadors, and we had and friends from within the organization as well as from
to give a general statement about the position of our all around the Americas. Without hesitation we can say
country regarding sustainable development, energy that as interns of the OAS we learned a lot, had a really
resources and the environment. We accomplished good time and lived and unforgettable experience.
our mission and read the statement to the permanent
council and other member states successfully.

What we enjoyed the most was the entire protocol

used during the Model. How we, as delegates, had to
represent our countries, conduct ourselves and vote
following a certain protocol. This was only a model but
it gave us a sense of how an ambassador must feel
and act when he/she represents the people of his/her
country and advocates for them.

Reading Stimulus Bill
It is of common knowledge that
reading is essential for the mind
no matter the age. It promotes
critical thinking, creativity,
imagination, opens the mind to
new opinions and worlds; it’s
obvious that the simple exercise
Joelie Pérez, University of reading, in the long run will bring success stories. It’s
of Puerto Rico, Río a sad reality we’re living, where the world has become
Piedras
iPod’ed and bulletin-board’ised, where everything is
Spring 2009 Intern with
chewed and digested into voices from a speaker and
Resident Commissioner
Pedro Pierluisi two-word slogans on top of a woman barely covered
in clothes. What has happened to reading? What has
happened to imagining a written reality different from
the one we live? Now parents don’t read to their children
a story, they turn on the television or their iHomes and
hope the child will go to sleep.
We want to reopen the window to a whole new world,
with new colors and sounds, experiences, people.
We want to tell kids it’s ok to wish the moon a happy
birthday, to laugh at the silly cat who wears a striped
hat, to have tea parties with stuffed animals, to let a
beautiful rhyme from Mother Goose lull you to sleep.
We want children to read and enjoy what they’re
reading. We want them to finish a story and say “I
wonder what book I will get next…”
Córdova Newsletter | 5
Our group consisted of Mikail Blancovitch, Florieli Diaz,
Alex Olmeda, Javier Valdes, Francisco Zayas, and
me. Our group/project was called “Reading Stimulus
Bill”. The reason for the name was to appeal to a more
mature audience that could help us collect children’s
books so we could donate them to the Children’s
National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Our plan
included creating and distributing flyers announcing
the collection of children’s books as well as money. Our
efforts paid off since we collected many books as well
as bought seven bookshelves to place one in each of
the seven playrooms distributed around the hospital.
This might facilitate, for those patients that have
difficulty moving to the library or other common areas,
to use these books without too much hassle.
We can only hope that through a book or through a
game, a child will visit faraway lands while improving
their vocabulary, solve a problem while bonding with the
reader, and increase their IQ while developing their eye
muscles. A world of opportunities is opened through
reading. An infinite array of challenges and experiences
await those who, from an early age, develop a love
for books. This was our purpose. We want children to
rediscover the challenges and opportunities that us
Córdovas are experiencing because we love to read.
We see a little bit of us in their eyes, and we want them
to succeed. If they succeed, we do too.
Córdova Newsletter | 6

How to Divide Your Week in DC: A Recipe for a Good Internship

Gretchen Alvarado and
Cristina Faica
8 hours of programming 3 hours networking in Front Page on
1 hour doing a last minute journal Thursday night
32 hours of work 4 Staying true to your Latin roots in Café
Citron or Sesto Senso on Fridays
2 hours reading the Announcements and
Reminders email 7 hours of site seeing on Saturday
afternoon
5 hours of sleep
2 hours pre-gaming
3 hours of Laundry
5 hours enjoying a new club on
2 hours doing the portfolio Saturday night
10 hours of drama
12 hours of procrastinating

Quote Wall
The Córdova & Fernós Internship Program has been one of the most important and exciting experiences I’ve
ever had. Washington, D.C., work, the people, everything combines to ensure you have the experience of a
lifetime. With the Office of the Governor, PRFAA, I have been given the opportunity to develop myself in
many areas that I never thought I would. I worked with federal proposals, grants, legal contracts, legislative
affairs, communications and even IT. I also had one of the best law courses ever, Our Living Constitution,
with Professor Janice E. Garlitz. I had the opportunity to meet and share with a lot of people including our
Governor Luis Fortuño. At the end, I really have to say that I did learn something that will be with me for the
rest of my life; “You can hear others’ experiences but can’t leave it there, if you have the opportunity go do it
yourself, enjoy, go back, share the experience and laugh together”.
—Xiomara E. Ramírez, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Spring 2009 Intern at the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
 Córdova Newsletter | 7

