By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
Alabama State University's acclaimed Center for Leadership and Public Policy (CLPP) has joined ranks with the League of Women Voters of Alabama (LWVA) and the Alabama Channel to create an internship program that allows ASU students to take leadership roles
in an initiative to i
ncrease the public's knowledge of and access to the meetings and actions of the Alabama
State Legislature.
The executive director of CLPP, W. Myles Mayberry, III, shared that the internship's main purpose is to expand public access to the Alabama
House of Representatives and the Alabama State Senate during their legislative sessions
and committee meetings in 2024.
"
Organizational leaders of the new student internship program (Mayberry second from left) in a contributed photo.
The University's collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Alabama and The Alabama Channel is a direct result of our working together and creating a student internship program
that will record, archive, and make the Alabama’s legislature's actions more attainable
to both the public and organizations alike," Mayberry said.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
He explained that during a recent meeting between the organizations and University
students, LWVA state president Kathy Jones; Montgomery's local leader, Carol Mosely and Tara Bailey, director of The Alabama Channel, introduced the students to the goals of the internship project and to the technology
they will be utilizing.
“We are honored, through this internship, to support Alabama State University’s development
of America’s future leaders,” said LWVA's Jones.
The Alabama Channel leader concurred.
“We are thrilled to partner with Alabama State University to bring a new level of
depth to our legislative meeting coverage,” said Bailey. “This partnership aligns
perfectly with our mission to enhance access to vital government information with
the goal of increasing civic engagement throughout the state.”
PROJECT MANAGEMENT - ASU DEPT. OF COMMUNICATIONS
Mayberry added that Dr. William Robinson, associate professor in the Department of Communications in ASU's College of Liberal
Arts and Social Sciences, will serve as the project manager of the program. Robinson
will be involved with the day-to-day operations and will supervise interactions with
ASU's students.
Robinson stated that the students involved in the internship project come from a cross-section
of ASU departments.
“This particular internship represents a multidisciplinary field for ASU students.
It crosses with communications and the political process in real time, and we at the
University are truly excited for this opportunity,” said Robinson.
FOCUS ON STUDENT EXPERIENCE - EXPERTISE
Mayberry said that ASU's involvement in the internship program will enrich student
experiences while also advancing the University’s commitment to CommUniversity efforts by working to make sure the public is more attuned to the actions of the
Alabama State Legislature.
“Providing real-world experiences in their disciplines of study for our ASU students
is a goal of this project and for ASU's Center for Leadership and Public Policy,”
said Mayberry. “We are honored to be a part of the collaboration of two such civic-oriented
organizations as The League of Women Voters and The Alabama Channel in working closely with Alabama State University and its students," said Mayberry.
ASU news media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
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