Page 12 - HFA Dateline 2022 Q1 Spring

Where Are They Now? I ensure the district meets its goals for
membership, personnel, programming
HFA caught up with its former policy and and community philanthropic support.
I manage over 200 volunteers that
government relations interns to see what they’re provide outdoor leadership learning
up to, how they reflect on their HFA internship experience to 900 youth in Stearns
and advice they have for future interns. County, Minnesota.
My internship: My time at HFA is what
BY LINDSAY COX, HFA SENIOR MANAGER FOR ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH swayed me to work for a nonprofit as
opposed to a governmental agency
or private company. It was a defining
moment in my life. I will always
Eric Burgeson prominent clients. The work involved remember attending the congressional
Gainesville, Florida in telling individual stories is incredibly briefing where Sonji Wilkes testified on
2016 Intern rewarding. surprise billing and realizing our work
Nowadays: I’m an education My internship: I was putting bleeding disorders issues
manager at HFA! I’m also about love DC, and I am at the front of the national dialogue on
halfway through a master’s of very grateful for health care.
public health at being there during Advice for HFA interns: Every second
the University the controversial of that internship is a treasure and
of Florida, time I was there. opportunity to transform yourself
concentrating on My favorite part into a better advocate, co-worker and
population health about the experience was exploring person. Make the most of the work
management. I’m the Smithsonians in my free time. you are given, learn something new
involved in a CDC Advice for HFA interns: Don’t be and take those lessons back to your
cooperative agreement with HFA, afraid to suggest new things, and communities and put them into action.
and I currently manage HFA’s Blood always bring your own perspective HFA is making an investment in you,
Brotherhood program. and talents to the work you do! HFA so make it pay off.
My internship: It was the experience has picked you for a reason—they
that took me from a raw, directionless know that you have valuable insight
college student to start my gears and abilities to share with the bleeding Jasmin Wyatt
turning to think about where I wanted disorders community, and you Berkeley, California
my career to lead. It also served as should do everything you can to take 2019 Intern
the base of learning how to comport advantage of that opportunity. Nowadays: I graduated from UC
myself in a professional setting. Berkeley in the spring of 2021 with
Advice for HFA interns: Take Dylan Edwards a degree in political science and a
advantage of the networking Sauk Rapids, Minnesota minor in public policy. At Berkeley,
opportunities, and live up every 2019 Intern I spent a lot of
second you can in DC. It’s a Nowadays: Since the summer of time organizing
phenomenal city, and two months is all 2019, I earned my master’s of public around grassroots
you need to explore it. administration from The Ohio State campaigns and
University, focusing on nonprofit writing about
Paul Heinrich finance. Currently, I serve as the California politics.
Once I graduated,
Phoenix district executive I began working as a campaign
2017 Intern for scenic district coordinator for an organization
Nowadays: I graduated with a at Central focused on environmental issues.
degree in professional writing in Minnesota Council Recently, I have started a job as a
2020. Currently, I run my own Boy Scouts fundraising associate for California
production company and have of America. political campaigns. In this role, I am
had the opportunity to work with In that role,
able to assist amazing campaigns

12 DATELINE FEDERATION < www.hemophiliafed.org