‘A Seat at the Table’
Rutgers–Newark graduate and Scarlet Promise recipient thankful for donor support and the opportunity to complete a Capitol Hill Policy Fellowship.
Karen Perez has long wanted to make an impact.
“I always knew that I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Perez, a Teaneck, New Jersey native who graduated from Rutgers University–Newark in May.
Interning last summer in Washington, D.C., as part of the Capitol Hill Policy Fellowship Program gave the Scarlet Promise recipient and member of the Rutgers–Newark Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) a “seat at the table.” The fellowship allowed her to assist New York Congresswoman Nydia Velásquez and learn firsthand what it is like to work in government. That experience also helped her secure an internship after graduation. This summer, she will be back on the Hill working with New Jersey Congresswoman Analilia Mejia.
Perez, who earned a public administration degree from the School of Public Affairs and Administration, says that she engaged in administrative tasks, including addressing constituent needs, conducting research, drafting policy memos, and helping Velásquez determine which bills she should support.
As a first-generation college student, Perez says she is excited to spend her summer “back on the Hill” as a housing fellow with the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America (CPRA) at Rutgers–Newark.
“Everything is impacted by policy, which led to my passion for wanting to work on the Hill because that is where everything happens,” she says.
Perez often sits in committee hearings and hears about important topics, which she says is an excellent learning experience. “There needs to be better pathways of informing people,” she says, adding that people need to communicate their views to their representatives.
“The biggest lesson I took away from that is how important it is to understand our political system, to stay informed, and be aware of what is happening in the world,” she says. “By simply understanding what is going on, people can mobilize and take action. "
Capitol Hill Fellowship Program
Launched in 2024 to address the early barriers that prevent many students who are first in their families going to college or come from low-income backgrounds from accessing public service careers, the Capitol Hill Policy Fellowship Program offers an immersive, nine-week internship experience on Capitol Hill. Fellows receive housing, transportation, a professional wardrobe stipend, and a living allowance, along with career development and mentorship. The initiative is a partnership between the CPRA and Braven.
“Congressional internships are transformative opportunities—they give students an up-close look at the inner workings of our democracy, and that access changes them: how they see themselves, how they see democracy, and what they believe they can do to bring change to their communities,” says James R. Jones, associate professor, Africana Studies and Sociology, and director, Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America.
Many of these internships remain out of reach for students because they can’t afford to work in Washington, Jones says. “Our program at the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America was built to change that, and Karen is proof it’s working."
Johnson & Johnson also supports the fellowship program.
“Johnson & Johnson is proud to collaborate with Rutgers–Newark and Braven to expand the Capitol Hill Policy Fellowship Program,” says Adam Taliaferro, Director of State and Community Engagement at Johnson & Johnson. “By helping remove barriers to access, we’re empowering students to gain real-world experience in public service and build pathways to impactful careers in policy and government.”
Running for office may also be a part of Perez’s future, she says. “Every day I grow more confident in the idea that one day, I may want to run for office, whether it’s for my local school board or representing my community in Trenton as an assembly member.”
Thankful for Donor Support
Donor support has changed her life. “Without all of my scholarships, without the help, I would not have been able to be here in the first place,” she says. “It has changed everything. I have now received a higher education that has equipped me with the tools and skills needed to pursue a career in public service.”
In addition to other support, Perez also received a Pell Grant and Educational Opportunity Funds to attend Rutgers.
“I don’t think I would have been as successful had it not been for all the support that I received on campus,” Perez says.
Perez, who attended Dwight Morrow High School Academies in Englewood, says she grew up in a single-parent household where her mother, who is from the Dominican Republic, worked two jobs. “We always saw the sacrifice that my mom made.”
While at Rutgers, Perez says she worked as a community service officer with the public safety department and participated in a work-study program and an internship with the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education.
On campus, she oversaw the HLLC peer mentorship program and strove to help others. “I am looking forward to what comes next because I have gotten everything I felt that I needed to get out of college,” she says.
Support Students
Consider a gift to the Scarlet Promise Current Use Fund. Donations are distributed by the Office of Financial Aid during the academic year to provide essential support for students in need.
