KIP Student Feature – David Marín
David Marín (CAS’28, Economics and International Relations) worked in his local community as an intern in the district office of Kevin Chambliss. Chambliss assumed office in the Florida House of Representatives in 2020, and is a proponent of minority rights and is committed to supporting the community, something that left Marín with a sense of hope in the future.
Q&A With David Marín
Could you give us a brief description of the organization you are interning with and what your primary responsibilities are during this internship?
I worked in the Florida House of Representatives, at the district office of my local representative, Kevin Chambliss. He represents the most southern parts of Miami-Dade County, Florida, officially known as District 117. The responsibilities for the internship were very dynamic but varied from constituent services to graphic design to event planning.
What area(s) of justice does this organization work in and how did your internship help promote/fulfill these justice goals?
As one of the few Democrats remaining in the Florida House of Representatives, the representative has served as one of the few fighters against the current Republican regime in Florida. He has long served us by fighting for immigrant rights, LGBT rights, and minority rights in the state. Especially as more and more people face immigration issues in our community, the Representative was one of the few pillars of support when the community is almost completely governed by Republicans.
Has your work this summer changed how you think about justice issues?
Absolutely; my time at the representative’s office has left me quite hopeful. Despite the political climate of Florida, I still believe change is possible. As seen by people like Chambliss and his staff, politicians are able to commit to positive change. Politics is much more about getting out there and supporting your community hands on than simply speaking at large events and wearing nice attire. When our elected officials commit to helping the people they represent, they can do real good in their communities despite the environment they are faced with.
How did you find out about this internship, and what advice would you give to students hoping to apply for this funding opportunity in the future?
Embarking on an internship search my first year of college was a very daunting experience. I knew I wanted to work by supporting my community at home and so, I started searching for this opportunity by emailing as many community advocates as I could. Though unconventional, I did receive various leads and eventually landed at the office of Representative Chambliss. My advice would be to not be afraid of rejection or being ghosted. This is unfortunately a normal process of all opportunity searches, but it does not mean we should be less confident in our ability to be successful.
How has the Kilachand coursework and/or the KIP summer mentoring sessions helped prepare you for the work you are doing during your internship?
KIP was a wonderful experience to have throughout my time in the Florida House. It was very nice having a community to connect with throughout the summer as we supported each other in our academic and professional journeys. I would say KIP was most useful in convincing me to be an advocate for myself. Oftentimes, we are scared to ask questions, feedback, or simply network because of our novelty to a space, but the conversations I had in KIP allowed me to build the confidence to do all these things.