Noelia Calcano ’21

Title of Abstract: Bowdoin Public Service Fellow

Name of Mentors: Sarah Chingos; Dhivya Singaram ’17; Katherine Gillespie

Mentors’ Organizations or Departments: McKeen Center, Bowdoin College; Maine ACLU; Office of Congressman Jared Golden

Research Abstract: As BPS Fellow, I interned as a legislative fellow for the Office of Congressman Golden and as an advocacy intern for the Maine ACLU. As a legislative fellow, I gained insight into the legislative process by conducting legislative research and drafting policy memos on bills such as the Justice in Policing Act, the D.C. Admission Act and the Great American Outdoors Act. I also continued to support our office’s outreach to the New Mainer community by organizing meetings with immigrant-owned business leaders to discuss the challenges they are facing during the COVID19 pandemic. As an advocacy intern for the Maine ACLU, I worked on a variety of issues including immigrants’ rights, racial justice and criminal justice reform. I assisted in all aspects of legislative, campaign, and policy advocacy for the organization. I conducted policy research on an ICE facility planned in Scarborough for our legal team and drafted local advocacy toolkits on policing and surveillance.