College graduates interested in public administration have a unique opportunity to learn about the inner workings of a branch of state government through the Capital Fellows Programs.
"The Capital Fellows Programs provide an opportunity to engage in public service while preparing for a future career," said Robbin Lewis-Coaxum, Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto). "Since they have an impact on the future development of California, we need more Fellows from the Inland Empire, because that is where much of the state's growth is taking place."
There are four programs within the Capital Fellows Programs. The programs are the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program, the Executive Fellowship Program, the California Senate Fellows and the Judicial Administration Fellowship Program. Each is sponsored by California State University, Sacramento and the legislative branches (Assembly, Senate, Office of the Governor and California Judicial Council).
In each of these, Fellows work full-time for 11 months as staff to a legislative, executive or judicial office and are usually given assignments with significant challenge and responsibility. For instance, in the legislative branch, tasks may include, but are not limited to, drafting and tracking legislation, responding to constituent letters, writing speeches, meeting with constituents, preparing committee briefs, tracking legislation or researching policy issues.
"Not only did I have a lot more life experience, I brought with me many years of work experience from San Bernardino County where we were tackling the same issues being debated in the legislature," Poole said. "I had an agenda, and I was ready to hit the ground running."
That agenda was spawned by Poole's own passion for community service and her view of how public policy decisions made in Sacramento affected youth and minorities. The legislative fellowship provided her with the tools she needed to address the obvious gap in the public's understanding of how the political process worked and what people could do to lessen the impact of legislation and policy decisions they perceived as harmful.
Applications for the 2009-2010 fellowships will be available online at www.csus.edu/calst and from local offices of assembly members such as Wilmer Amina Carter, (355 N. Riverside Ave., Rialto, 93726, (909) 820-5008) and state senators such as Gloria Negrete-McLeod, (4959 Palo Verde St., Ste. 100 B, Montclair, CA 91763 (909) 621-2783) starting in mid-October 2008. Fellows will be chosen in May 2009 and will serve in their fellowship from October 2009 through September 2010.
Anyone with a four-year degree from a college or university, and a demonstrated interest in state government and public service is eligible to apply. All majors are welcome. Recent Fellows' majors have been as diverse as child development, religious studies, law and biochemistry.
People with graduate degrees, or who have substantial career experience are encouraged to apply.
Fellows are officially employed by California State University, Sacramento, which pays a monthly stipend of $1,972 and health benefits, as well as university tuition. CSUS enrolls Fellows as graduate students, and they receive 12 units of credit from either the Government or Public Policy and Administration departments.
With the opening of EmbroidMe in Riverside, the search for a store that can handle custom embroidery, as well as screen printing and promotional product needs has become much easier. This service is great for anyone or any organization in need of apparel and merchandise to be customized with their own logos, events, or any idea that may come to mind.
Creativity and success does not always come hand in hand, but Donald Griggs is the quintessential entrepreneur who has taken a lifelong passion of fashion and transformed it into a career worth boasting about. "Designs by Don" offers an array of Afro-centric inspired neckties put on high quality silk, plus custom made shirts, sold wholesale and retail. When asked what his inspiration is for discovering new designs, Griggs confidently replies that he simply has the eye for appealing patterns and the "click" he senses comes naturally after 35 years of being in the business. Preserving relations with smaller retail boutiques is a priority for the business, but the company continuously spreads the word- or look, rather- by traveling to vintage shows, displaying expressive alternatives to the all too familiar looks outplayed by department stores.
