June 14, 2023
Democracy Camp is open to UC Berkeley sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all majors. Eligible applicants must be enrolled during the spring semester immediately prior to traveling to Washington, DC (seniors who will graduate in May are eligible). Participation is restricted to students who fit at least one of the following criteria: first-generation student, transfer student, or non-traditional/reentry student.
Applications for Democracy Camp 2024 will open in August; eligible students are encouraged to reach out to Megan Collins (meganjcollins@berkeley.edu) for more information.
2023 Democracy Camp cohort pose with the Washington Monument in the background. | 05.20.23
WASHINGTON, DC – In May, fifteen Cal undergraduate students traveled from California to Washington, DC to participate in Democracy Camp, a program run by the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service at IGS.
Now in its second year, Democracy Camp in DC (an extension of the Matsui Center’s popular Democracy Camp alternative spring break program) is a weeklong experiential learning program designed to expose students to careers at the federal level. Through a series of guest speakers, site visits, and panel sessions, students learn about a broad range of federal government and auxiliary fields, including the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches, career positions and political appointments, think tanks, advocacy organizations, law professions, and more.
Fiza Mehmood (Political Sceince, '23) takes notes during a panel session at the US Department of Homeland Security | 05.22.23
Democracy Camp is designed to help students envision and chart their unique path to public service through first hand exposure. “From a young age, I wanted to pursue a career that makes real change in my community,” said Amber Griffin-Royal, a rising senior majoring in African American Studies. “However, that path sometimes isn’t clear. This trip allowed me the chance to see how public policy could be an avenue for me to pursue my dreams of being a change-maker!”
Ngan Pham (Education, '25) speaks during a panel session at the US Department of Education | 05.25.23
“Meeting young passionate professionals and established professionals made me take into account a wide range of perspectives about DC,” said Danny Franco, a rising senior studying Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. “This experience reaffirmed to me that I will pursue a career in public service and make a change.”
Students meet with Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. | 05.24.23
Democracy Camp provides unique access to spaces of power in our nation’s capital, made possible through the generous support of the programs’ partners in DC. During Democracy, participants lodge at the UC Washington Center, home of the UCDC program and situated in the heart of Washington. Students visit cultural and historical sites, including the National Mall and Smithsonian museums, explore historical neighborhoods, and access the nerve center of our nation’s democratic institutions, including the White House, the US Capitol, the Supreme Court, and more. This year’s cohort were also invited to curated panels at the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of Education, and the Human Rights Campaign.
(From left) Kevin Figueroa (UC Berkeley and Matsui Center alum and Legislative Aide for Senator Michael Bennet), Tatiana Butte, and Maryln Suhey Zuno (Political Science, Comparative Ethnic Studies, ’23) at the Russell Senate Office Building. | 05.21.23
Students gather for a selfie outside the US Capitol. | 05.23.23
“As a first-generation, low-income Latina, entering political spaces that I only read about and saw on TV was empowering,” said Franco. Democracy Camp Co-Student Director Tatiana Butte (Geography, minor in Public Policy, ’24) shared that exploring DC gave her “a sense of direction that I can work here and do belong in this city.”
Anthony Mondragon (Political Science, ’24) speaks during a panel session at the US Department of Homeland Security. | 05.22.23
In addition to guest speaker sessions, students gain tools and resources to support their career goals. This year, UCDC staff offered a professional development workshop on securing an internship/job in Washington, DC. Students also participated in an interactive networking training run by the Matsui Center.
(From left) Daisy Flores (Ethnic Studies, minor in Race and the Law, ’23), Alexia Guerra, and Salvador Uribe (American Studies, minor in Ethnic Studies, ’23) practice networking during a workshop at the UC Washington Center. | 05.21.23
Students had an opportunity to put their networking skills into action at a Cal Alumni Reception hosted by Paul Rosenthal, Class of 1972 and Chair of Kelley Drye & Warren LLC. The reception brought together a supportive and welcoming group of Cal alumni from different backgrounds and fields, all of whom are engaged in public service work in the DC area.
“At first I was very nervous because it was my first formal networking event, but with my cohort I felt very comfortable going into it. The view was spectacular, the food was delicious, and most of all the alumni were great to talk to. I met with people who gave me wonderful advice on various pathways that I could take postgrad. All the alumni were extremely willing to keep in touch (and connect on LinkedIn) and to continue talking to me afterwards. I was able to learn about the different paths that people were able to take before coming to their current careers and learn about people's different educational backgrounds…. I'm very grateful to have been part of this networking event and to have put myself out there.” – Fiza Mehmood
Sarah Michelle Orozco (Sociology, ’24) speaks with Matsui Center Director and IGS Executive Director Christine Trost (center) and Marcus Markle (right; UC Berkeley alum and Strategic Communications Manager for the DC Metro Transit Authority) at the Cal Alumni Reception. | 05.21.23
(From left) Ngan Pham, Kulsoom Hasan (Political Science, minor in Public Policy, ’23), Fiza Mehmood, David Carranza (American Studies, ’23), and Alex Vaughn (UC Berkeley alum and Senate Judiciary Aide) listen to remarks at the Cal Alumni Reception. | 05.21.23
Democracy Camp is specifically designed for first-generation, transfer, and non-traditional students, and is structured to center students’ perspectives and voices. The program strives to create a sense of belonging within the cohort, on the UC Berkeley campus, and in Washington through representation, transformation, and community building. For Alexia Guerra (Political Science and Ethnic Studies, minor in History, ’25), this program empowered her and others in the cohort “to see ourselves in spaces that were not made for us. I am grateful for all the opportunities…to continue inspiring students of color to attain information about worlds and opportunities that are not accessible.”
Janet Mendoza-Partida (right; Legal Studies, Chicanx Studies, ’25) speaks with Sharon Mar (Chief of Operations & Administration at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy) following a Cal alumni panel focused on the experiences of first-gen, BIPOC, immigrant, justice-involved, and/or non-traditional students. | 05.25.23
“It was a pleasure to be able to have a space that was all about empowerment and growth,” reflected Mehmood. “I formed great friendships with so many people in the cohort and it was crazy to think that our time together in DC was ending. There's honestly no other group of people I would have wanted to experience DC for the first time with.”
Nouhamin Leoulekal (Legal Studies, African American Studies, ’25) poses in front of the White House. | 05.24.23