McCarthy Center for Public Policy

DC Program Intern is quoted in Time Magazine

2010-08-31T14:03:00.003-05:00

The Caribbean Drug Kingpin

Turned Porn Star
By Ezra Fieser / Santo Domingo

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010

Jose Figueroa-Agosto is escorted by DEA agents after his arrest in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tania Dumas / El Nuevo Dia

Street vendors in Santo Domingo usually eke out a living selling pirated DVDs of Hollywood blockbusters to motorists caught in the notorious traffic jams of this bustling Caribbean capital. But these days, the motorists are the ones seeking out the vendors. "This porno is all people want," says Wilfredo Ortiz, 22, who has sold DVDs on the streets here for five years. "It's so popular. I've never seen anything like it. This is bigger than that Paris Hilton." But the star of the homemade movie that Ortiz is referring to is no American socialite. He's the Dominican Republic's most wanted man. Known as "Junior Capsula," "Angel Rosa" and a slew of other aliases and nicknames, José Figueroa-Agosto is more aptly described as the Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean, an alleged drug trafficker whose network is extensive and whose rule is lethal.
At least that was the case until last month, when Figueroa-Agosto, 46, was captured while driving through a Puerto Rican neighborhood wearing a wig as a disguise. Living up to his brash reputation, Figueroa-Agosto, when asked by the arresting officers for his identity, said, "You all know who I am," before attempting to run off. His arrest has only served to heighten his status in the Dominican Republic, where a tell-all book was released last week — written by no less than the press secretary of the country's President, Leonel Fernández. The Power of Narco by Rafael Nuñez is an in-depth tale of the hunt for Figueroa-Agosto.
The book and the sex footage — which came into circulation after it was allegedly confiscated during a raid on his Santo Domingo apartment last year — have become something of a comic sideshow to what officials and analysts say is a major step in combating a deadly scourge. "The significance of this arrest can't be overstated. He was the head of a major drug-trafficking organization," says Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, provost of York College at the City University of New York and an adviser for Caribbean governments on how to combat drug trafficking. "This arrest shows that the bad guys can be brought to justice." (See the origins of the Caribbean's drug-trafficking crisis.)
Authorities say Figueroa-Agosto, a Puerto Rican, worked as a drug-boat driver until 1993, when he carried out a hit on a truck driver who allegedly stole a shipment of Colombian cocaine. Puerto Rican courts convicted him of the murder and sentenced him to 209 years in prison. But in 1999, he walked out of the prison's front gates after presenting the guards with a falsified release order. He was on the run for the next 11 years, leading his criminal organization while living what U.S. Marshals described as a luxury lifestyle in both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He allegedly bought homes and cars under false identities. At one point, Figueroa-Agosto — or a man claiming to be him — called a popular Dominican morning radio show and offered an $800,000 reward for the murder of either of the country's two top police officials. (See "Baseball Dreams: Striking Out in the Dominican Republic.")
Puerto Rican and Dominican anti-narcotics units tell TIME that his organization controlled as much as 90% of the drugs that were run from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The FBI says Puerto Rico is the Caribbean's most sought-after drug territory because much of the cargo from there does not have to clear customs before entering the eastern U.S. seaboard. Considering his alleged criminal network's size and influence, Figueroa-Agosto faces shockingly thin charges: the feds have filed a single passport fraud charge that dates to 1999 (he has pleaded not guilty to the charge). But he has already been convicted in Puerto Rico of charges for which he will have to serve 205 years in prison. Agencies are mounting a drug-trafficking case against him and declined to answer questions about the reach of Figueroa-Agosto's organization.
