Internship Decoded

            Well, I believe that it is about time I expound on what exactly I am doing here in California and what my Internship is all about.  To be honest, it is a rather complicated connection of different organizations and acronyms.  To understand what I am doing, you must understand the relationship ASU has with a non-profit organization called the Alliance for Innovation.  The Alliance national headquarters is located in Phoenix in ASU’s School of Public Affairs.  The Center for Urban Innovation is ASU’s operational link to the Alliance, and supports the programs and publications of the Alliance by conducting research on innovative practices in local governments and the factors that contribute to innovation.  Four Marvin Andrews Fellows are chosen each year from the ASU MPA program and are employed in the Center, assigned to conduct research for the Alliance.

Now that you understand what the Alliance is, I can explain where my job comes in.  It all began in March, when ASU obtained a large office space in Santa Monica, California to serve as its alumni center for Southern California.  The Alliance for Innovation is also partnered with the new California Civic Innovation Project (CCIP), and this new California Center gave the Alliance’s president an idea.  With the new CCIP, as well as the Alliance’s other California interests, why not send two “fellows” to California to do work similar to what the Marvin Andrews Fellows do in Arizona.  So, ASU’s president gave permission, and me and one other MPA student were sent here to California as Santa Monica Fellows, working out of ASU’s California Center.  We are here until Graduation next year, and will be working on projects for the Alliance and the CCIP.  As the program has started to gain some traction, I am extremely excited to get going. 

Here are a couple links if you wish to know more about the organizations:

http://urbaninnovation.asu.edu/alliance-for-innovation

http://ccip.newamerica.net/dashboard