This summer the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS) hosted a group of 12 interns as part the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) with the goal of providing District youth with meaningful employment opportunities as well as expanding their understanding of what it means to be a public servant. The interns supported the MOCRS Outreach and Services Specialist, assisting in the provision of constituent services,  addressing several community issues, and attending various community based events such as press conferences and ribbon cuttings. Participating in weekly Operation Fix-it activities is a core aspect of the internship experience. These weekly activities not only exposed them to the crime and blight issues plaguing various communities, but also improved their knowledge of the functions of the District’s primary government agencies. Throughout the summer the interns recorded their experiences in their bi-weekly reports.  See below a few of their entries.