Puerto Rico's Attorney General, Guillermo Somoza-Colombiani, and other sources tell TIME that two of Figueroa-Agosto's partners have been arrested and charged. One is his alleged right-hand man, Elvin Torres Estrada — better known as "El Muñecón" — who was arrested in Puerto Rico in June. According to court documents, Torres supplied a Puerto Rican drug gang called "the Combo of the 70s," which operated out of a fortress-like base in public-housing complexes in Bayamon, just south of the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan. From there, the gang supplied "narcotics to drug traffickers throughout Puerto Rico, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida," an April federal indictment against Torres and 64 other alleged members of the organization states. The organization made millions off the distribution. According to the indictment, they threw a free annual Christmas concert with performances by some of the biggest names in Puerto Rican reggaeton for residents. They reportedly built recording studios and gyms. And they traveled to the U.S. to buy cars to compete in drag-racing events, according to the indictment.
Allegedly feeding it all was Figueroa-Agosto's trafficking ring, receiving shipments from at least three South American routes. According to federal charges filed against the second of Figueroa-Agosto's alleged accomplices, Ramon Antonio Del Rosario-Puente, better known as "Toño Leña," the organization transported South American cocaine and heroin from three routes. A small airplane would drop bundles in the Dominican Republic, where they'd be collected, repackaged and moved to Puerto Rico or the U.S. (Torres, who is in jail awaiting trial, has not entered a plea. Neither has Del Rosario-Puente, who in custody in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Attorney's office in Puerto Rico has asked for his extradition.) (See a brief history of extraditions.)
The racket apparently made Figueroa-Agosto a millionaire. When Dominican authorities raided his Santo Domingo apartment and other residences last year, they confiscated the equivalent of $4.6 million hidden in an armored Mercedes-Benz, eight other vehicles — including two Ferraris — and the animals of a small petting zoo he'd set up in a countryside home. Figueroa-Agosto, however, escaped. A man claiming to be him later told a popular morning radio show that he paid police $1 million to evade the arrest. President Fernández has said there would be no "sacred cows" in routing out the corrupt officials with ties to the case. Last week, 13 police and military officers were removed for their alleged involvement.
Yet similar corruption throughout the region has some questioning the focus of the Obama Administration's major regional anti-drug effort, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Launched last year with $37 million divided among 15 countries, the initiative was needed to mop up the "spillover" from the Colombian and Mexican drug wars, officials say. This year, the Administration has requested $72.6 million, distributed to areas such as military and narcotics control. "The initiative needs to go further in strengthening the local institutions," says Colin Frederick, a Trinidad and Tobago–born research associate with the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Frederick says the Caribbean has long been a way station for drug shipments to the U.S. and Europe, but lately drug traffickers are seeking out more routes in the region. "These are small countries that lack border and maritime security ... And these days, traffickers are looking for alternatives to Central America and Mexico." Many Caribbean countries, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, have linked increasing murder rates to the drug trade. Analysts expect a new wave of violence to follow Figueroa-Agosto's arrest as rival cartels battle for control of the lucrative route. "He'll be replaced by someone else. They'll fight for control," Frederick says.
Figueroa-Agosto's career as a drug trafficker may have come to an end, but back on the streets of Santo Domingo, it seems his cinematic life is just getting started. Police arrested dozens of DVD vendors, but that did little to cut demand. A week after the video first hit the streets, Ortiz says he tripled his asking price for it. "They're selling like hot bread," he says.

