Washington, D.C
CPLA members take on Washington, D.C. for annual trip – The Berkeley Beacon
Members of Emerson’s Communication, Politics, and Law Association (CPLA) took their annual trip to Washington, D.C., from April 11 to April 14, engaging with a small portion of the college’s alumni presence in the nation’s capital.
CPLA has been taking immersion trips to D.C. since 1984. On these trips, members have engaged with alumni who work in various industries, many of which are either headquartered in or have a large presence in the city.
Students took a tour of the Washington Center, where they have the opportunity to spend a semester in the nation’s capitol during their time at Emerson. During the program, students work a full-time internship and take two academic courses.
They then attended an immersive workshop on Friday at the State Department, which was an active career panel held on the department’s main campus, and an executive career panel held at the DACOR Bacon House located on F Street.
The active career panel was moderated by Tristram Perry, a foreign service officer based in D.C. who has previously served in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Norway. The panel included members of the foreign and civil service divisions of the State Department. Many topics were discussed throughout the panel, the most paramount being how to start a career in the foreign or civil service.
Members of the panel included Andrew Herman, a foreign service IT specialist whose previous assignments include Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Mikkela V. Thompson is a foreign service office management specialist who has served overseas in Bangladesh, Colombia, Peru, and Italy, was also present.
Additionally, Jed Wolfington, a public diplomacy foreign service officer who works on issues related to cultural change and has previously served overseas in Ukraine, Pakistan, Chile, and Moldova, was also there. Russell Gaither is a civil service officer currently serving as the diversity, equity, inclusion, and access officer for the Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM) who was present as well.
Katherine Asselin, a third-year political communication major who serves as the president of CPLA, said she felt most connected to the two female panelists throughout the trip.
“The speakers I [most] connected with were the only two women we spoke to, Mikkela Thompson and Emily Horne,” said Asselin. “Perhaps the reason I connected with them was because they are passionate and capable women working in the political or diplomatic field which [may sometimes] doubt their abilities.”
The executive career panel later that afternoon at the DACOR Bacon House was also moderated by Perry and was comprised of retired ambassador Richard E. Hoagland and Emily Horne.
Hoagland’s career with the State Department began in 1985 working with the Afghan resistance during the Soviet-Afghan War. He later held many diplomatic posts including ambassador to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, chargé d’affaires in Turkmenistan, press spokesman in Uzbekistan, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
Horne currently serves as chief executive officer (CEO) of Allegro Public Affairs after an extensive career in government. She previously served as special assistant to the president, spokesperson, and senior director for the press at the National Security Council (NSC) in the Biden administration. Additionally, she led communication and confirmation efforts for Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Previous to this work, Horne served as a civil servant in the Obama-era State Department, including as communications director for the Obama Administration’s counter-ISIS efforts and spokesperson for South and Central Asian Affairs.
Hailey Haddon, a third-year political communication major, remarked that having the opportunity to speak with career professionals was a meaningful aspect of the trip.
“It was great to speak with such experienced and highly regarded professionals such as former Ambassador Richard Hoagland,” said Haddon. “[His] experiences working in the State Department were incredibly inspiring, and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to speak with him.”
Dr. Gregory Payne, chair of the communication studies department, noted that this year’s state department workshop was the most immersive in the organization’s history in taking trips to D.C.
“The State Department workshop and the degree to which [students] had access to very important people would be the best that we’ve had in the past,” said Payne. “The conference room we were in is one where major events occur and you had Tristram, who I think is an invaluable resource and somebody that I think demonstrates what the Emerson value is.”
Students then had the opportunity to meet with multiple Emerson alumni who work in D.C. Peter Loge ‘87 serves as the director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. Mehroz Sajjad ‘15 is a Fullbright scholar and doctoral teaching assistant in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky. On Saturday, students took a tour of the U.S. Capitol building and later spoke with Elias Romanos ‘17, who currently works at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Zoë Berghorn, a second-year political communication major who serves as a co-treasurer of CPLA, noted that her desire to work for the Department of Education was made more tangible by speaking with Romanos, who previously worked for the department.
