MD AAPI Lawmakers Offer Summer Legislative Internships for Students including High Schoolers
Akshan Ranasinghe
Raymond Chen
Eileen WuOn August 1st, dozens of eager interns gathered at the Maryland State House for a day of hands-on legislative experience. Notably, many of these interns were high school students from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. This event is part of a three-month summer internship program hosted by Asian American representatives Chao Wu, Mark Chang, and Harry Bhandari. While the Maryland State House has a longstanding tradition of hosting interns, it is rare for the interns to be as young as high school students. Recognizing this, Wu and his fellow AAPI delegates sought to extend the legislative experience to younger participants, aiming to inspire the next generation of policymakers at an early age. The organizers’ shared backgrounds as members of the AAPI community ensure these voices are heard loud and clear. During their visit to Annapolis, the students embraced the roles of local policymakers in a mock hearing and concluded with a tour of the Old State House, gaining insights into both current legislative practices and the rich history that has shaped Maryland's political landscape.
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Akshan Ranasinghe, one of the reporters and the narrator of this video, is a Sri Lankan American. He produced a version of Sinhala for audiences from his community.