The Florida State University summer program for undergraduates.

2009-10-28T12:44:00.004-05:00

The 19th Annual Summer for Undergraduates Program
will take place: May 17- June 11, 2010.

Applications will be accepted beginning October 1, 2009, and must be postmarked by Friday, March 26, 2010.

Overview

The Summer for Undergraduates Program at Florida State Law is the largest of its kind and has become a model for other law schools nationally. Approximately 60 undergraduate college students will be chosen from the applicant pool to participate in the four-week long program.

State-based public policy internships

2008-12-12T15:30:00.002-06:00

The Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University is offering a fellowship program for students who wish to intern at public policy think tanks in their home states. This fellowship also involves two weeks of training in Washington.

Participating think tanks in Minnesota include the Center for the American Experiment and the Freedom Foundation. Applicants should apply to the Koch Summer Fellowship Program at GMU.

Internship Listing: Sen. Klobuchar

2008-11-23T14:02:00.001-06:00

Each year opportunities are made available to bright and dynamic college students to view, first hand, the workings of government. While you are here, we hope to do several things to make this the most productive experience you have had to date. We will:

Clearly define expectations
Offer a rigorous curriculum
Provide for diverse learning experiences
Solicit input for further development of the program

For some of you this may be your first internship, and for others, this may be another in a line of internship experiences. Regardless, we have planned this program with the expectation that you will all leave the Office of Senator Klobuchar with skills that can be applied to whichever future endeavor you explore.

It is important to Senator Klobuchar that you leave with a diverse experience. Our aim is to go far beyond just a "bullet point" on your resume and introduce you to public service and the legislative system.

Below you will find more detail about the experiences available in our Minnesota and Washington offices and how to apply.

What can you expect from an internship in Minnesota ?

In the Twin Cities office, you will work directly with congressional aides on a wide range of issues.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Answering phones and assisting constituents with requests
Assisting constituent advocate staff with casework and related tasks
Assisting outreach staff with research, event planning and other work in key communities
Assisting the scheduling and communications staff
Helping to plan and participation in a monthly community service project
Other assigned tasks

Every effort is made to match interns with staff based upon interests and previous experience and positions will be filled based on office needs.

Full and part-time unpaid internships are available. If your institution allows or requires college credit, accommodations can be made.

How to apply for an Internship in Minnesota

Please submit the following:

Application Form (Download)
Cover Letter Demonstrating Your Writing Skill
Resume
Short Writing Sample
Three References

Internships for the Minnesota program are available for the following four sessions:

Summer Session
June through August
Deadline: May 15th
Fall Session
September through December
Deadline: September 15th
Spring Session
January through May
Deadline: December 15th
January Session
Deadline: December 15th

If you would like to be considered for this program, please send your application materials by mail, email, or fax to:

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis , MN 55415

Phone: 612-727-5220
Fax: 612-727-5223
Email: Joe_Campbell@Klobuchar.senate.gov

Minneapolis: Intergovernmental Relations Intern (Paid)

2008-10-25T15:54:00.002-05:00

The following is a verbatim listing from the Minneapolis Office of Intergovernmental Relations. The McCarthy Center posts relevant internship listings without preference for political party or cause.

The Office of Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) is looking for a full-time, temporary intern. The position is for a minimum of six months starting in December 2008. It is designed to provide an opportunity to a recent college graduate or current graduate student. Successful applicant will work closely with Intergovernmental Relations staff as they advocate for the City of Minneapolis’ legislative agenda at the state legislature. Applicant should have an understanding of the Minnesota State Legislature and an interest in legislative/local government issues.

In addition, the IGR Department is looking for someone interested in assisting community-based nonprofit organizations with fundraising, specifically following up with grants related technical assistance. This may include meeting with organizations to help them develop a grants strategy, identify funding opportunities (government sources and private foundations), and editing draft grant proposals.

Duties:

Assist IGR staff with development of 2008 legislative agenda
Track legislative issues before the Minnesota Legislature
Write/edit weekly report updating and summarizing legislative activities and departmental actions
Research legislative issues and City policies and initiatives
Assist IGR staff at the Capitol
Work with community organizations and identify their legislative priorities
Update city elected officials and department heads regarding legislative actions
Other duties as assigned

Minimum starting salary $8.67 hr. May be higher depending on qualifications.

BA degree required
Excellent writing skills (may be asked to supply a writing sample)
Need to be able to work full time during the normal work day—some evenings/weekends possible
Good organizational skills
Ability to work with minimal supervision
Must provide own transportation to and from outside meetings
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Access

To apply:
Send resume by Friday, November 7, 2008 to: Gene.Ranieri@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
-or-
Gene Ranieri, Director
Intergovernmental Relations
Rm 301M City Hall - 350 S 5th St
Minneapolis, MN 55415

For additional information, call the Intergovernmental Relations Office at (612) 673-2043.

