August 12, 2015

I initially found it hard to believe that August is one of the slowest months of the year for the Commissioner’s office given that my first week was filled with office training, meetings, and handshakes. I think I met almost everyone in the building from Mayor Hales’ office to the Happy Cup Coffee staff. I learned to answer calls, sort mail, and get a sense of what actually goes on behind the large glass doors of City Hall.

One of the best parts of the job is getting to know the awesome staff. I learned very quickly that by unanimous vote, Aja Blair, the Commissioner’s scheduler and office manager, takes the crown for office favorite. Upon meeting him, I completely agree! His bubbly and unabashed personality keeps everyone in the office in high spirits.

Asena, the Constituent Services Specialist, has been awesome too! She has taught me everything I need to know about how to keep the office running smoothly and handling concerns from constituents. We also bond over our passion for social justice and being heavily involved in minority communities.

As far as work goes, I am beginning to scratch the surface of what it means to conduct policy research. Once I get the hang of things, I’ll be able to share my experiences. Overall, it has been a great first week! I’m thankful to be able to work in this office and excited to see what the rest of the month has in store for me!