Colin Powell School
Rumer LeGendre, a 2019 graduate of the Colin Powell School, took full advantage of the opportunities that the Colin Powell School provides to prepare students for careers in public service. She interned at the National Organization for Women through the school's Semester in Washington, DC program, and now she is interning at Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez's office through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leader on Capitol Hill program.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I was born and raised in Clinton Hills, Brooklyn, but I now reside in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. As the child of immigrants from Trinidad and Venezuela, I share the common story of my parents coming to this country to provide a better life for their children. Naturally that always meant there was an expectation for me to achieve more than they ever could and dream big.
What brought you to City College, and why did you choose the Colin Powell School?
During my junior year of high school, I weighed many options for college. Although I applied and got in to several public and private colleges outside of New York City, I ultimately stayed home for financial and personal reasons. My first semester was at Brooklyn College where I was exposed to a very diverse group of students on a small but pretty campus. The long commute took a toll and after doing some research, I decided to look into City College, which was a mere two train stops from my home. It also happened to be the school where my mother was completing her master’s degree. I had never visited the campus until after I completed my transfer application and was accepted. On the first day when I visited to complete formal paperwork and have an advisor meeting, I was amazed by the Hogwarts-styled campus hidden right in my backyard. Before I arrived at City College, I had a strong interest in law school, so naturally one of the first classes I took was Intro to American Government. I enjoyed the coursework and had a great professor, and after that one class, I declared Political Science as my major, officially affiliating myself with the Colin Powell School.
What concentration did you choose, and what social issues are you passionate about?
I majored in Political Science with a Philosophy minor. I originally had a strong interest in nonprofits and wanted to focus on tackling educational inequality from a programming standpoint. Through tutoring and after school programs, I wanted to be a part of the solution in helping to close the achievement gap between whites and students of color. However, once I got more in-depth into my major I was intrigued by the role of elected officials and how policy can create meaningful, long-lasting change in response to any social issue. I believed that if I gained a better understanding of how our government operates, I could use policy to assist the most marginalized people in our country and provide opportunities for people.
What did you find unique and special about the Colin Powell School?
The ideals of civic and global leadership are truly embedded within the curriculum and the culture of the school as a whole. I’ve witnessed so many of my peers in their fellowships, internships, or classes taking on leadership roles and informing their community and friends about pertinent social issues. The Colin Powell School has created an environment where students have the desire and drive to learn beyond the classroom and apply their education in the real world.
What is your current profession and how did you get to where you are?
I am currently a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Emerging Leader on Capitol Hill where I serve as a legislative intern for Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. I did various political and policy oriented internships before this and it has all led to this internship, which was an experience I always hoped to have. I wanted to understand legislation from all perspectives, and coming from a policy internship on a local level to Congress brings everything full circle.
How has the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation aided your professional development?
To this day Capitol Hill, the place where legislation is crafted and implemented, remains very homogenous with shockingly low rates of people of color. A lot of the professional development I have received at the CBCF has been centered on ways we as young, driven, and ambitious people of color can navigate Capitol Hill. We were given space to share our hopes and fears about our internships, which was comforting and a much-needed release. We also had the opportunity to hear from former CBCF staffers who provided insight on the tasks we’d likely be given and ways we could be a strong asset to our office.
How would you say the Colin Powell School helped you to get where you are?
To put it simply, the Colin Powell School has provided me a great education as my base along with numerous opportunities to expand my horizons and engage with my peers. Through the on-campus lecture series, professional development workshops, fellowships, and volunteer opportunities, the school has supported my academic and personal development. Participating in the Semester in Washington D.C. program, in particular, provided me the perfect opportunity to make essential connections between my studies and the real world. During my junior year spring semester in DC, I interned at the National Organization for Women as the Development and Operations Intern. I learned firsthand how NOW continues to have a presence in the growing feminist movement and partners with other women organizations to make their voices heard in Congress. The Colin Powell School’s program in DC also provided me access to amazing speakers and the center of policy, which in turn influenced my next move as I became even more passionate about politics and policy. I truly could not have asked for a better experience that greatly affected the trajectory of my career.
What advice would you give students and alumni who are looking to obtain a career in government and looking for roles in Capitol Hill?
I would highly suggest interning on the Hill. Internships on the Hill are the first foot in the door and often one of the only ways to be considered for an entry-level job. When hiring, many offices look for people that have Hill experience as they prefer to hire someone familiar with how Capitol Hill operates. Aside from interning, I would suggest volunteering or working for a local campaign. Often that can be a great avenue for a job with an elected official's team down the road.
Thank you, Rumer LeGendre, for speaking with us today about your experiences.
Interested in the Colin Powell School's student support programs? Find out more about our Semester in DC program, our fellowships, and our legal studies honors program, and more on our website.