On top of the Hill sits the legislative heart of our nation. Adorned by architecture of antiquity, it is the place where democracy is instilled and executed for the United States of America. Representatives and Senators from all states and territories come together to work endlessly to ensure that the most beneficial policies for Americans are passed. This summer, I was able to be a part of this process by interning in the office of Senator Gillibrand from New York. At the beginning of my internship, there was something that I noticed right off the bat. Being born and raised in New York City, I had grown accustomed to seeing the racial, class, sexual and religious diversity that embodies our country. However, I did not necessarily see the same representation within the political process of our nation. Although demographics of our nation are rapidly changing, I did not see those changes reflected within the institutions that decide the fate of our nation. I instantly noticed the lack of political representation is a common denominator for minority groups all throughout Washington D.C. There were very few of us within higher positions of power. 
A pivotal experience I had during my internship was going to the inaugural hearing for the Congressional Caucus of Black Boys and Men. Prominent members of the African community spoke about the immense marginalization of the African American community and how deeply rooted this discrimination is. Within the panel for this hearing was former head of the NAACP and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume. Having the honor to hear him speak, some of the things he said still resonate with me today. He spoke about the necessity of empowering people of marginalized communities so they can move past the oppression that they have faced within history. I believe that this is true for any minority group that is still struggling for both justice and equality. The empowerment that Mr. Mfume speaks of comes from properly lifting capable people from minority groups to positions of power in order to ensure that the voices of all American people are justly heard. Though many minority groups have already made initiatives to help increase self-empowerment, SikhLEAD is an incredible initiative because it is truly a pioneer for empowering Sikh Americans within the political sphere. Sikhs have lived within the United States for more than a hundred years and now make up significant populations all throughout the United States. However, like many other groups, Sikh Americans do not constitute the same amount of space within our governmental institutions as they do within the fabric of our country. By placing college students in different Congressional and federal offices, SALDEF is increasing the Sikh American presence in places of importance, while empowering young Sikh Americans with the professional tools and experiences they need to succeed. SikhLEAD is the first step in working to get our community involved within the political process: not just to benefit our community, but to add a unique perspective to the important dialogues happening about the general wellbeing of our country. I was one of nine interns who were able to learn about the functions of our government, partake in a variety of leadership development, and add to the organizations we were working for. Overall, coming to Washington D.C. to work on the Hill and partake in the legislative process of our country was a remarkable experience. Without the support of SALDEF, I would never have learned the importance of networking, development and leadership. By creating bonds within experienced professionals throughout the city, I know I have laid the foundation for own personal and professional advancement. Both the friendships and knowledge that I left the summer with will continue to benefit me for years to come. However, SikhLEAD made me realize that we played a more important role than the tasks that we were assigned. Roaming the halls of the Capitol with my fellow turbaned intern, I came to the realization that our very presence and positions were pivotal for both the Sikh American community and our country as a whole. We are emerging leaders who have the responsibility to educate and empower ourselves so that we can continue to progress the causes of our community forward. Not only were we there to raise consciousness about the existence and concerns of our community, we were there to pave the road to prove that we had a lot to offer as capable and driven individuals looking to make a difference. –Mandeep Singh
