CPLA Press

This morning we met Emerson alumni Janice Scangas at the Italian Sette Osteria Restaurant in downtown DC. Janice has spent many years in private foundation administration and took time today to instill the same spirit of philanthropic service  in the CPLA Emersonians of today. Over our meal, Janice migrated about the table making sure to connect with each of us and listen to our future aspirations, goals, and causes. Not long after our lunch began, Emerson Alumni, Rael Ammon joined us. Having graduated in 2008 in the Political Communication department, Rael now works in the US Department of State, Buerau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in the office of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Jordan support. Living the life that many of us in CPLA aspire to, we listened to Rael's story as she explained the series of events that contributed to being offered the job. Following the lunch, we split up and went to museums, monuments, and government buildings for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow we leave and bring with us an enlightening experience in Washington DC, yet again, as members of CPLA.

Arriving at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, our group went through the initial metal detectors, checked our cameras with the guards, and began our meeting. Tarik Allagany, the Public Affairs Supervisor at the Embassy greeted us and began with a 20 minute, narrated slide show covering Saudi Arabia's politics, which particularly paid attention to their Kingdom, Islam, their economy and agriculture, and the Middle East as a whole. Tarik followed up with a question and answer session where we were given the opportunity to ask questions regarding certain stereotypes about the country, and issues and stances in the media and in our lives that had not ever been given the option to ask. A few of us were then takren to another room where we were given typical Saudi apparel from varying regions of the country. Dressing up and being presented to the rest of the group, including Dr. Payne, we had a good laugh at ourselves in the lavish outfits while we learned why their clothes differed according to the region od Saudi Arabia that they were worn in.
Immediately following this trip, we spent the remainder of our evening with joining familiar faces to Emerson: Alumni from Emerson's school of Communication. First joining Peter Loge and Howard Leiberman, we listened and participated in a talk on law school, public policy, media politics, and the Emerson presence among such a wide spectrum of important and progressing careers all over the country and world. Peter Loge currently teaches two classes with Emerson's Washington D.C. program and spoke to the group about the advantages and disadvantages of working in this city and for specific branches of government.
Following this, we walked a few blocks down the street to meet Emily Garr and Andrew Wishnia, two recent graduates of Emerson who now live and work in D.C. Conversing over dinner, the group was able to talk to people only a few years older, who have the Emerson experience in common with, and experience in both higher education and in the workforce.
The day was particularly eventful for each of us, as the number of events offered something for everyone. Tomorrow, the day begins at noon and is nonstop until late in the evening.

Our first full day is going great. We had breakfast with Emerson alum  
Phil Maggi, DC lawyer and lobbyist. Spoke a lot about how his Emerson  
education provided a foundation for his professional career

Group then split up. Half went to the senate office of Oklahoma  
senator coburn. His staff gave a great tour, we saw the capital.

Other half went to dem. National commitee. Highlight: cabinet that  
held all watergate tapes. Learned a lot about national party building.

At lunch now, about to head to NPR for a meeting.


John Baldo
Vice president CPLA

Beginning the day in familiar company, our CPLA group met for an early breakfast with Emerson college alum, Phillip J. Maggie, the vice president of external affairs at Idaho Technology Inc. Over our meal, we were given advice about the power of community-based politics, the importance of relationship building in and out out Emerson college, and the importance of strong writing skills in addition to communication. After the breakfast, our group dispersed & a few of us headed over to the Democratic National Committee building where Larry, our tour guide and 22 year long employee of the DNC, showed us around. We saw the inner workings of the democratic party & met several employees who spoke to us about voter registration abroad, College Democrats of America, and even saw the last remnant of Watergate; a beat up file cabinet in the basement. After a photograph of our group with Larry, we exchanged thanks and waited for our next event of the day.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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