Families USA internship opportunities

2008-10-03T15:20:00.003-05:00

The Villers Fellowship
The Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice was created in 2005 by Philippe Villers, Founder and President of Families USA. Villers Fellows work in our health policy department and assist our organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all Americans, especially for low-income and other vulnerable communities. Specifically, Villers Fellows will conduct research on a range of health care policy issues, and write and contribute to publications that are relevant to current health policy debates.

In creating the fellowship, Mr. Villers aspired to develop a network of young leaders who share a passion for health care justice. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to health care justice work following their year as a fellow. Additionally, in order to encourage the development of future leaders, Villers Fellows must commit to mentoring at least one person over the course of their careers.

The application deadline for the Villers Fellowship is January 15, 2009.

You can find more information, including a downloadable application form, on our Web site:
http://www.familiesusa.org/about/the-villers-fellowship.html

If you have any questions about the Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice or would like to request hard copies of the application brochure, please contact Melissa Rosenblatt at villersfellowship@familiesusa.org

The Wellstone Fellowship
The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice aims to advance social justice through health care advocacy by focusing particularly on the unique challenges facing communities of color. Through this fellowship, established to honor the memory of the late Senator Paul D. Wellstone, we hope to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups.

The ideal candidate must demonstrate an interest in health care policy and racial/ethnic health disparities. Additionally, we are looking for an individual who displays the potential to contribute to social justice work after their year of hands-on experience as a fellow. You can find more information, including a downloadable application form, on our Web site:
http://www.familiesusa.org/about/wellstone-fellowship.html

The application deadline for the Wellstone Fellowship is February 6, 2009.

If you have any questions about the Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice or would like to request hard copies of the application brochure, please contact me at wellstonefellowship@familiesusa.org

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Both fellowships are year-long, full-time, salaried positions at the Families USA office in Washington, DC. Each year, one candidate will be selected for each fellowship. Selected fellows will receive a compensatory package that includes an annual salary of $35,000 and excellent health care benefits.

Alumni and student event in D.C. a success

2008-08-02T13:59:00.009-05:00

A celebration of the first year of the McCarthy Center was held on June 26, 2008 in Washington, D.C. This event brought the 2008 Washington interns and Alumni/ae & Friends of the McCarthy Center together to celebrate and network.
Group with Senator Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader, current national co-chair of Obama 08, co-chair of Bono's One Campaign, author of Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis
Lisa Spoden ('83), reception co-host, Senior Partner and Executive VP of Strategic Health Care and new member of CSB Board of Trustees, talking with Mary Winzenberg, CSB '06, with the National Assn. of Attorneys General, and Erik Anderson, current SJU student and intern at Rep. Ellison's office
Al Eisele ('58), editor at large, The Hill, McCarthy Center 2008 Scholar in Residence, discussing his residency at the 2008 First Annual Washington DC McCarthy Center reception
CSB students and DC interns Laura Johnson (intern at David Turch and Associates) and Jessica Vining (intern at Dutko Worldwide) along with other CSB and SJU alums at the reception
Charles Howell, son-in-law of Senator McCarthy, husband of Ellen McCarthy-Howell with CSB and SJU alums and students at the reception
Dan Whalen ('70), former SJU Board Chair, benefactor of McCarthy Center, with Hon. John Lindstrom ('63), and David Turch ('63) reception co-chair and founder of David Turch and Associates at the reception

Washington D.C. intern update

2008-08-02T13:49:00.007-05:00

Sean Suter, SJU '10, is one of thirteen CSB/SJU students to participate in the Washington D.C. Summer Program. Continue to follow the McCarthy Center website for updates, pictures, and stories from the summer interns.

Senator Obama and Sean Suter

Senator Obama's summer intern group

Stearns County Courts Internship

2008-05-08T10:23:00.003-05:00

Project assistance with the Stearns County Adult Drug Court and Stearns County Family Dependency Treatment Court

Brigid Murphy '89 is the coordinator for both of these courts and would provide guidance and oversight to an intern. You may reach Brigid via e-mail at brigid.murphy@courts.state.mn.us or her direct office number is 320-656-6364.

