Intern takeover: meet Bailey White
Hello everyone! My name is Bailey White, and I have had the opportunity to work as Senator Billig’s legislative intern this session. I’m taking over the newsletter today to tell you a little bit about my experience and what I’m taking away from my time here.
I did the math, and I’ve sat in on approximately 100 meetings, answered 1,300 emails, and taken phone calls from 200 constituents. In my three months at the legislature, I estimate I’ve come in contact in one way or another with at least 2,000 people from Spokane, all of whom care so deeply about their workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities that they’re willing to advocate to the state legislature.
I don’t know about you, but to me, that level of advocacy came as a welcome surprise when I started in January.
One specific example comes to mind. In the last couple of months, I’ve had the opportunity to visit a handful of Neighborhood Council Meetings on Senator Billig’s behalf. My favorite so far has been the Logan neighborhood meeting, which is the neighborhood I live in. It was the first one I attended, and I remember when I logged into that Zoom call, I was blown away by the variety of people. There were elderly neighbors, Gonzaga college students, and working moms. All these people had taken time out of their day to be on this call, even though I’m sure they were all Zoomed out. I was thoroughly impressed.
Near the end of the meeting, a woman told the group about some trash outside of her house. She said she was proud of her neighborhood and didn’t want trash to tarnish its reputation. Right then and there, that group of people planned a task force that would go out and pick up the trash the next weekend. I loved that. Trash is a small thing in the scheme of the world, and even Spokane, but I think that experience so clearly highlighted what I like best about this job. No issue is too small, and people care a whole lot.
There are a lot of things about the world that seem hopeless, but the people I’ve had the opportunity to meet give me hope. Whether I agree or disagree with what they have to say, the people I get to talk to are not apathetic. They care about the future of our state, country, and world.
I feel lucky to work with people who care and work for people who care, and I am extremely thankful for Senator Billig, Noelle, Morgan, and everyone else at the legislature for giving me this opportunity.
If you know someone who is interested in the Washington State Legislative Internship Program, they can email leo.oleary@leg.wa.gov or colleen.rust@leg.wa.gov for more information about next session.