“[Through asking Romanos] about his change in position and departments, I was able to realize the flexibility of being in the professional field with a political communication degree,” said Berghorn. “[It actualized that] I can chase my interests while they morph through my professional career.”
On Sunday, students visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture before heading back to Boston.
Asselin added that the community-building aspect of the trip was most memorable.
“I love watching a group of people go from being cordial peers to becoming friends, and ultimately a more cohesive team,” said Asselin. “A collective experience like a trip or spending 8 hours together on a train really does wonders for building companionship and camaraderie.”
*Note: The writer of this article is an active member of CPLA.
Washington, D.C
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC Welcomes Jeff Gunhus and Landis Rush to the Board of Directors
WASHINGTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC (RMHCDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Gunhus and Landis Rush to its Board of Directors. Both executives bring extensive leadership experience and a shared commitment to community impact that will further RMHCDC’s mission of supporting families with sick or injured children.
Jeff Gunhus is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, bestselling author, and CEO of Home Genius Exteriors, a leading home improvement company known for its commitment to social responsibility. Under his leadership, Home Genius Exteriors launched Home Genius Cares, an initiative focused on giving back to local communities. Gunhus’s passion for leadership development and corporate philanthropy will be invaluable to the board.
Landis Rush serves as the National Vice President, State and Local Government, Advocacy and Education, Public Sector Labor & Trust at United HealthGroup. With over 23 years of experience in policy and lobbying, Rush has worked closely with government officials at all levels, advocating for policies that improve access to healthcare and social services. His expertise in government relations and public sector engagement will strengthen RMHCDC’s ability to serve families in need.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff and Landis to our Board of Directors,” said Meera Pillai, Chair of the Board of Directors for RMHCDC. “Their leadership, expertise, and dedication to giving back align with our mission, and we look forward to the contributions they will make.”
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Washington, DC (RMHCDC), a non-profit, 501 (C) (3), EIN #52-1132262, provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare. Through two Ronald McDonald House® programs and the Ronald McDonald Hospitality Carts; RMHCDC keeps families with sick children together and close to the medical care their child needs at leading local hospitals. RMHCDC programs provide access to quality health care and enable family-centered care, ensuring families are fully supported and actively involved in their children’s care. For more information, visit rmhcdc.org.
Follow Us!
Facebook.com/RMHCofDC – X.com/RMHCDC – Instagram.com/RMHCDC
CONTACTS: Omar Linton – RMHCDC – [email protected] – +1 202-424-2702
SOURCE Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is defending her decision to paint over Black Lives Matter Plaza. Bowser announced on Tuesday plans to change the large yellow lettering that’s been a landmark in the city since it was installed in 2020.
The mayor acknowledged on wednesday she made the move after pressure from the White House.
Black Lives Matter Plaza was an act of defiance in 2020 by bowser during president trump’s first term when the streets of the country, and in D.C., were erupting in civil protest following the murder of George Floyd.
Bowser ordered the giant letters painted on the street in front of the White House.
But now in Trump’s second term, Bowser is less defiant.
“We have bigger fish to fry than fights over what has been very important to us and to the history and especially in our ability to keep our city safe during that time, that mural played a very important part,” she said. “But now our focus is on making sure our residents and our economy survives.”
Bowser was candid that her decision to paint over Black Lives Matter Plaza came after talks with the White House.
“Well, I’m not going to talk about specifics, about my conversations, but I think it’s safe to say that people don’t like it, didn’t like it. It’s safe to say, you can imagine that, yes,” she said.
Bowser made it clear her decision came before Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia filed legislation requiring D.C. to paint over the plaza or risk losing federal transportation funding.
“My intention was to announce this with our next America 250 commission meeting, which will be later this month,” she said. “So while the announcement came a little bit sooner than I had planned, the decision had been made.”
