As part of PAAIA’s Congressional Internship Program (CHIP), Iranian American students and young professionals are provided with opportunities to gain firsthand experience in public service and policymaking through internships in congressional offices across the country. The program seeks to empower the next generation of Iranian American civic leaders by fostering professional development, public engagement, and a deeper understanding of government and advocacy. This spring, CHIP Fellow Sam Rafizad interned in the office of Congressman Mike Levin, representing California’s 49th Congressional District.
“This spring, I had the privilege of being a legislative intern for Congressman Mike Levin, who represents my hometown in California. As a constituent, interning for my Representative presented a special opportunity to apply my passion for public service to a region that I have an intimate relationship with. In addition to serving communities that I care deeply about, I was also able to explore my personal policy interests and witness first-hand the nexus between public service and policy in our nation’s capital.
Like most congressional interns, my experience on Capitol Hill was extremely eventful. Beginning with the U.S. military capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—which happened one day before I started—my internship spanned a contentious period in American politics. These were unforgettable, and incredibly sad, moments in our history that I uniquely experienced from the halls of the U.S. Congress.
The anxieties that these events invoked instilled an additional layer of meaning to my work, and I discovered a profound fulfillment in engaging with these issues in a congressional office. Constituent calls regarding increased federal immigration enforcement operations in neighborhoods provided invaluable local insights that led to subsequent congressional oversight visits. Drafting legislative memos informed and influenced the Congressman’s cosponsorship and voting decisions on various issue areas, ranging from housing policy to gun violence prevention measures. Even leading tours offered an opportunity to reflect on and impart the importance of our democratic institutions and processes—particularly as we come up on 250 years of American democracy.
Altogether, these experiences enabled me to cultivate a deeper understanding of how congressional offices and our legislative system function. I witnessed first-hand how a problem identified by a constituent could prompt federal action, whether through legislation aimed at providing a policy solution or oversight investigations. Being a small part of this process was especially rewarding and strengthened my conviction that our federal government still has the potential to be an agent of positive change—as long as it aspires to be ‘a government of the people, by the people, for the people.’ I was honored to work for a Congressman that also shared this belief and I particularly enjoyed watching how Representative Levin, as a member of the Appropriations Committee and Vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, fervently championed legislation that would improve people’s lives.
I am extremely grateful to PAAIA and Congressman Levin’s office for making this experience possible. Being a CHIP Fellow provided an additional source of support during my internship, and I am especially thankful for the guidance of PAAIA mentors Masoud Mostajabi and Morad Ghorban. They were incredibly helpful resources and shared networking opportunities to connect with other Iranian Americans working on the Hill, such as a delightful Nowruz party in Congresswoman Ansari’s office. Most importantly, through PAAIA I recognized the importance of mobilizing Iranian Americans to be civically engaged members of society. As an immigrant community that has experienced war and oppression, I firmly believe that Iranian Americans have a significant role to play in defending democracy and freedom in America, and ensuring that our public officials and federal government also uphold these values globally.
I am excited to take all that I have learned from interning at Congressman Levin’s office as I prepare to attend law school in the fall and further my public service and policy interests.”
PAAIA congratulates Sam on the successful completion of his internship and thanks him for his dedication to public service and civic engagement. Through programs like CHIP, PAAIA remains committed to supporting emerging Iranian American leaders as they pursue careers in government, policy, advocacy, and law. We look forward to seeing all that Sam accomplishes in the years ahead.
