Internship Highlight: Daniela Wheeler - Abigail Spanberger for Governor

Dear Mr. Gavin Brown,

I would like to formally and genuinely thank you for contributing to my studies and career through the Susan Casey Brown Fund for McGill. Politics is not merely a career choice for me–it’s a hobby, a challenge, and a constant source of ambition. I read politics, I write about it, I research it, I analyze it, and I consume it daily. Something as powerful as politics requires a serious study, and with the Susan Casey Brown Fund, I was able to continue that study through the Abigail Spanberger for Governor Campaign Fellowship.

I initially pursued this internship because I admire Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, and in the light of current events I find her admirable work to suit the needs of Virginians. This summer, I chose to specifically intern abroad because I felt a bit disconnected from the United States in a time of crisis. Through the internship, I hoped to gain a strong network, be involved in state politics, and get to know Virginia better.

As an intern on the fellowship, I made over 1,000 calls, recruiting volunteers for events, confirming their attendance, and informing them about the Democratic Ticket for the upcoming November election. I also ran over 25 events, including canvass launches where volunteers would go out to knock doors, volunteer roundups where volunteers would engage with mini-projects, virtual community discussions, rallies, small business talks, and more. I was also in charge of signing in and rescheduling every volunteer that came to an event to ensure continuity and engagement within the campaign.

The academic courses that I have already taken guided me in thoughtful discussions with volunteers and voters. There are many conversations I can think of that forced me to think intellectually. One specific time I went to knock doors; I ended up talking with an ex-military official for about an hour. He was formerly from California and admired the purpleness of Virginian politics. Although he was more conservative, he challenged me to debate and understand. This moment led me to create my own event called “Study up on Abigial Night.” This event would allow volunteers and voters to participate in brainstorming activities that involved thinking of what issues concerned them, researching how the Democratic ticket has responded to those issues, and how we as volunteers can respond to concerned voters.

A challenge I did face during the internship was continuing to have hope. It can be hard to work on a campaign and have the energy to constantly try to convince people that voting is important, that this election is important, and that staying informed is vital. Despite this challenge, I continued to host big events that informed people and encouraged them to bring more friends and schedule for future events. By helping others, I was able to motivate myself and find hope.

This internship has taught me more about myself. As an organizing fellow, I learned that this work matches my personality and career aspirations. My mind likes to schedule, think in-advance, and create new ideas. All traits that are required by this role. Now that I have state-level experience and connections I feel more secure about having a job once I graduate undergraduate school.

Thank you again to Mr. Garvin Brown for the Susan Casey Brown Fund that made this experience possible. Without your support I would not have been able to focus all my energy on this fellowship and campaign.