Dear Friend,
I’m excited to announce that my Fall 2024 Student Internship Program is now accepting applications! Interested students should apply before August 18, 2024! My office is looking for engaged high school, community college, undergraduates, or graduate students who want to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week learning about California policy-making and empowering our residents and community.
Intern at my District Office located within the Elihu M. Harris State Building in Downtown Oakland, playing a key role in engaging with the 18th Assembly District, which includes Alameda, Emeryville, and Oakland. This is a multi-faceted experience, combining detailed legislative analysis with thoughtfully designed communication and social media expertise. Interns will work directly with community members, helping them navigate state government services, and will coordinate with public service groups at events around the District.
Serving as a student intern is a unique opportunity to work and learn side-by-side with state lawmakers and staff policy experts. As a representative of the office, you will meet and collaborate with local elected officials, community groups, business leaders, and non-profits from across the 18th District. You will serve as the office's eyes and ears to ensure we stay up-to-date with community issues and needs.
Today’s EAlert features testimonials from past interns, highlighting their experiences and the valuable skills they gained during their time with us. Together, let's embark on a journey of growth, empowerment, and community impact centered on our emerging community leaders.
Yours in Service,
Mia Bonta
Assemblymember, 18th District
In this newsletter, you'll find the following information:
Assemblymember Mia Bonta & staff are committed to keeping AD-18 residents fully engaged and informed. Please send this newsletter to a friend and subscribe!
Stay connected with our office at (510) 286-1670, Email Me, or follow us on social media.
Assemblymember Bonta’s Student Internship and Testimonials
*Pictured Above: Some of Assemblymember Bonta’s Summer 2023 Interns, alongside staff and community organizers, tabling at the Living Science Day at Liberation Park in East Oakland.
The California State Assembly Student Internship Program offers a unique opportunity to participate and experience the work of a state assembly office. Many current Assemblymembers and government staffers started as District interns around the state. We asked our current and former interns to share their experiences to show whether an internship at Assemblymember Bonta’s office is right for you.
Apply for Assemblymember Bonta’s Student Internship Program today.
Benicio De Palm - Summer 2024 Intern
I was honored to be able to work for Assemblymember Bonta’s office for the summer and it was an experience I’ll never forget. With the constant support of the staff, I was able to construct a policy proposal that I was able to propose to Assemblymember Bonta. This gave me the opportunity to both learn about the legislative process on the state level and to push for change in my community.
All of Team Bonta was also extremely supportive of me throughout my internship. Whether it was giving fun and interesting tasks to work on or sharing advice for after college, it truly felt like I was part of the team. District Director Rowena Brown and Senior Field Representative Gésler Zavala also did an amazing job leading the cohort. They constantly reached out to all of us to make sure that we all had a gratifying experience.
Another amazing aspect of the internship is the outreach work I was able to do. Whether it was working with advocacy groups, attending community cleanups, or attending fundraising events, I always felt like I was a part of the East Bay community. This has also been an amazing networking experience, as I feel a lot of new doors will open up for me once I complete my final year at UC Davis.
Katherine - Fall 2023 Intern
My student internship with #TeamBonta was an enlightening immersion into public policy and state legislation. I particularly enjoyed engaging with the community and understanding AD-18's needs to develop my legislative proposal request: a community garden initiative to alleviate the district’s and state’s nutritional insecurity. At the end of my term, I even had the opportunity to present my proposal to Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
I am particularly grateful for the mentorship I received throughout the semester from District Director Rowena Brown, who was kind enough after my internship to submit a letter of recommendation on my behalf for my Capital Fellows application. Furthermore, the mentorship I received from Gélser Zavala during my intern assignments, as well as the professional development opportunities, have contributed significantly to setting me up for success post-graduation from UC Berkeley. If you want to make a difference in California and are looking to gain legislative experience from a group of kind-hearted, passionate leaders, look no further and join #TeamBonta.
Trinity - Summer 2023 Intern
I had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the 2023 Summer Intern Cohort in the Office of Assemblymember Bonta! Working in the Office this summer showed me the vital work that goes into creating meaningful legislation and what it takes to fulfill an elected official's responsibilities effectively. One of the things that I valued was the work I did to help uplift AD-18.
Another highlight was the policy proposal project that I got to do! I had the chance to research and develop a policy proposal on an important topic. I have always wanted to experience that process and see how legislators create bills. I came into the internship program wanting to learn about our political systems at the state level and utilize my knowledge to give back. That goal was successfully met during my time in the Office of Asm. Bonta. I am deeply honored to have worked with a group of kind and outstanding individuals who have taught me so much and given me new relationships and an experience that I will always be grateful for.
Trinity is a graduating senior at UCLA studying political science and also interned in Fall 2023 with former Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan.
Sam - Spring 2023 Intern
I served as a remote intern for Assemblymember Bonta’s Office during the Spring of 2023 while a senior at UC Davis. I was raised in Alameda and got my start in public service in the Fruitvale District, so representing my local community was an incredible opportunity to give back and help improve my hometown.
I had attended policy meetings before in other roles, but monitoring new housing development in my own community and sitting across from policy experts to discuss issues around the district was particularly meaningful for me. I jumped at the opportunity to experience the behind-the-scenes work of public service, researching venues in preparation for district events and studying the organizations and civic leaders working every day to better our neighborhoods.
After graduating, I was honored to join the team in person as a part-time Field Representative, tracking public issues, working with constituents, and meeting civic leaders in Oakland’s Council Districts 1 and 2. My experience as an intern provided me with the chance to learn the nuances of the California government and opened doors to positions both within government and with external companies and organizations.