Program helps interns like ‘Captain Planet’ make impact
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A UMNS photo by Vince Isner
Ethnic Young Adult interns gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
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| Ethnic
Young Adult interns gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The
interns, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society
in Washington, spend two months living together and working in
organizations to address social concerns. The internship is open to
young adults who represent the five ethnic caucuses of the United
Methodist Church - Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and Pacific
Islander. A UMNS photo by Vince Isner. Photo #06216. Accompanies UMNS
story #131. 3/7/06 |
March 7, 2006
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Erick Veliz — sometimes known as Captain Planet — doesn’t look like a superhero at first glance.
Talk to him for a while and you begin to believe he probably could
save the world if given a little more time. After all, he’s only 23.
Veliz, a native of La Paz, Bolivia, is working for the Tennessee Fair
Housing Council. In his spare time, he is helping establish English as a
Second Language classes at his local church, the United Methodist
(Nashville) Hispanic Fellowship; working for Amnesty International USA;
and looking for any opportunity to advance his three top priorities:
working for the rights of indigenous people, promoting equal rights for
women and stopping torture.
His passion for human rights grew stronger and more focused after he
spent two months in the 2005 Ethnic Young Adult internship program
sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in
Washington.
March deadline
The internship has been sponsored by the board for the last 20 years
and has at least 200 participants who either now lead the church in some
capacity or influence society in their vocations, says the Rev. Neal
Christie, a board executive. The program is open to young adults ages
18-22 representing the five ethnic caucuses of the United Methodist
Church — Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and Pacific Islander.
Deadline for applying for the 2006 program is March 15.
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A UMNS photo by Vince Isner
Interns take a break while working for social concerns in Washington.
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| Ethnic
Young Adult interns take a break from work while in Washington, D.C.
The interns, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society, spend two months living together while working in organization
that address social concerns. The internship is open to young adults who
represent the five ethnic caucuses of the United Methodist
church-Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and Pacific Islander. A
UMNS photo by Vince Isner. Photo #06217. Accompanies UMNS story #131.
3/7/06 |
Interns live together and are assigned to work in organizations
addressing social justice concerns. The work is supplemented by evening
intern-led devotions, Friday seminars on topics of timely social justice
concern, area field trips and Sunday worship in area United Methodist
churches.
“Most internships in D.C. are very European-American. You can see
that just by looking out the window of 100 Maryland Ave.,” Christie
says, referring to the address of the United Methodist Building at
Capitol Hill. “To my knowledge, this is one internship that in its own
small way has had a lasting impact on an intentionally multi-racial
group of young people gathered from across the country to work not just
on mercy but to do advocacy with the Hill and the United Methodist
Building at the center.”
Details on the internship are available by contacting Christie at nchristie@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5611.
Audio Interview with
Erick Veliz |
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