As for Clyde’s legislation requiring the city to rename the area Liberty Plaza and erase any mention of Black Lives Matter Plaza, Bowser said, “We expect to have a discussion — a citywide discussion — about how we will honor the nation’s semiquincentennial, and we expect it to be a part of that discussion, but we don’t support the Congressman’s bill.”
The mayor plans to replace the Black Lives Matter mural with another mural related to the nation’s 250th birthday, but she provided no details on when the current lettering would be removed.
News4 reached out to Clyde’s office to ask if the mayor’s move impacts his legislation. In a written statement, the congressman said, “I’m very pleased that within one day of introducing my bill to rename BLM Plaza, Mayor Bowser announced plans to do just that. My focus remains on ensuring this woke, divisive slogan is removed and no longer stains the streets of America’s capital city, and I will continue pursuing my effort until BLM Plaza is officially gone for good.”
Nonprofit supporting veterans transitioning into agriculture begins presence in nation’s capital for greater access to policymakers and federal agencies
Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Veterans transitioning into agriculture. (Photo: USDA, Public domain)
WACO, Texas — The Farmer Veteran Coalition has launched a virtual office in Washington, D.C., which will enable the nonprofit greater access to policymakers and federal agencies to better serve its members.
Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Veterans transitioning into agriculture. It has more than 52,000 members nationwide.
“By establishing a presence in Washington, D.C., FVC aims to strengthen its engagement with lawmakers, federal agencies, and other national organizations that influence agricultural and Veterans’ policies,” said FVC Chief Executive Officer Jeanette Lombardo.
“This office will more effectively facilitate our active involvement in legislative discussions, ensuring that the needs of Farmer Veterans are considered in agricultural and Veteran affairs policies. This will help FVC advocate more effectively for funding, training programs, and resources that empower our members.”
Lombardo said this exposure will facilitate stronger partnerships, increase awareness of the challenges faced by Farmer Veterans, and provide greater opportunities to influence policy changes that promote economic stability and success for Veterans entering the agricultural sector.
Through its office, FVC will actively participate in discussions regarding agricultural funding, access to land and capital, behavioral health resources, ag careers, food insecurity in military communities, and business development programs, she said.
It will also provide a platform for Farmer Veterans to share their experiences and insights with key decision makers, ensuring that policies reflect the real-world challenges and needs of beginning farmers and ranchers. Lombardo was appointed recently to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Advisory Board.
Lombardo noted that Washington, D.C., is home to numerous nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and industry leaders that align with FVC’s mission of mobilizing Veterans to feed America.
“This new office will enable FVC to forge stronger alliances with organizations such as the National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Credit and other Veteran support groups,” she said. “By working collaboratively, FVC can create a united front in advocating for policies that benefit both the agricultural and Veteran communities.”
Beyond policy advocacy, the office will serve as a hub for connecting Farmer Veterans with valuable resources, she said, including grant opportunities for their farms, business training, and mentorship programs.
The launch of FVC’s office in Washington, D.C., represents a new chapter in the organization’s mission to empower Farmer Veterans, Lombardo said. By bridging the gap between grassroots efforts and national policy, FVC is positioned to create lasting change that benefits Veteran farmers, their families, and the broader agricultural community.
Based in Waco, Texas, Farmer Veteran Coalition’s mission is to assist service members and Veterans transitioning out of military service into careers in the agriculture sector or assist them with starting their own farms or ranches. Established in 2009, FVC’s in-house programs include the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund small grant program, the nationally recognized Homegrown By Heroes label for Veteran-grown products, and national and regional conferences.
As the nation’s largest nonprofit assisting veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces embark on careers in agriculture, FVC works to develop a new generation of farmers and food leaders. This is done through expanding viable employment and career opportunities with support and collaboration of the farming and military communities. For more information, visit www.farmvetco.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @FarmerVeteranCoalition and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@farmvetcoalition/videos.
–Farmer Veteran Coalition
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