Public Innovators Undergraduate Internship

2008-05-05T14:18:00.002-05:00

Root Cause is a nonprofit organization that accelerates enduring solutions to social and economic problems by supporting social innovators and educating social impact investors. We do this through business planning and implementation, leadership development, research, and the creation of professional and funding networks that unite the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Our key initiatives include consulting, social enterprises, knowledge sharing, research, and public policy.

Public Innovators, a nonpartisan Root Cause initiative, introduces government leaders at the city, state, and federal levels to social entrepreneurship and guides them in identifying and advancing transformative and sustainable solutions to today's toughest social problems. Public Innovators builds off our work with the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office, as well as two Root Cause reports: Social Entrepreneurship and Government: A New Breed of Entrepreneurs Developing Solutions to Social Problems, published by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Advancing Social Entrepreneurship: Recommendations for Policy Makers and Government Agencies, a co-publication with The Aspen Institute. These publications and more information are available at www.publicinnovators.com.

About the Internship

The director of Public Innovators is Minnesota-based and seeks an unpaid intern for the summer, with the possibility that the position may be extended into and through the academic year. The intern may also apply for academic credit.

A new initiative, Public Innovators is experiencing rapid growth and is at the cutting edge of research and practice on social problem solving. This internship offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain significant knowledge of and experience in: the nonprofit sector and nonprofit management; public policy and government; and innovative approaches to social problem solving. The intern will be expected to commit to a set number of hours each week and must have access to a personal computer. If committing to full-time work during the summer, the individual may be eligible for a stipend. There is some flexibility in the particular projects the intern will work on, depending on skill set and interests.

Possibilities include:

Brainstorm and research potential strategic partnerships
Contribute to fundraising and development strategy
Manage web outreach strategy, including Public Innovators’ own website, blog and wikis
Research critical policy issues in specific states
Conduct research and draft memos on policy issues and efforts, such as the creation of a social innovation fund and tax structure changes to enable new organizational forms
Administrative assistance

Additional Qualifications

Currently pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree
Excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Internet, etc with access to own computer (laptop preferred)
Interest and comfort in working in an entrepreneurial, start-up environment
Ability to work independently and a desire to take on increased responsibility
Strong project management skills and public policy exposure desired

To Apply

Send your resume to Colleen Ebinger at cebinger@rootcause.org with a cover letter describing your interest in the internship and your relevant skills/experience. Questions about the position are welcome.

Applications will be considered as they are received; priority consideration to early responses.

White House internship

2007-08-02T13:01:00.001-05:00

The application deadline for the Spring 2008 White House Internship is September 25, 2007.

A White House Internship is an opportunity for current students and recent graduates to experience everyday life at the White House while working with high-level officials on a variety of tasks and projects.

Strong applicants should exhibit:

Sound academic credentials
A demonstrated interest in public service
Solid written and verbal communication skills
A history of community involvement
Strong character and leadership skills

Beyond experiencing the day-to-day operations of the White House, interns participate in a speaker series, tours, community service projects, and various White House events. For more information and an application please visit our website at:http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html Applications should be submitted to intern_application@whitehouse.gov on or before September 25, 2007 for the Spring 2008 Internship. If you have any questions please contact Meghan Espinoza at 202-456-5979.

Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator

2007-08-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

The Minnesota Office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar is seeking interns for the Fall, 2007 Semester.

An internship in Senator Klobuchar’s office will provide unique experiences to students while they assist staff members with constituent issues and concerns. Here, students will work directly with congressional aides on issues involving constituent concerns and requests. They will also assist the staff in working with city and town officials and non-profit organizations applying for federal grants.

Every effort is made to pair interns with legislative staff based on their interests and experience. Interns will also assist in supporting the legislative and professional staff by conducting research and providing administrative support.

All interns will be asked to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. This will include time both in the Twin Cities office and at various locations throughout Minnesota. If your institution allows or requires college credit, accommodations can be made. These are un-paid internships. To apply or for more information, please call (612) 727-5220 or send an e-mail with a cover letter and resume attached to Joe_Campbell@klobuchar.senate.gov. Please put “Internship” in the subject line.