Political Science major and Macaulay Honors student, Elisa Mateo-Saja’s ’21 dream of working in a political office came true last spring when she interned for New York State Senator Robert Jackson. “I’ve always wanted to help uplift our underserved and underrepresented communities, so interning with someone like New York State Senator Robert Jackson was a wonderful, in-the-field opportunity,” says Mateo-Saja, who was able to witness firsthand the important role public officials play in the communities they represent. “During my internship, I met with constituents, conducted research, and helped write policy. I worked hard to get information regarding Covid-19 testing sites and the importance of mask wearing and social distancing out to the communities in his district. The experience I had interning for Senator Jackson affirmed for me that working for our communities is what I want to do with my life.”

Aspiring to become an elected official in the future, Mateo-Saja hopes to improve and uplift underserved and underrepresented communities by providing them with equitable access to education and community resources. We sat down with Mateo-Saja to learn more about her goals for a future in public office and how her internship experience affirmed that she’s on the right path.

Wanting to Make A Difference
Mateo-Saja’s ability to advocate for others in her community has always come naturally to her. She’s outgoing, outspoken, and isn’t afraid to stand up for people whose voices aren’t being heard. But it was in her home in White Plains, New York, where her commitment to public service was born. “Growing up, there was an influx of people moving into the house next door and over time they would come over to speak with my mom and use our computer. As I got older, I learned that they were coming to my mom for legal advice and for help with their citizenship application. She was able to translate for them since she was fluent in both English and Spanish,” recalls Mateo-Saja, who was surprised to learn that there were no resources available for immigrants living in the community. “White Plains is an incredibly diverse city, with over 30 percent of the population being immigrant or foreign born. The fact that there has been no investment in community resources or immigrant services is upsetting to me. These are the people that hold our communities up. We should be investing in them and supporting their efforts. Instead, we’re building more luxury high-rise buildings.”

Becoming a John Jay Student
Learning about John Jay’s approach to political science played a key role in Mateo-Saja’s decision to come to the College. “I heard that the Political Science major was so different from other schools in that it took on a more social justice approach, and that was something that really interested me because it was the opposite of the Eurocentric kind of idealism of what politics often embodies.” Intrigued by the major, she visited the College for “Accepted Students Night” where she had a chance to meet John Jay students. “When I spoke with the students, it was clear that they were so passionate about the College and on what they were working on at John Jay. At the other schools I visited, the students who gave the tour were nice, but when they spoke about their schools their responses always felt very generic. At John Jay, students care, not only about the work they were currently doing but the work they were going to do after graduating. They want to go out into the world and make a difference. I remember thinking, I want to be like them. That’s when I knew John Jay was the right fit for me.”

Applying for the Internship
Knowing she was interested in working in a political environment, Andrew Sidman, Ph.D., Chair of the Political Science department and mentor to Mateo-Saja, suggested she apply for the Caucus CUNY Scholars Program, which placed her with State Senator Robert Jackson in Spring 2020. “The Caucus CUNY Scholars Program really helped me understand what my resume should look like, how to go about pursuing opportunities, and it helped me get my foot in the door. It provided me with an incredible opportunity to get a hands-on learning experience in a political environment,” she says.

Interning in the State Senator’s Office
Starting the internship pre-Covid-19, Mateo-Saja was in the State Senator’s office where she worked with a diverse team; met face-to-face with constituents, ensuring their questions and concerns were answered; and got a chance to work on policy. “The Senator is very big on education. When he was in the New York City Council he walked from New York City to Albany to get better funding for New York City public schools. At the start of my internship, he was working on a large education reform bill,” explains Mateo-Saja, noting the bill provided comprehensive coverage for English as a Second Language (ESL) students and students living with disabilities. “I noticed there was no inclusion of incarcerated students. As a student educated at John Jay, system-impacted people are always in the back of my mind. The Senator’s team encouraged me to provide input, conduct research, and come up with ways to support and incorporate incarcerated students in the bill.” Breaking down how system-impacted students are treated, Mateo-Saja explained that when they go into a juvenile detention center they’re transitioned to a different school district, but when they’re released, they have to transition back to their old district on their own. “Trying to navigate the system can be really difficult and system-impacted students end up stopping or dropping out. So, the policy I worked on involved creating a statewide district that would incorporate students impacted by or in a juvenile detention facility. This would do away with the transition process and instead get them access to more resources, additional afterschool programming, and mental health support.”

Pivoting Amid Covid-19
While some of her peers had to end their internships early due to Covid-19 restrictions, Mateo-Saja was able to continue hers in a virtual setting. “The Senator and his team were really extraordinary, pivoting to support the Covid-19 aid effort in the community in every possible way. And, they did everything they could to keep me in the loop and let me help. We were calling local organizations, homeless shelters, and food banks making sure they had masks and other resources available to them. We even began collecting food and reaching out to constituents,” she says, adding that the team worked tirelessly to ensure underserved communities, where English wasn’t the predominant language, were getting the right information. “The Senator’s district is made up of predominantly Spanish-speaking people, and our team was worried about the questions and safety information surrounding Covid-19 not being understood. So, we began to translate the information into as many languages as we could and tried to get the information out to constituents. It was a stressful time, but this internship experience is something I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. We were truly helping people.”

Rewarding and Affirming Experience
Although Mateo-Saja had internships in the past, her opportunity with State Senator Robert Jackson and his team meant the most to her. “This internship taught me so much about myself and my capabilities. I was able to hone my policy research skills, which provided support and moved political action forward. I was able to see how even the smallest act can help a community in the most challenging times,” she says. “The internship was such a rewarding experience and it offered me the best introduction to what life as an elected official can be. It let me know that I’m on the right path. I want to work in the political space and run for public office, maybe even federal office one day. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, especially in helping underserved and underrepresented communities, and I can’t wait to get started.”