Joseph Ferry

Hometown: Lowell, Massachusetts

Degree and graduation year: Master of Public Policy 2022

What I did there: Some of my tasks included:

• Engaging with senior staffers and other Congressional offices in producing letters of support for exceptions to policy for Arlington National Cemetery burials
• Reporting directly to the health and education policy legislative correspondent in Washington and assisting by attending briefings on the staffer’s behalf, researching legislation, and drafting memos for the Congresswoman on proposed bills
• Handling constituent casework intake and correspondence, communicating with federal agency contacts when necessary in order to assist in case closure
• Collecting vast amounts of data on over 500 district stakeholders and ensuring information was kept accurate
• Transcribing Afghan national identity cards and passports in order to directly assist caseworkers in expediting Special Immigrant Visas for over 70 Afghan evacuees in response to the Taliban’s takeover of the Afghan government

The most important thing I learned: How to work quickly and adjust without warning. When the Taliban successfully overthrew the Afghan government in August, I watched the CNN coverage with my coworkers in the office’s conference room. Suddenly and without warning, the nature of my work completely changed. I went from prioritizing constituent calls over issues with tax returns or unemployment assistance to answering calls from family members of those trapped in Afghanistan, as well as veterans of the war living in MA-03 who had contacts of Afghan allies looking to escape. I helped transcribe Afghan passports and national identity cards to expedite Special Immigrant Visas and other appropriate documentation to get these individuals and families on US evacuation flights.

The most challenging part of my internship: Dealing with constituents. Although I enjoyed it, there were definitely difficult cases in which I had to deal with that took an emotional toll on me. With this being said, being able to assist these constituents was beyond worth it.

What surprised me the most: How involved a federal elected official can be in any constituent’s life. From the outside looking in, it can appear that these elected officials are not easily within reach. At least in Congresswoman Trahan’s office, I found the opposite to be true.

Why I’m studying public policy: I strongly believe that my generation must be entrusted with changing the system as it currently operates.

Future plans: I hope to pursue legislative work in Washington, DC, possibly serving as a Congressional staffer.