Making my Time Count

Brendaliss Gonzalez,
University of Sacred
Heart
Spring 2009 Intern with
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Right: Brenda
volunteering at CentroNía
Bottom: Brenda with
Congresswoman Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen

One of my main goals for my TWC internship was to

make sure that I completed more than just an internship.
Why merely limit myself to the work-experience and why
spend my valuable time doing things I could do back
home or things I wouldn’t even remember? A semester
may seem like a long time, however as soon as I arrived
I realized that time flew and it was very precious!

I think that one of the best things I could have done

throughout my time here was involving myself in the
local community and being active “after hours”. This
experience was one of the first times for me being on
my own and I wanted to conquer all of my fears and put
myself out there. The TWC introduced me to CentroNía,
a non-profit educational center with a weekend tutoring
program. It was there that I was able to complete
my Civic Engagement project and at the same time
give and involve myself in the local community. Every
Saturday I tutored a six-year-old girl and got a real feel
over the Latin Community of Washington, D.C.

I also involved myself in a local church. Going to church

every Sunday was a wonderful way to expose myself
to locals and keep a positive focus. I was able to join a
mentoring program, where I met a wonderful woman
who dedicated one day a week to talk, give advice and
provide support. I know that I was able to leave with
valuable lessons, maturity and friendships.

As I look over, the best experience and opportunity for

personal growth was through my involvement throughout
the weekends and after work. It was a great time to
challenge myself to go above and beyond what the
curriculum required. I leave this experience knowing that
I took advantage of all the tools around me and made
sure this was an experience I will never forget!
 The Washington Center
for Internships and Academic Seminars
1333 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036-2205

CONTACT INFORMATION:

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Lourdes Torres
Federal Internship Programs
Office of Legislative Services
Puerto Rico Senate
(787) 721-5200

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Arleen Ramirez Borysiewicz
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
The Washington Center
arleenr@twc.edu
(202) 238-7962

Vanessa Gil Gasparri

Senior Manager, External Affairs
The Washington Center
vanessa@twc.edu
(202) 238-7972

Eila Sepulveda ‘04

Program Manager,
Cordova y Fernos Program
The Washington Center
eilas@twc.edu
(202) 238-7971
www.wirelessbrain.org
Support the Puerto Rico Alumni
We embarked upon the endeavor of carrying out a civic engagement project with a firm
Scholarship Fund to benefit future
Cordova y Fernos participants resolution to cause a positive impact over the way in which our citizenry is represented
democratically. As we brainstormed ways in which we could achieve this goal, we came
For more information, contact: to understand that there is a need to implement the use of technological tools such as
The Washington Center the Internet in order to strengthen the practice of representative democracy globally,
for Internships and Academic Seminars
especially in our native land, Puerto Rico. We are convinced about the capability
1333 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036 that this medium of communication has of enabling people to share information and
Tel: (202) 238-7900 develop social networks. Seeing how broadband access is still at an early stage, we
Fax: (202) 238-7700 are committed to working towards the further development of its accessibility. Also, we
info@twc.edu
understand that in order to effectively use this medium, there has to be an alliance of the
www.twc.edu
public and private sector in order to carry out a comprehensive educational effort that
goes beyond what can be provided through public and private K-12 education.

Furthermore, we wanted to stimulate the practice of dialogue over policy issues that
affect the residents of our community, as well as the communities that surround
us. Consequently, we developed a systematic framework that consists in the
incorporation of a non-profit organization with a mission to further develop the practice
of representation, and in this way, regenerate our democratic system of government.
We are currently in the process of designing our organization’s legal and operational
framework in order to be effective in our efforts to cause a positive impact over the way
in which our citizenry is represented democratically, thus making the diverse modes of
global, regional, and local governance more effective in their task of assuring the socio-
economical well-being of their people.